FINAL STATS

STATESBORO – Wesley Kennedy III scored on a 47-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left in the game to send Georgia Southern to a 28-21 Sun Belt football victory over Arkansas State Saturday evening in Paulson Stadium.

Key Moment: Kennedy took the pitch from quarterback Shai Werts on the end around and had nothing but green turf in front of him. The sophomore gained the angle on his pursuers and dove across the pylon. Josh Moon and Ty Phillips sacked Justice Hansen at the 50-yard line as time ran out to thwart the Red Wolves' Hail Mary attempt. 

GS Play of the Game: After Arkansas State tied the game 14-14, Fields set up a touchdown for the Eagles with a 64 yard run. It was the senior's longest run of his career and allowed GS to answer the ASU score in 58 seconds.

Key Stats: The Eagles came into the game with four sacks on the season but recorded four in the first half en route to finishing the game with six for a loss of 29 yards. GS also entered the game as the least penalized team in the country but was flagged eight times for 96 yards, with seven coming in the first half. ASU ran 87 plays, compared to 52 for GS.

Key Scoring Plays:

• On 2nd-and-24 from the GS 39-yard line, Werts hit a wide-open Fields down the right sideline with 1:24 left in the first half. GS 7-3
• After the Eagles stopped ASU on 3rd down at their own 10-yard line, Blake Grupe added a 27-yard field goal chip shot with 7:02 left in the third. GS 7-6
• Werts capped a 6-play, 88-yard drive, all on the ground, with a 36-yard touchdown run with 2:14 left in the third. GS 14-6
• After ASU converted its first 4th-down try (on four attempts), Hansen hit Kirk Merritt for an 11-yard TD pass with 53 seconds left in the third. The Red Wolves went for two and got it on a pass from Hansen to Jona Adams Jr. 14-14
• The Eagles answered 58 seconds later with a 6-yard TD run by Monteo Garrett. GS 21-14
• Hansen ran in from 4-yards out on the quarterback draw, and Grupe added the extra point to tie the game with 5:07 left. The Red Wolves converted two 4th downs on the 16-play drive, including one from their own 33-yard line. 21-21
• Kennedy ran 47 yards for the touchdown on the end around, and Tyler Bass added the extra point with 19 seconds remaining. GS 28-21

GS Players of the Game: Logan Hunt finished the game with nine tackles and a career-high three sacks, and Monquavion Brinson logged 11 tackles and four pass breakups. Fields finished with 98 rushing yards and the 61-yard touchdown catch, and Werts rushed for 113 yards and threw for 61.

Up Next: The Eagles will play host to South Alabama next Saturday in Paulson Stadium. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and on the Georgia Southern Radio Network. Tickets are available at GSEagles.com/Tickets. Promotions: Homecoming and Teacher Appreciation Day.