Eagles Lose Overtime Thriller

ELON, N.C. – Georgia Southern lost another overtime heartbreaker, dropping a 36-33 decision at Elon Saturday (Oct. 13). The Eagles fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Southern Conference.

GS allowed the fewest rushing yards in program history (minus-19 by Elon) and the double-overtime matches the longest contest ever (2 OT last year against Appalachian State). It was the first-ever win by Elon in eight meetings with the Eagles. The nine combined field goals tie a NCAA FCS single-game record. Nevada (five) and Northern Arizona (four) combined for nine successful field goals in a game on Oct. 9, 1982. Nevada (five) and Weber State (four) connected on nine field goals in a contest on Nov. 6, 1982.

Georgia Southern started with the ball in the first OT. Jesse Hartley hit from 41 yards and Elon took over. The defense held and on third down nearly came away with a turnover when Larry Beard nearly intercepted Scott Riddle. GS forced Andrew Wilcox to attempt a 39-yarder. He missed the kick but the Eagles were called for offsides. He hit from 34 to force another OT.

In the second overtime Beard and Branden Daniel got a sack on first down. Two incomplete passes later set Wilcox up from 49 yards and the junior easily hit it. The Eagles’ offense went 3-and-out and Hartley fell short on his 39-yard attempt.

“We felt like we played hard at times and the breaks did not go our way. We came up short again in overtime, it’s very disappointing. It’s not a very good feeling to get beat,” said head coach Chris Hatcher. “You have to take advantage of the breaks when they come your way and we didn’t capitalize. There were a couple of times we could have scored touchdowns and we had to settle for field goals. We missed a couple of kicks. There was the offsides at the end of the game... some things you can’t do and win on the road.”

It took GS three plays to strike first late in the opening quarter. Jayson Foster had a 24-yard run followed by Lamar Lewis’ eight yard scamper. Lewis took the handoff and broke through the left side for a 54-yard touchdown, his second TD this season. Hartley’s extra point made it 7-0 with 3:52 left in the first.

The Eagles forced fourth down, including a sack by Daniel in the series, but were flagged for roughing the kicker giving the Phoenix (4-2, 2-1) a fresh set of downs. Wilcox put Elon on the board with a 48-yard field goal, a career-best and at the time tied for the fifth-longest in program history.

Hartley, who kicked a game-winning 54-yard field goal as time expired last week against South Dakota State, hit from 49 yards out with 11:32 left in the first half extending the lead to 10-3.

Riddle avoided a sack on 3rd-and-16 and hit Bo Williamson on a 36-yard gain. The Phoenix drove down to the 15 but had to settle for a Wilcox 32-yard field goal with 7:45 left in the half. On their next drive Riddle found Williamson on a 40-yard touchdown and Elon took its first lead of the game, 13-10.

Near the end of the half, Elon had 1st-and-goal from the five. The Eagles stopped Dontay Taylor shy of the goal line, then later on third down E.J. Webb made an open field tackle on Taylor, stopping him at the one. However, on fourth down Riddle completed a shovel pass to Taylor and took a 20-10 lead.

Wilcox attempted a squib kick but Jermaine Murphy deflected the ball and recovered as the Eagles took over on Elon’s 47. Foster hit Lynon Jefferson for 21 yards and then the senior quarterback scrambled for 14 yards. That set up Hartley’s 29-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 20-13 at halftime.

The Eagles dominated the rushing attack, 158 yards to Elon’s minus-11. However, the Phoenix threw for 182 yards compared to Georgia Southern’s 20.

Elon took the opening kick of the third quarter and marched into Eagle territory. Wilcox’s 41-yard field goal made it a 10 point game.

The Eagles went 3-and-out but junior defensive back Chris Covington intercepted Riddle. It was the second interception this year for the junior safety. Foster converted on 4th-and-1 then two plays later scored from four yards out making it 23-20.

On Elon’s next possession it was Carson Hill picking Riddle off, his second career interception also his second in as many games. Chris Teal turned in a season-long 23-yard run then followed with an 11-yard rush. Hartley nailed a 22-yarder to tie the score with 5:16 left in the third quarter.

Two plays into the fourth quarter Hartley just missed from 43 yards out. On the ensuing Elon drive the defense came through with three key plays – a sack by David Lewis, an open field tackle from Ronnie Wiggins and another sack thanks to Beard. The Eagles eventually took over on its own 46 after the punt.

On 3rd-and-long, Foster found Irving Campbell on a 17-yard reception to keep the drive alive. It was Campbell’s first reception and only the fourth completion by Foster in the game. Foster broke through the left side on third down for a 33-yard touchdown but it was called back on a holding penalty. A pass completion to Campbell for an apparent first down was also called back on another holding call.

This time on 3rd-and-17 Foster hit Campbell for 15 yards down to the 31. Mike Hamilton converted the fourth down, powering his way to the six yard line. On the next play he finished off the 9-play, 54-yard scoring drive scoring his fourth rushing TD this year. Hartley’s extra point put the Eagles ahead 30-23.

Elon drove deep into GS territory. Riddle got the Phoenix down to the one. He was stopped twice trying to rush in, and the second time looked to have the ball stripped and recovered by the Eagles but he was whistled down. On third down the shovel pass worked again to Taylor and the extra point tied the game with 5:33 remaining in regulation.

The 21st-ranked Eagles were led by Lewis' 103 yards. Hamilton contributed 75 yards while Foster added 74 on the ground, and all three recorded a touchdown. Foster completed 5-of-14 passes for 55 yards. GS had 322 rushing yards and out-gained the Phoenix in total yards 377-284.

Wiggins paced the defense with a career-high 10 tackles. Beard had 2.5 sacks, matching his career total heading into the game. The defense sacked Riddle seven times and recorded 10 tackles for a loss. Hartley hit a career-high four field goals from 49, 29, 22 and 41.

Riddle completed 26-of-48 passes for 303 yards and three TDs to go with his two interceptions. Williamson caught seven passes for 128 yards. Taylor had 16 rushing yards but with Riddle getting sacked seven times he lost 41 yards rushing.

The previous rushing low by a Georgia Southern opponent was five yards by Samford in October 1989.

Elon travels to Wofford next Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Georgia Southern travels to Appalachian State next Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will be televised live on MASN and picked up locally on WGSA in Savannah.

Category: Football

Published on Saturday, 13 October 2007 00:05