Eagles Renew Series with South Dakota State

STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern will take flight for the first time in 2009, traveling to South Dakota State on Saturday (Sept. 12). Kickoff at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Eastern.

Every Georgia Southern Football game can be heard on the 19 station Georgia Southern Radio Network (Eagle 102.9 FM the flagship station) and on the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. Chris Blair (play-by-play), Terry Harvin (color analyst) and Ryan Chambers (sidelines) will call the action. The pregame show begins two hours prior to kickoff. Fans inside Coughlin-Alumni Stadium can listen to the Eagles' broadcast on 92.1 FM.

SDSU will bring a No. 21 ranking (Sports Network) into its season-opener while the Eagles enter the game 26th in the latest Sports Network poll and 29th according to the FCS Coaches poll. For the Eagles this marks the second of nine games against opponents that are either ranked or receiving votes in the national polls.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two programs since 2004, and the Eagles have won the three previous contests averaging 53 points per game. In the last meeting two seasons ago at Paulson Stadium, GS intercepted a pass in the final minute and drove into range for a game-winning 54-yard field goal as time expired, a 41-38 win. The last time Georgia Southern traveled to Brookings (2005), the Eagles held off the Jackrabbits 55-42.

The Eagles (1-0) are coming off a last minute 29-26 win over Albany. Adrian Mora's career-long 44-yard field goal in the final minute proved to be the game-winner. Lee Chapple completed 30-of-43 passes for 259 yards and two scores, while true-freshman Jamere Valentine caught six passes for 79 yards and was on the receiving end of both TD passes.

Sophomore Laron Scott, making his GS debut, scored on an interception return for a touchdown. Darrell Pasco also scored points on the defensive end when he returned a blocked extra point attempt. Dion DuBose recorded 11 of his career-high 15 tackles in the first half, and sophomore K.R. Snipes finished with a personal-high nine tackles.

Charlie Edwards, another sophomore, leads the Southern Conference and ranks third nationally averaging 47.2 yards per punt. He kicked a career-best 64-yard punt in the win over Albany.

South Dakota State returns 42 letterwinners and 16 starters (six offense, eight defense, two special teams) from last year, and saw seven returners earn All-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades. Senior Ryan Crawford was named the starting quarterback last week. Kyle Minett topped the 100-yard mark six times last year rushing the ball and finished with 1,289 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also ranked third on the team with 44 receptions totaling 415 yards and four touchdowns.

The defense returns the top eight tacklers from last year, including Danny Batten who recorded 75 tackles, 14.5 TFL and eight sacks. The senior defensive end was named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list, given to the FCS 'Defensive Player of the Year'.  SDSU also recorded 18 interceptions on defense, four by Conrad Kjerstad.

Category: Football

Published on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 18:39