Georgia State coach Trent Miles said his team is learning how to win games, instead of playing not to lose.
“There’s a big difference there,” he said.
The Panthers led Troy in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game before the Trojans rallied to win 35-28. It was the first time that the Panthers led in the fourth quarter this season. Georgia State (0-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) will again try for its first win at Texas State (3-3, 0-2) on Saturday.
“Our kids are working hard, they are focused in and our practices have high energy,” Miles said. “We have a sense of urgency to try to get a victory.”
Miles said the players are put into competitive situations in most practices to try to hone that winning instinct. Now it’s time to carry it over into the games.
He listed a few of many plays against Troy that could have swung the difference. Miles didn’t name the players, only the situations, but they were a dropped pass by Albert Wilson on third-and-short in the fourth quarter and two screen passes in the first quarter in which neither running back — Travis Evans or Jonathan Jean-Bart — could beat the last defender to score.
Offensive tackle Ulrick John said the team is ready to win.
“It’s tough. It’s not fun, losing,” he said. “When you come that close, it’s a hard one. When you go out and put everything on the field.”
Another freshman steps up: Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said freshman Trent Hill played so well at safety against Troy that he earned playing time in coming games.
Hill, an M.L. King High grad, was part of a defense that played 102 snaps against the Trojans. Minter said Hill didn’t do everything perfectly, but was in the right place a majority of the time. Hill finished with five tackles.
Not bad for a guy who spent the previous seven weeks on the scout team, working on opponent’s plays and not Georgia State’s. Hill is one of 15 freshmen who Miles said have played this season.
“I was in my playbook every night (last week),” Hill said. He credited the coaches and his teammates, particularly Arrington Jordan and Demarius Matthews, with helping him prepare.
Hill started because of an injury to Kail Singleton, who was back at practice Monday.
Hill said the speed of the game was faster than in practice, but he got the hang of it after a few plays. He said his best play came when he broke up a pass along the sideline intended for Eric Thomas.
Texas State, which runs the option, will offer a different test than Troy, which likes to spread the field with its passing game. Hill already sounded like a veteran when discussing the Bobcats.
“We have to be really, really, really disciplined this week,” he said. “The option is a difficult offense to play against.”
Martin ready: Center Ronald Martin is another player who saw his first significant playing time of the season Saturday.
Martin took over the middle of the line when Cade Yates sustained an ankle injury. Miles said Yates will miss Saturday’s game, which means Martin, a junior from Rockdale County High, may make the second start of his career.
“Ronald was very prepared,” John said. “He came in and his exacts words were, ‘Cade went down. I’m in. Let’s get it,’” he said.
Martin started the season as the third-string center. Starter Michael Davis left the team after the second game to focus on academics, which elevated everyone on the depth chart.
Martin said he had a feeling that he may start during the bus ride to the game. He actually fell asleep on the short trip to the Georgia Dome.
“I was like ‘man, what if I play today?’” he said. “And then I was like, ‘I might play today.’”
It’s the same feeling he experienced last year when an injury to another player moved Martin into the starting lineup against South Carolina State.
