The game that was
In what should have been a fairly easy victory, Georgia State was outsmarted and outmuscled by St. Francis, an NAIA school from Joliet, Ill. , for a 30-27 defeat in overtime.
What we learned
1. Georgia State's defense isn't as good as it seemed. The Panthers' defenders, maligned early in the year for their poor play, seemed to have things turned during the past month. However the Saints, doing nothing more complicated than draw plays or screen passes most of the time, stretched the Panthers thin all over the field. They outscored Georgia State 20-3 in the second half, including 10 points in the final five minutes of regulation.
2. Georgia State's special teams….ugh. They have been a problem all season. In this game, they allowed an onsides kick that set up a game-tying drive, booted a kickoff out of bounds that set up a late scoring drive, roughed the punter that cost the Panthers valuable field position and missed a 47-yard field goal in overtime.
3. Georgia State's offense is inconsistent. Kelton Hill had a good game statistically, completing 14 of 24 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a career-high 98 yards. The Saints, despite being smaller than the Panthers, bottled up Donald Russell and Travis Evans, holding them to 52 yards.
Injury report
Running back Donald Russell (sprained anke), kicker Christian Benvenuto (hip strain) and linebacker Michael Hall (concussion-like symptoms) will be evaluated.
Numbers game
120.
The Panthers were outgained by St. Francis in total yards, 475-355.
Sound bite
"They were running by us and we weren't tackling them. They were blocking us. There was nothing more complicated than that. We knew what they were doing but just didn't get the job done."
Coach Bill Curry.
Loose ends
Danny Williams has caught a pass in 20 consecutive games. His 22-yard touchdown catch gave him more than 1,000 yards receiving in his career. … Hill's 52-yard run was the team's longest this season. … Albert Wilson had 144 all-purpose yards. … Georgia State has been outscored 92-13 in the fourth quarter this season.
What's next
Georgia State will visit West Alabama, a Division II school that the Panthers must take seriously. The Tigers are 7-3 this year, largely because of a rushing attack that is averaging 227.2 yards per game. In a troubling sign for Georgia State, West Alabama has scored 85 points in the fourth quarter this year, the most of any period.
