The Sports Inquirer

Behind a career-high 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Marcus Carroll, Georgia State won its season opener at home over Rhode Island 42-35 at Center Parc Stadium. 

Other highlights for the Panthers (1-0) included quarterback Darren Grainger throwing for 193 yards and two touchdowns while completing 16 of his 20 passes. He also had 51 yards on the ground. 

Both teams combined for nearly 1,000 total yards of offense with the Rams outpacing the Panthers 520-424.

Rhode Island (0-1) tied the score at 21-21 on its first possession of the second half at the 14:12 mark of the third quarter on Darius Savege’s 63-yard touchdown catch up the middle from Kasim Hill. The Rams’ quarterback threw for a game-high 408 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.

The Panthers’ defense looked to have stopped the Rams’ offense later in the quarter but a roughing the kicker call during a punt attempt kept the drive going. Rhode Island took advantage of the extra opportunity and took its first lead of the game with 8:02 left in the third quarter when Hill linked up with Marquis Buchanan on a 28-yard TD pass. Buchanan had a game-high 101 receiving yards on two catches.

Carroll’s 23-yard touchdown run up the middle tied the score at 28-28 midway through the third quarter.

The Panthers’ defense took part in the scoring as Hill’s pass intended for John Erby on the right sideline was intercepted by Gavin Pringle and returned 21 yards for a touchdown, giving the home team the 35-28 lead late in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hill rushed up the middle for two yards to convert a fourth-and-one inside Georgia State territory. The Panthers eventually forced a Rams’ punt.

On Georgia State’s subsequent possession, Carroll’s 12-yard touchdown run up the middle made the score 42-28 in favor of the home team.

The scoring outburst continued on Rhode Island’s next possession with Hill’s five-yard touchdown run, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 42-35 with 6:27 left in regulation.

Carroll’s two yard run on fourth-and-one sealed the victory.

Georgia State scored on its first possession as Granger connected with Robert Lewis on a 39-yard touchdown pass down the middle. Lewis had a team-high 97 receiving yards on seven catches.

The Panthers’ defense forced the Rams into a 33-yard field goal attempt by Ty Groff which hit the right post and was no good.

Georgia State proceeded to increase its lead to 14-0 on its following drive culminating in a one-yard TD run by Carroll.

Rhode Island got on the board early in the second quarter on Hill’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Erby on an inside slant, making the score 14-7 in favor of the Panthers.

Grainger’s 42 yard touchdown pass to Talique Williams on Georgia State’s next possession made the score 21-7. 

The Panthers stopped the Rams’ next drive on an interception of a pass by Hill intended for Erby by Cody Jones in the end zone.

Rhode Island cut the deficit to 21-14 late in the second quarter on Gabe Sloat’s 15-yard TD catch from Hill.

Both teams were able to move the ball offensively in the first half highlighted by them going a combine 14-of-16 on third-down conversions.

Grainger completed 14-of-15 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He was matched by Hill completing 15-of-23 passes for a game-high 177 yards and two touchdowns through the first two quarters.

Rhode Island outgained Georgia State in first half total yards 242-228.