The Sports Inquirer attended the presser of Georgia State football player Darren Grainger following the team’s 31-28 home loss to Louisiana Monroe in Sun Belt play November 12. Topics with the senior quarterback included the loss, his interception that was returned for a touchdown by the Warhawks and the post-game scuffle between the two teams.
The Sports Inquirer attended the presser of Georgia State football head coach Shawn Elliott following the team’s 31-28 home loss to Louisiana Monroe in Sun Belt play November 12. Topics included the loss, how costly turnovers hurt the Panthers, the post-game scuffle between the players, the struggles of special teams and rebounding from the defeat ahead of two road contests against James Madison and Marshall to conclude the regular season.
It was a disappointing Senior Day for the Georgia State football team as critical turnovers lead to a 31-28 home loss to Louisiana Monroe Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) saw their two-game winning streak snapped while the Warhawks (4-6, 3-3) have now won their last two contests and keep their hopes of bowl eligibility alive.
Georgia State led in total offensive yards 535-300 and converted 13 out of 24 third-down attempts. The Panthers also converted on four out of seven fourth-down attempts and scored on all four possessions in the red zone.
Georgia State’s defense limited Monroe to a third-down conversion rate of three-for-12.
Offensive superlatives for Georgia State included quarterback Darren Grainger who threw for a game-high 349 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 31 yards. Jamari Thrash had a game-high 164 receiving yards on nine catches and Marcus Carroll had a game-high 110 rushing yards on 28 carries. Tucker Gregg’s two touchdowns give him 27 for the career which is a program record.
Monroe was led offensively by Chandler Rogers who threw for a team-high 225 yards. Defensive player Quae Drake had two touchdowns, one on a returned block punt and the other on an interception return for the Warhawks.
Georgia State started the second half with the ball and up 21-20. The Panthers lost possession of downs on an incomplete pass from Grainger to Aubry Payne.
After forcing a Warhawks’ punt, the Panthers increased their lead to 28-20 on a 21-yard touchdown catch by Ja’Cyais Credle on a fade route the back of the end zone on the left side.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Monroe kicker Calum Sutherland hit his third field goal fo the day, this one from 54 yards and grazed the crossbar to cut into Georgia State’s lead and making the score 28-23.
Monroe was driving the ball down the field on its next possession and got the ball into Panthers’ territory but Antavious Lane intercepted a deflected pass by Chandler Rogers intended for Zach Rasmussen.
The Warhawks took the lead on a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Drake. Rogers’ pass attempt was completed to Jevin Frett in the end zone on the two-point conversion giving Monroe the 31-28 lead with 6:23 left in regulation.
The Panthers got the ball back and on fourth and two from their own 48 yard line, Grainger was only able to gain one yard on a rush, tackled by Zach Woodward.
Georgia State’s defense forced a Monroe punt and gave its offense the ball on the 16-yard line and less than three minutes left on the clock.
The drive included multiple fourth-down conversions including a 17-yard completion by Grainger to Credle on 4th and 16. However, the drive stalled when the Panthers were held two yards short on 4th and 14 on a 12-yard catch by Thrash.
The Panthers got on the board on their first possession of the contest on a four-yard touchdown run down the right side by Grainger, making the score 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Monroe scored their first points on the next possession on a 44-yard field goal by Sutherland at the 6:35 mark of the first quarter.
Georgia State increased its lead to 14-3 later in the quarter when Gregg took an inside handoff four yards for a touchdown. A highlight of the drive was an over-the-shoulder catch by Thrash on a 49-yard pass from Grainger.
Monroe got a boost when Georgia State punter Michael Hayes’ attempt was blocked by Nick Torres, recovered in the air by Drake and ran back 23 yards for a touchdown at the 14:16 mark of the second quarter.
The Panthers rebounded on their next possession, driving the ball 75 yards on nine plays culminating with a nine-yard touchdown run down the middle by Gregg early in the second quarter.
Sutherland’s second field goal of the day, this one for 36 yards, cut Georgia State’ lead to 21-13 with 5:58 remaining in the first half.
Andrew Henry’s four-yard touchdown run for Monroe cut the Panthers lead to 21-20 at the 2:27 mark of the second quarter.
Georgia State turned the ball over on its next possession when Talilique Williams fumbled the ball after catching a pass from Grainger which was recovered by Fitzroy Gardner to end the first half.
