The Sports Inquirer

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Georgia State dominated Georgia Southern on Saturday to cruise to a 34-7 win at Paulson Stadium and earn bowl eligibility for the first time in program history. The Panthers handed the Eagles their worst loss at home in program history and snapped Georgia Southern’s 11-game home field winning streak.

Georgia State (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) won its fourth-straight game and will learn its bowl fate on Sunday afternoon. Georgia Southern fell to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Sun Belt play.

Senior Nick Arbuckle finished the game 20-of-32 for 346 yards passing and three touchdowns.

One of those touchdowns went to freshman Penny Hart who caught seven passes for 129 yards and became just the second receiver in program history to go over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He joins current Kansas City Chief Albert Wilson as the only 1,000-yard receivers in school history. Hart also tied Wilson’s GSU season record with his eighth touchdown reception.

Kyler Neal boosted the Georgia State running game with two rushing touchdowns, while Glenn Smith ran 13 times for 83 yards. The Panthers finished the game with 143 yards rushing, outrushing Georgia Southern which finished with just 135 yards.

Georgia State’s defense held the Eagles to just 203 yards of offense, the fewest allowed under head coach Trent Miles. The seven points are also the fewest allowed under Miles.

With the score tied at 7-7 at half, Georgia State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions of the second half.

First, Arbuckle hit Robert Davis over the middle for an 18-yard scoring pass, capping a 5-play, 81-yard drive and giving GSU a 13-7 lead.

After GSU forced a punt, Arbuckle moved the Panthers 85 yards on five plays. Senior Donovan Harden made a great catch for a 27-yard gain, Smith had a 22-yard run, and then Keith Rucker caught a 29-yard pass over the middle and then a 4-yard touchdown. That extended GSU’s lead to 20-7.

Then Neal rushed for his pair of scores, first on a 1-yard plunge and then on a 28-yard run to give the Panthers a 34-7 lead with nine minutes left.

After a scoreless first quarter in which the Georgia State defense allowed just one first down and 26 yards, Georgia State got on the scoreboard first on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Arbuckle to Hart with 14:07 to play in the second quarter.

But the Eagles answered on their next possession, aided by three Georgia State penalties to drive 63 yards, capped by L.A. Ramsby’s 1-yard touchdown run.

The Georgia State defense came up with big plays on the Eagles final two possessions of the first half. With the Eagles in field goal range, Batiste forced a fumble on a pitch. The Eagles recovered, but on the next play, Peterson had a tackle for loss, and then Georgia Southern missed a field goal.

Georgia Southern was driving again late in the first half when Batiste ended the threat with an interception at the GSU 5-yard line. Batiste’s third interception of the season ties the Georgia State season record.