Photo by: Frank Fortune - Georgia Southern Athletics
Throwback Thursday – Eagles Win Fourth National Championship – December 15, 1990
11/14/2013 8:51:00 PM | Football
Georgia Southern was about to play in its fifth national championship game in the last six years.
Throwback Thursday – Eagles Win Fourth National Championship – December 15, 1990
Just after noon on December 15, 1990, Georgia Southern was about to play in its fifth national championship game in the last six years. The Eagles had already passed Eastern Kentucky, with two titles, in winning their third with the undefeated season the year before. To win a trophy, teams would have to go through Statesboro to get to Statesboro as Allen E. Paulson Stadium was the site of the national championship game for the second year.
Idaho gave the Eagles a scare at Paulson Stadium in the quarterfinals, fighting all the way through the fourth quarter, but falling short a point in a 28-27 Georgia Southern victory. It was Eugene Hayes' recovery of a fumble inside the Georgia Southern 30-yard line that prevented a Vandal go-ahead score.
The game was a contrast to Georgia Southern's playoff opener were the Eagles topped The Citadel 31-0, and limited the Bulldogs to only eight second-half yards.
The semifinal opponent, Central Florida, proved no match for the driven Eagles, falling 44-7 as the Georgia Southern defense dominated. While the Georgia Southern offense put up 35 unanswered points, the defense made its bold statement, registering 10 sacks and allowing the Knights only 81 yards in the second half.
The toughest opponent, though, would be the fourth-ranked Wolfpack, who would come to Paulson Stadium looking to knock off the Eagles and claim a championship ring. The Eagle defense didn't disappoint, and the offense, behind two rushing touchdowns by Darryl Hopkins, would put the game out of reach in the second half. An interception return by Alex Mash with less than a minute to go, brought the crowd to its feet as he crossed into the endzone.
"The feeling of this championship is unbelievable," Mash said in the post-game media interviews. "There was nothing like capping my first season by returning the interception for a touchdown. You just cannot beat this feeling."
Georgia Southern had won its fourth national championship, its second back-to-back, and had a hometown crowd charge the atmosphere -- and then they charged the field. Fans tore down one set of goalposts and less than a minute later brought down the other set.
"It was a total team effort and I'm sort of overwhelmed by this whole situation," said Hopkins after the game.
After 30 minutes of play, the Eagles held a 14-6 lead with touchdown runs by Joe Ross and Raymond Gross and kicks by Mike Dowis accounting for the points for Georgia Southern. Nevada had moved the ball some on the Eagle defense, but came away with only two field goals.
"This was exactly how all the seniors wanted to go out," said defensive end Giff Smith. "The goal line stand was a big boost to our entire team. The defense has been up and down all year, but proved in front of the nation how good we really are."
In the second half, the defense did just that. The Wolfpack used a mix of passing and running on its first possession to land on the Eagle one-yard line. Nevada had converted a third-and-10 with a 41-yard pass with a chance to narrow the lead.
From the one, the Nevada quarterback went to the right. He went to the right again, for no gain. Again he went to the right. If the spot of the ball moved at all, it was by fractions of an inch. Then he went up the middle and was denied again. After a Nevada delay of game penalty, the field goal attempt failed and the Eagles would hold Nevada scoreless in the third quarter.
Georgia Southern would outscore the Wolfpack 22-7 in the second half, with Mash's touchdown finishing off the game and starting the celebration.
"For one more time, we can say we're the best in the nation," said senior Karl Miller.
Just after noon on December 15, 1990, Georgia Southern was about to play in its fifth national championship game in the last six years. The Eagles had already passed Eastern Kentucky, with two titles, in winning their third with the undefeated season the year before. To win a trophy, teams would have to go through Statesboro to get to Statesboro as Allen E. Paulson Stadium was the site of the national championship game for the second year.
Idaho gave the Eagles a scare at Paulson Stadium in the quarterfinals, fighting all the way through the fourth quarter, but falling short a point in a 28-27 Georgia Southern victory. It was Eugene Hayes' recovery of a fumble inside the Georgia Southern 30-yard line that prevented a Vandal go-ahead score.
The game was a contrast to Georgia Southern's playoff opener were the Eagles topped The Citadel 31-0, and limited the Bulldogs to only eight second-half yards.
The semifinal opponent, Central Florida, proved no match for the driven Eagles, falling 44-7 as the Georgia Southern defense dominated. While the Georgia Southern offense put up 35 unanswered points, the defense made its bold statement, registering 10 sacks and allowing the Knights only 81 yards in the second half.
The toughest opponent, though, would be the fourth-ranked Wolfpack, who would come to Paulson Stadium looking to knock off the Eagles and claim a championship ring. The Eagle defense didn't disappoint, and the offense, behind two rushing touchdowns by Darryl Hopkins, would put the game out of reach in the second half. An interception return by Alex Mash with less than a minute to go, brought the crowd to its feet as he crossed into the endzone.
"The feeling of this championship is unbelievable," Mash said in the post-game media interviews. "There was nothing like capping my first season by returning the interception for a touchdown. You just cannot beat this feeling."
Georgia Southern had won its fourth national championship, its second back-to-back, and had a hometown crowd charge the atmosphere -- and then they charged the field. Fans tore down one set of goalposts and less than a minute later brought down the other set.
"It was a total team effort and I'm sort of overwhelmed by this whole situation," said Hopkins after the game.
After 30 minutes of play, the Eagles held a 14-6 lead with touchdown runs by Joe Ross and Raymond Gross and kicks by Mike Dowis accounting for the points for Georgia Southern. Nevada had moved the ball some on the Eagle defense, but came away with only two field goals.
"This was exactly how all the seniors wanted to go out," said defensive end Giff Smith. "The goal line stand was a big boost to our entire team. The defense has been up and down all year, but proved in front of the nation how good we really are."
In the second half, the defense did just that. The Wolfpack used a mix of passing and running on its first possession to land on the Eagle one-yard line. Nevada had converted a third-and-10 with a 41-yard pass with a chance to narrow the lead.
From the one, the Nevada quarterback went to the right. He went to the right again, for no gain. Again he went to the right. If the spot of the ball moved at all, it was by fractions of an inch. Then he went up the middle and was denied again. After a Nevada delay of game penalty, the field goal attempt failed and the Eagles would hold Nevada scoreless in the third quarter.
Georgia Southern would outscore the Wolfpack 22-7 in the second half, with Mash's touchdown finishing off the game and starting the celebration.
"For one more time, we can say we're the best in the nation," said senior Karl Miller.
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