Georgia State played over 100 snaps Saturday in its spring game at Grady Stadium, with the offense beating the defense 27-19.
The spring game featured its own format for accumulating points.
When the offense scored, a touchdown equaled six points, an extra point was worth one point and a field goal three points. For the defense, a turnover equaled three points, and a tackle for loss or a sack equaled one point. A defensive touchdown equaled six points.
The offense scored three rushing touchdowns and made two of three field-goal attempts. The defense recorded two interceptions and two sacks, and the rest of its points were from tackles for loss.
Here are five things to know from the game:
1. Conner Manning is ahead in the quarterback battle. Manning played better than his competition, with three touchdown drives. Manning completed over 75 percent of his passes and threw for 182 passing yards. Jaquez Parks was the second-best quarterback in the game, leading two field-goal drives. Parks was a playmaker on his feet, including a dashing 40-yard run on his first snap. Aaron Winchester threw an interception.
2. Fast and physical. Coach Shawn Elliott talked all offseason about wanting his team to play fast and physical, and the Panthers delivered that Saturday. The defense had plenty of hard-hitting tackles, especially at the goal line and on third-and-short plays. The offense played fast and up-tempo, going no-huddle on a majority of its plays.
“I think the physical-ness of it,” Elliott said about the strides he saw his team make this spring. “They weren’t accustomed to a whole lot of hitting and that style of play. We started every day with a three-on-three drill, and it went all the way down the line with our receivers and defensive backs, to our offensive line and defensive line. Everybody got a piece of it, and I think we’re in good shape.”
3. Offensive line shows improvement. The offensive line played well, providing wide-open lanes for the running backs. The Panthers scored three rushing touchdowns, thanks to the good blocking by the offensive line. The offensive line had great pass protection as well, giving up only two sacks in over 100 plays. Still, they need improvement on third-and-short plays. The offense was forced to go for it on fourth down three times because of bad blocking by the line on third-and-short.
4. Wide receivers show out. Penny Hart didn't play, but the Panthers showed they have versatility at wide receiver. Eric Elder was the leader of the pack, with six receptions and 87 yards, and Devin Gentry had a solid game, with 45 yards on six receptions.
5. The defense looked stout. The defense looked great, with over five tackles for loss and two sacks. The Panthers were stingy in the red zone, forcing a missed field-goal attempt and one interception by outside linebacker Deshaun Faltz. Safety Bryan Williams also intercepted a pass.
“That’s been their motto all spring,” Elliott said of his defense being stingy in the red zone. “Our defense rises up. I don’t what it is, you can call it mentality or call it the will to keep them out. It’s a tribute to our defensive line because it gets really tough down there. Hopefully that continues in the fall.”
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