Eagles Falls for the First Time in 2011 at Appalachian State
10/30/2011 12:07:00 AM | Football
BOONE, N.C. - The Georgia Southern Football team (7-1, 5-1) bounced back from a 17-3 halftime deficit, but fell 24-17 after a 15-yard touchdown grab by Brian Quick early in the fourth quarter held up for Appalachian State (6-2, 4-1). The Eagles dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten and lost just their second game in the last 15 contests dating back to the 2010 win over top-ranked Appalachian State at Paulson Stadium.
"We were able to come out and tie it up. Great run by Darrieon Robinson, great individual effort to tie it up at 17-17. Unfortunately, that last TD down there, we blew an assignment, let their best player run wide open all by himself in the back of the end zone," stated Head Coach Jeff Monken. "Just couldn't make a play down there. Had a chance at the end, just couldn't make the play. Credit to Appalachian State, they've got a great football team and are well coached."
GSU had an opportunity to tie the game inside of the Mountaineer 10 yardline following the Quick touchdown but turned the ball over on downs after a pair of incomplete passes with less than five minutes remaining. The Eagles went to J.J. Wilcox (Cairo, Ga.) on the final two plays of the drive, the first of which went in and out of his hands in the back of the endzone.
Georgia Southern's running game tallied the lowest rushing total of the season, 135 yards, and posted 201 yards of total offense. Robert Brown (Macon, Ga.) led the team with 47 yards on the ground. Jerick McKinnon (Marietta, Ga.) added 40 yards, while Jaybo Shaw (Flowery Branch, Ga.) carried the ball 17 times for a net of 37 yards. He also completed four passes for 66 yards.
Jamal Jackson compiled nearly all of the Mountaineers 320 total yards of offense. In his third start of the season under center, he threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another 54 yards on the ground. Jackson completed four passes to Brian Quick for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia Southern trailed for just the second time all year when Appalachian State scored a first-quarter touchdown following the Eagles' first interception of the season. Jamal Jackson capped the six play drive with a 25-yard pass to Andrew Peacock just five minutes into the opening period.
"Defensively, the opening drive they go down and score, hate to give up points on the opening drive. It's a great confidence booster for the other team, but we knuckled down after that," said Monken.
The Eagles trailed at halftime with their only points in the first half coming on a 22 yard field goal by Adrian Mora (Dalton, Ga.). Georgia Southern bounced back from the rough start on their first drive of the third quarter. Wilcox scored from three yards out to cap off a 12 play 60-yard drive, pulling the Eagles within a score, 17-10.
Darreion Robinson (Bishop, Ga.) picked up a few blocks and managed to stay up off the ground on a 46-yard highlight reel punt return to tie the contest at 17-17 just minutes into the fourth quarter. Appalachian State quickly answered the first tie of the ballgame with a nine play 67 yard drive and led 24-17 with 9:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles' defense kept the teams chances alive by forcing three three-and-out drives and intercepting a pass to setup GSU's best scoring chance in the final minutes. Laron Scott (Warner Robins, Ga.) picked off a Jackson pass on the Mountaineer 35 yardline and returned it inside the 10 yardline. The Eagles were unable to find the endzone and turned the ball over on downs.
"Well there was a goal to beat Appalachian. Unfortunately, we didn't get that done. But we're still in the hunt for a SoCon Championship fortunately. Everybody in the league has at least one loss, but the only way we're going to stay in the hunt is by winning next week," said Monken.
Georgia Southern hosts homecoming and its final home game of the regular season next week. They face The Citadel in a 2 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Paulson Stadium and will honor their seniors before the game.
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