Eagles Post Solid Effort in Loss to #3 Alabama
11/20/2011 7:29:00 PM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Georgia Southern Football team put forth a solid effort on the road in their final regular season game of the year. The Eagles fell 45-21 to the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday and now await the FCS Playoffs. GSU had a number of bright spots in the contest, including scoring the most points and rushing for the most yards allowed by UA this season.
"I am proud of our team and how hard they fought. I thought our kids put forth a tremendous effort against what I think is one of the best college football teams in America," said Head Coach Jeff Monken.
Alabama (10-1) outscored Georgia Southern (9-2) 21-7 in the second half to pull away with the win. The Eagles trailed by 10 points at halftime but could have entered the locker room tied at 17 all if it had not been for a 10-point swing on a blocked field goal in the first quarter.
Adrian Mora (Dalton, Ga.) had not missed a field goal all season before Donte Hightower blocked his attempt with 5:12 to play in the quarter. With Alabama leading 3-0, Dre Kirkpatrick scooped the loose ball and ran 55 yards for a touchdown.
Alabama added a second touchdown on a 10 play 71 yards drive to lead 17-0. However, the Eagles did not give up and scored twice in the second quarter to pull within 10 points, 45-21. Dominique Swope (Buford, Ga.) busted an 82 yard run around right end, the longest rush allowed by Alabama this season, for the Eagles first touchdown.
Swope powered an Eagle offense that nearly doubled the most rushing allowed by Alabama this season. He carried the ball 18 times and accounted for 153 yards of the team's 302 yards. Jaybo Shaw (Flowery Branch, Ga.) completed one pass for 39 yards, a second quarter touchdown toss to Johnathan Bryant (Cairo, Ga.) right before halftime.
Alabama marched down the field on its first drive of the second half, scoring a touchdown on a 10 play 85 yard drive. Brad Smelley caught a 34-yard pass from A.J. McCarron to take a 31-14 lead. Laron Scott (Warner Robins, Ga.) pulled Georgia Southern back within 10 points with a 95-yard kickoff return, the third longest in GSU history, on the ensuing kickoff.
The Crimson Tide's offense combined for 462 yards and featured a balanced attack. Trent Richardson led a ground game that posted nearly 300 yards on the ground with 175 yards rushing and two touchdowns. A.J. McCarron completed three touchdown passes in 14 completions and totaled 190 yards passing.
The Georgia Southern Football team will watch the FCS Playoff Selection Show Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Bishop Fieldhouse.
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