Game Day Central -- The Citadel at Georgia Southern
11/19/2009 3:29:00 PM | Football
Eagles Close Out Season Against The Citadel
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football closes out the 2009 season this Saturday (Nov. 21), playing host to The Citadel. Kickoff at Paulson Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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.
Every Friday prior to home games, head coach Chris Hatcher will speak at the coaches' luncheon, scheduled for 12 noon. For ticket information contact the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation at (912) 478-5520.
The game also marks Military Appreciation Day as tickets have been donated to members of armed forced. The 1989 (20th anniversary) and 1999 (10th anniversary) National Championship teams will be honored.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN ALL-TIME RECORD: Georgia Southern is playing in its 28th year of football in the modern era. The Eagles have played in 355 games since the re-start in 1982, putting together a 255-99-1 (.720) record.
SCHEMES: Georgia Southern will run a multiple formation on offense and defense. The Citadel runs a spread option formation on offense and 4-3 alignment on defense.
HEAD COACHES: Georgia Southern head coach Chris Hatcher is in his third year with the Eagles and 10th overall as a head coach. He owns a 17-15 record at Georgia Southern and 93-27 overall... Kevin Higgins is 24-31 in his fifth year at The Citadel. He owns a 80-65-1 record in 13 years as a head coach.
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE: Georgia Southern has done a good job in recent years closing out the regular season on a high note... The Eagles held on for a 17-10 win at #14 Furman last year... GS lost two straight from 2006-07 ('07 at FBS Colorado State), but prior to that won every year from 1995-2005... The Eagles are 22-6 in regular season finales all-time.
THANK YOU SENIORS: Georgia Southern will recognize 16 seniors playing their final time at Paulson Stadium. They include: DL James Arowoselu; OL Josh Barker; LB Terrione Benefield; DL Kerry Bonds; DL Harland Bower; DL Charwel Brown; RB Chris Burnette; OL Trey Dunmon; OL Cole Fountain; LB David Lewis; OL Jonathan Loving; DB Darrell Pasco; WR Garryon Taylor; DB Ronnie Wiggins; DB Brandon Wilcher; DL Markeith Wylie.
ANOTHER CHALLENGING SCHEDULE: Georgia Southern's 2009 schedule is anything but easy... In the latest NCAA rankings, Georgia Southern ranks 11th nationally in toughest schedule. Eagle opponents have a combined 53-45 record (.541) in 2009.
PAULSON STADIUM 25th ANNIVERSARY: Georgia Southern's all-time record in Paulson Stadium is 152-29 (.840), dating back to the 1984 season... The milestone 150th win in Paulson came on September 5, 2009, when the Eagles defeated Albany 29-26... The 2009 campaign marks the 25th anniversary of 'The Prettiest Little Stadium in America'... The Eagles own the two longest home winning streaks in FCS history, having run off 39 straight victories from Nov. 8, 1997 to Dec. 15, 2001 and 38 consecutive from Oct. 5, 1985 to Sept. 22, 1990... In 2007 the Eagles ended the closest threat to their record, stopping App State's 30-game win streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium 38-35... Against the Southern Conference, GS has tallied a 50-15 (.769) mark in Paulson Stadium.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: The Citadel led 28-13 early in the fourth quarter at Chattanooga, but the Mocs scored 17 unanswered to win 31-28. Blue Cooper caught a 1-yard touchdown pass for the winning margin... Tommy Edwards completed 21-of-37 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another. Andre Roberts caught 10 of those passes totaling 107 yards and two scores. The Citadel's defense saw B.J. Coleman go 39-of-61 through the air for three TDs and an interception... Cortez Allen registered 13 tackles. Jordan Gilmore added eight stops and Rod Harland made six solo tackles, including two for a loss... The Bulldogs have dropped five of their last seven. They opened the season against common FBS opponent as Georgia Southern in North Carolina, losing 40-6... Led by Payton Award Watch List member Roberts, the Bulldogs rank ninth in punt returns. The senior All-America ranks fourth averaging 16 yards per return. He also is tied for ninth in receptions (7.2 p/g) and 44th in receiving yards (71.1 ypg)... The Citadel has been hit hard by injuries at quarterback, sending out three different players. Edwards has completed 33-of-60 passes this season for a 131.67 passing efficiency and 375 passing yards. He has thrown five touchdowns and one interception.
