Eagles Conclude Homestand Against South Dakota State
10/3/2007 4:26:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern Football renews its series against South Dakota State, facing the Jackrabbits Saturday (Oct. 6) at Paulson Stadium. The Family Weekend game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Georgia Southern Athletics announced the game will be video streamed live on the GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website and is available for purchase. Those interested can sign up on Eagle Vision and purchase the game itself, or sign up for exclusive Athletic Department video content with a monthly or yearly subscription.
The Eagles, coming off a 50-21 victory last week against Western Carolina, are finishing a three-game stretch at Paulson Stadium. Georgia Southern has captured both meetings against South Dakota State: 63-7 at Paulson Stadium in 2004 and 55-42 the following year in Brookings, S.D.
Georgia Southern's offense has averaged 43.8 points thus far, fourth-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 four games of a season. The Eagles lead the nation in rushing (390.3) and total offense (504.8 yards) while allowing only three sacks this season, tied for 15th-fewest.
On special teams the Eagles rank 11th in punt returns (14.5 yards per return) while senior Daniel Jordan and the squad ranks ninth in net punting (37.1 yards).
Senior quarterback Jayson Foster continues to lead the nation averaging 197.5 rushing yards per game. He also ranks third nationally in scoring (19.5 ppg), fifth in total offense (309.8), fourth in all-purpose yards (211.0) and tied for 56th in punt returns (6.7 yards).
Running back Chris Teal is the reigning Southern Conference ?Freshman of the Week' after totaling 102 all-purpose yards in the win over Western.
Freshman E.J. Webb and junior Chris Covington lead the defense with 19 tackles each. Sophomore Carson Hill is next with 15 tackles and a team-leading three pass break-ups.
After losing their first three games to nationally-ranked opponents from the Gateway Conference (29-26 to Western Illinois, 23-17 to Youngstown State and 31-17 to Northern Iowa), South Dakota State has won its last two by a combined 83-3. Most recently the Jackrabbits blanked Stephen F. Austin 45-0.
Parker Douglass set three school records during the win, including a 57-yard field goal, one of three FGs he hit in the game. Jimmy Rogers and Conrad Kjerstad each returned an interception for a touchdown. Ryan Berry was 17-of-27 passing for 220 yards and two touchdowns. JaRon Harris caught four passes for 111 yards and a score. SDSU out-gained Stephen F. Austin 364-219 in total offense and picked off five passes for 132 return yards.
Cory Koenig leads the overall rushing attack with 312 yards and four touchdowns. Kyle Minett has 235 yards and two scores. Berry has thrown for 976 yards and eight touchdowns to five interceptions thrown. He has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes. Jimmy Rogers (49), Justin Kubesh (47) and Chris Johnson (45) lead the squad in tackles.
