LAFAYETTE, La. - Wesley Fields rushed for a career-high 186 yards and the Georgia Southern defense came up with three big interceptions, including one with just over three minutes left in the game, to secure a 34-24 Sun Belt victory over the University of Louisiana Saturday at Cajun Field.

THE STORY
The Eagles couldn't have asked for a better start, forcing a three-and-out on the opening series and then marching 75 yards on 11 plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown from junior Wesley Fields. After another three-and-out forced by the GS defense, the Eagles took over and went right back down the field to make it 14-0 on Shai Werts' 53-yard touchdown pass to Ellis Richardson.

Tyler Bass booted a 42-yard field on the first play of the second quarter, his 10th-consecutive make, to make it 17-0, but Louisiana responded with a 75-yard touchdown run from Darius Hoggins to cut it back to a 10-point deficit. It marked the first points GS had given up since the fourth quarter of the Appalachian State game, a span of 85:00.

After Wesley Kennedy III set up the Eagles with good field position off the second-half kickoff, the Eagles ran it down the Cajuns' throats, going 67 yards on the ground to make it 24-7 when Werts scampered around the right side and made a few UL defenders miss, scoring from 6-yards out. UL responded with a long drive that was capped by a 50-yard field goal from Stevie Artigue midway through the stanza. Bass bounced back with a short field goal in the third quarter to stretch the lead back to 17 points.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ryheem Malone hit Jordan Davis for a 17-yard scoring pass to make it a 27-17 game. The Eagles didn't blink as they moved right back down for a backbreaking score. Kennedy III darted down the right sideline for 77 yards before being pushed out at the 1-yard line. GS couldn't punch it in and went for it on fourth down as L.A. Ramsby took flight to make it a 34-17 game with 11:56 left. A quick score from the Cajuns cut it back to a two-possession game as Jarrod Jackson hit Davis from 26-yards out.

From that point on, the GS defense clamped down, holding on fourth down and then Joshua Moon sealed the win with an interception late in the game.

The Eagles rushed for 389 yards and recorded 464 yards of total offense while holding the ball for 40:02. The defense did its part, holding UL's high-powered offense to 379 yards of total offense and got interceptions from Monquavion Brinson, Kindle Vildor and Moon.

UP NEXT
The Eagles (2-9, 2-5 SBC) will wrap up their 2017 season next Saturday, Dec. 2 at Coastal Carolina (2-9, 1-7 SBC). The game will kick at 1 p.m. from Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina, and will be broadcast by ESPN3.