The Sports Inquirer attended the presser of Georgia State football player Justin Abraham following the team’s 31-17 home win over Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference play October 29. The sophomore linebacker had an interception in the contest. Topics included the victory, the Panthers’ defense having six sacks, defending the Monarchs’ offense and more.
The Sports Inquirer attended the presser of Georgia State football player Darren Grainger following the team’s 31-17 home win over Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference play October 29. The senior quarterback passed for 195 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Topics with the senior quarterback included the victory, the Panthers having more than 37 minutes of possession in the contest, the potential of wide receiver Tailique Williams, Tucker Gregg becoming the program’s all-time rushing leader and the importance of the victory in the landscape of the season.
Using a ball-control offense and a dominant second-half effort, Georgia State football emerged with a 31-17 home victory over Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference play at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.
The Panthers (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) led in time of possession having the ball for 37:10 in the contest. Georgia State also outscored the Monarchs (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) 17-3 in the second half.
“Big win in general,” Panthers’ head coach Shawn Elliott said. “All wins are tough but its good to go out and get one especially on Homecoming. I thought we did a really nice job controlling the game throughout. Very proud of our football team.”
Offensive standouts for Georgia State included senior running back Tucker Gregg who had rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Gregg is now the program’s all-time leading rusher with 2,165 career yards surpassing Tra Barnett who had 2,116 yards from 2016-2019.
Quarterback Darren Grainger passed for 195 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in the win.
The Panthers outgained the Monarchs 413-283 in total offense. Georgia State gaine 218 yards on the ground in 62 attempts.
Georgia State’s defense had six sacks including two from Thomas Gore. The sack total was one short of the program record in a contest. The 26 rushing yards allowed by Old Dominion is the third-lowest total allowed by the Panthers in program history in a game.
With the score tied 14-14, Georgia State was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half but Old Dominion was penalized for roughing the kicker resulting in an automatic first down for the home team. Luke Lindenfelder was the charged defensive player and the punter was Michael Hayes.
The resulting conclusion of the drive, which included an 11-yard by Grainger on third-and-10, was a one-yard TD run by Grainger to give the Panthers the 21-14 lead at the 5:00 mark of the third quarter.
The Panthers got the ball back deep in ODU territory when Gore forced a fumble on Hayden Wolff’s rushing attempt which was recovered by Javon Dennis. On its first play from scrimmage on the subsequent possession, Marcus Carroll rushed 11 yards to the right side for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 28-14.
Georgia State increased its lead midway through the fourth quarter on Hayes’ 26-yard field goal, ending a 17-play, 84-yard drive that took 10:12 off the clock.
The Monarchs cut the deficit to 31-17 with 4:51 left in regulation on Ethan Sanchez’s 40-yard field goal.
The start of the contest didn’t go the way of Georgia State which was stopped short on a fourth-and-two attempt on its first possession of the contest on one-yard loss rush attempt by Gregg as he was tackled by EJ Green and Jason Henderson.
The Monarchs also turned the ball over on downs in their first possession when Wolff was stopped one yard short of a first down on a three-yard scramble, tackled by Jontrey Hunter.
Old Dominion got on the board first with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Wolff to Javon Harvey midway through the first quarter. Wolff had a game-high 257 passing yards and Harvey caught three passes for a game-high 124 yards in the loss.
Georgia State moved the ball down the field on its next possession but the drive was stalled when after receiving a pass from Grainger, Jay Dixon fumbled the ball which was forced by Robert Kennedy and recovered by Tre Hawkins III at the Monarchs’ seven-yard line.
The Panthers’ defense held firm and forced a punt that was returned 28 yards by Tailique Williams deep in Old Dominion territory. Georgia State was able to get its first score a few plays later on Gregg’s four-yard touchdown run, tying the score 7-7 with 2:29 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers took a 14-7 lead with 10:04 left in the first half when Grainger connected with Jamari Thrash on a 38-yard touchdown pass down the right side off of play action. Thrash had a team-high 87 receiving yards on three catches.
The Monarchs tied the score 14-14 at the 7:15 mark of the second quarter on Wolff’s 12-yard touchdown pass down the middle to Ali Jennings.
The Panthers once again had a productive drive offensively including on a converted fourth down on an eight-yard catch by Gregg. However, Hayes’ 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Hawkins on their final possession of the first half.
Georgia State outgained Old Dominion 252-191 in total yards through the first two quarters.
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