Eagles Host “Blue Out” Against Appalachian State Saturday
10/30/2012 5:20:00 PM | Football
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STATESBORO, Ga. - The No. 1 ranked Georgia Southern Eagles return home to host a "Blue Out" against #14 Appalachian State Saturday at 2 p.m. GSU will also put their 14 game home winning streak, the longest active streak in the FCS, on the line at Allen E. Paulson Stadium this weekend. The game will air on ESPN3 and can be heard throughout the state on the Georgia Southern Radio Network.
After winning six-straight Southern Conference games, Georgia Southern (7-1, 6-1) has positioned itself for a share of their 10th SoCon Title with a win Saturday. The Eagles will need to slow Appalachian State's (6-3, 3-3) passing offense, which ranks second in the league with 268.9 passing yards per game. GSU will rely on their defense, which ranks first in scoring defense (16.5) and total defense (279.9), to try and stop the Mountaineers high-powered offense.
Georgia Southern also ranks second in the conference in scoring offense with 34.9 points per game and second in the FCS with 387.1 rushing yards per game. Jerick McKinnon leads the team with 734 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and is averaging just under 100 yards per game. McKinnon has also thrown three touchdown passes in just 9 completions.
Appalachian State has won five of their last six contests but fell for the second time in SoCon play against #8 Wofford, 38-28, two weeks ago. Last time out Appalachian State retained possession of the Old Mountain Jug with a 38-27 win at Western Carolina.
In a divergence from their normal offensive game plan, Steven Miller carried the ball 34 times for 245 yards and a touchdown and was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after the win over the Catamounts. Backup quarterback Logan Hallock was forced into action after an injury to Jamal Jackson early in the game with WCU. Hallock completed 20 of his 21 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia Southern trails in the all-time series with Appalachian State 12-14-1 after a 24-17 loss in Boone, N.C. a year ago. The Eagles won the last meeting in Statesboro in overtime 21-14.
Tickets for Saturday's game remain on sale through the Georgia Southern Athletic Ticket Office and can be purchased online at gseagles.com or by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS. Your ticket stub can also be used for $1 admission to Saturday's Volleyball match which begins at 7 p.m.
Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff and fans are encouraged to enter the gates prior to 15 minutes before kickoff to avoid long lines entering the stadium.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
