Georgia State got the first taste of its rugged non-conference schedule Saturday. And it wasn’t exactly sweet.
Army, a nine-game winner a season ago, came to Center Parc Stadium and roughed up the mistake-prone Panthers 43-10 in a contest that went sideways early and never got turned around.
Georgia State’s offense failed to get in synch, the defense could not slow Army’s precision running game and the Panthers never were able to match Army’s physicality. With games looming against No. 10 North Carolina and Auburn this month, there is much work to be done.
“We didn’t play well all the way around,” Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott said. “It was an embarrassing effort. I told the team, it falls on my shoulders. I prepared the team, and it wasn’t the right way. But I know how to fix that and make the players understand what it takes to change that mindset. The head football coach did a poor job establishing a winning mindset and winning effort for our team.”
The Panthers were playing without three starters – receiver Sam Pinckney, cornerback Quavian White and outside linebacker Jontrey Hunter. Their absences had little to do with the final outcome.
Army never allowed GSU quarterback Quad Brown the luxury of time. He was marked with a spy on most plays and never had time to throw. Brown completed 12 of 20 passes for 129 yards -- his second-lowest total since becoming the starter -- and one touchdown and was sacked three times -- all by 6-foot-7 outside linebacker Andre Carter.
Destin Coates led the Panthers on the ground with 48 yards on 13 carries and scored his team’s lone touchdown. Jamari Thrash caught a career-best seven passes for 87 yards.
The Georgia State defense gave up 258 rushing yards and rarely forced Army into long-down situations. The Cadets were 7-for-16 on third-down conversions and 2-for-3 on fourth downs. Army controlled the clock, owning it for 42 of the 60 minutes.
“This game is about toughness, and you quickly saw who the tougher team was today,” Elliott said.
The Panthers’ first mistake – a fumble by Coates that Army’s Raleigh Oxendine recovered – set the pace for the first half. The Cadets converted the takeaway into a 4-yard Tyson Ridley touchdown and the early 7-0 lead.
“We have had minimal turnovers in camp,” Elliott said. “You know if you turn the ball over against them, you’re behind a possession. It was not a good feeling. You try to keep your head high, but it didn’t work out.”
After going three-and-out, the Panthers appeared to have turned the tables when Army’s Caleb John had Michael Hayes’ punt glance off him and into the arms of Jacorey Crawford. But the play was negated because of a holding call.
The same thing happened on the next play. Army’s Tyrell Robinson fumbled the punt, and Georgia State’s Jamyest Williams recovered at the 25. But another holding penalty wiped it out, and the Panthers had to punt for the third time.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had to punt three times on one possession,” Elliott said. “That could have changed the momentum. We could have matched their score, and then you talk about a momentum swing.”
The Cadets took advantage of the largesse and drove for a touchdown, with A.J. Howard – a Stephens County product and one of 29 Georgians on the Army roster -- scoring on a 4-yard run.
Army went ahead 21-0 on Jakobi Buchanan’s 2-yard run before Georgia State settled in for a 75-yard drive that was finished by Coates’ 16-yard touchdown run.
After forcing Army to punt, Georgia State took over at its 7-yard line with 1:20 left in the half, hopeful of a late score to get back in the game. Instead, Brown’s first-down pass was intercepted by Army’s Jabari Moore and returned to the 9. Quarterback Christian Anderson scored from the 4 as time ran out and Army had a 27-7 halftime lead.
“The bottom line is we weren’t efficient,” Georgia State center Malik Sumter said. “We didn’t do what we were supposed to do. We’ve got to turn the page and get ready for North Carolina.”
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