Football Closes Out Season at Furman This Saturday
11/12/2008 5:17:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern Football closes out the 2008 season this Saturday (Nov. 15) at Southern Conference rival Furman. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be televised live on SportSouth.
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. Fans inside Paladin Stadium can listen to the broadcast on 101.7 FM.
Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ?Inside Georgia Southern Football with Chris Hatcher' is on the air at Locos Grill and Pub. Coach Hatcher and Chris Blair will recap the previous game and look ahead to the upcoming game against Furman. The broadcast will be carried live on Eagle 102.9 FM and on the www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website.
Georgia Southern owns a 12-7 edge in the all-time series, one that began with a National Championship on the line during the first two meetings (a 44-42 win in 1985 and 17-12 defeat in 1988). The Eagles are looking to end the Paladins' current two-game win streak in the series, both games being decided on a missed field goal. A win over Furman would guarantee Georgia Southern its 25th winning season in 27 years since football was re-established.
The Eagles (5-5 overall, 3-4 SoCon) are coming off a disappointing 27-17 loss at home to Samford. Entering this weekend, Georgia Southern ranks 22nd nationally scoring 33.3 points per game. The Eagles stand 34th in total offense (384.3 ypg), 21st in redzone offense (86 percent), 14th in punt returns (14.1 ypr), 27th in sacks (2.4 per game) and 24th in tackles for a loss (7.1 per game).
Senior defensive end Dakota Walker (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) continues his late season tear, adding to his Southern Conference lead following a 1.5 sack performance against Samford. He leads the SoCon with 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss, ranking 13th and 11th, respectively, among the national leaders.
Senior linebacker Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) is right behind Walker in both categories, tied for 31st in sacks (6.5) and 26th in tackles for a loss (14). Covington remains third in the SoCon and is 32nd nationally averaging 9.0 tackles per game.
Senior wide receiver Raja Andrews (Swainsboro/Swainsboro) can close out his career by adding to his records for: career receptions (119), most 100-yard receiving games in a career and season (5), season receiving yards (791) and season receptions (56). With 10 receptions in the Samford game, Andrews matched his single-game record set the previous week.
Andrews ranks 23rd nationally averaging 87.9 receiving yards, is tied for 17th with 6.2 receptions per game, 13th averaging 14.1 yards per punt return and 31st with 129 all-purpose yards per game.
Fellow senior receivers Tim Camp (Harlem/Harlem) and Michael McIntosh (Jacksonville, FL/First Coast) over the last six games have combined for 40 receptions, 522 yards and six touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Antonio Henton (Fort Valley/Peach County) stands second in the SoCon and 27th nationally averaging 247 yards of total offense per game. In the Samford game, Henton tied a single-game record completing 27 passes (in 44 attempts for 202 yards). He now owns the program's season records in: completions (155), yards (1,842), touchdowns (15), most 200-yard passing games (5) and total offensive plays (431).
Henton also ranks 24th in the country responsible for 14.4 points per game. Over the last five games he is averaging 290 yards of total offense, accounted for 13 touchdowns and recorded a passing efficiency of 122.89.
Senior Quentin Taylor (Apopka, FL/Apopka) continues his lead in the Southern Conference and enters the game 13th nationally averaging 10.6 tackles per game.
Redshirt-freshman kicker Adrian Mora (Dalton/Dalton) extended his streak to seven straight games kicking a field goal (every game of his collegiate career) thanks to a 26-yarder versus Samford. The redshirt-freshman kicker improved to 29-for-29 in extra points and 9-for-11 in field goals, currently the team leader with 56 points. He does not meet the minimum for games played, however, if Mora had he would rank among the Southern Conference ?Top 3' in all three categories (extra points, field goals and points scored).
Furman (7-3, 4-2) enters the game needing two wins in the final two weeks to secure a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs. Jordan Sorrells ranks 41st nationally with a 133.75 passing efficiency rating and is 47th averaging 211 yards of total offense. He has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,127 yards and 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Mike Brown is tied for 52nd averaging 120 all-purpose yards. He leads the ground attack with 717 yards and five TDs. Tersoo Uhaa has rushed for a team-leading seven scores. William Middleton leads the defense with four interceptions while Max Lerner has picked off three passes.
