Football Travels to Elon for League Contest

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Football returns to Southern Conference action this Saturday (Oct. 13), traveling to Elon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised live on SportSouth.

The Eagles improved to 4-1 overall (1-1 SoCon) following their 41-38 victory last week against South Dakota State. Jesse Hartley (Tallahassee, FL/Lincoln) kicked the game-winning 54-yard field goal as time expired for the win. The junior place kicker earned National ‘Player of the Week’ honors by The Sports Network and College Sporting News.

For the first time in a year Georgia Southern enters a game nationally-ranked. The 21st-ranked Eagles (Sports Network and FCS Coaches) returned to the 'Top 25' since dropping out on October 9, 2006.

Georgia Southern’s offense averages a SoCon-leading 43.2 points per game, third-best in the nation. This year’s team joins the 1999 squad as the only GS teams to score at least 38 points in the first five games of a season. The Eagles continue to lead the nation in rushing (357.4) and total offense (494.0) in addition to leading the league in time of possession (32:26).

On special teams the Eagles rank 13th in punt returns (14.1 yards per return). The defense is tied for third nationally recovering nine fumbles and is tied for 19th in turnovers gained (14).

Senior quarterback Jayson Foster (Canton/Cherokee County) enters the game third nationally in rushing (176.4), eighth in total offense (311.2), eighth in all-purpose yards (192.0), tied for third in scoring (16.8 ppg) and 49th in punt returns (7.9).

Junior Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood), coming off a career-high 11-tackle performance against South Dakota State, leads the defense with 30 stops. Sophomore Carson Hill (Haddock/Baldwin County) is next with 24 tackles and a team-high five pass break-ups. Freshman linebacker E.J. Webb (Roanoke, VA/Fleming) has recorded 22 tackles.

Led by true-freshman quarterback (and SoCon ‘Offensive Player of the Week’) Scott Riddle, Elon stands 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the league. Riddle has taken the league by storm, entering the game first nationally in completions (30.2 per game), sixth in total offense (321.8 ypg) and 21st in passing efficiency (144.25). Sophomore Terrell Hudgins leads the nation averaging 10.8 receptions per game and is second with 126.2 receiving yards per game. Senior Michael Mayer is close behind in both categories, tied for third with 8.2 receptions and 14th with 96.2 receiving yards.

Brandon Lane ranks ninth averaging 43.2 yards per punt. Karlos Sullivan is sixth in punt returns (15.4) and Mayers is fifth averaging better than 34 yards per kickoff return.

Category: Football

Published on Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:09