Box Score

Coach Lunsford Post-Game Interview

STATESBORO - Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive late in the first half, snapping a 10-all tie and sparking the Eagle football squad to a 34-13 victory over visiting UMass on Saturday evening at Paulson Stadium.

Key Moment: Moments after UMass tied up the game with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half, Shai Werts hit Wesley Kennedy III for passes of 25 and 28 yards on back-to-back plays, respectively, to set up Werts' 3-yard touchdown run right before the half.

Play of the Game: Shai Werts' play-action pass to Cam Brown in the back of the end zone on the Eagles' second drive of the game set the tone and got the crowd into it as the Eagles never trailed again as Werts went on to have a big night through the air.

Key Stat: Georgia Southern churned out 334 yards on the ground, but averaged 25.7 yards per reception as the Eagles tallied 488 yards of total offense.

Key Scoring Plays:

• Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Shai Werts found tight end Cam Brown in the back of the end zone on third down for a 5-yard touchdown pass. It was Brown's first career reception. GS 7-3
• Tyler Bass drilled a 41-yard field goal into the wind midway through the second quarter to extend the Eagles' lead. GS 10-3
• UMass capped a 12-play drive late in the first half with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jordan Fredericks to tie it up. Tied 10-10
• Shai Werts capped off an impressive 75-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard scoring run up the middle. The drive took just 1:36 and featured several big plays from Wesley Kennedy III. GS 17-10
• The Eagles opened up the second with a strong drive, but bogged down after almost 5 minutes, but Bass' career-long 50-yard field goal extended the lead to 10 points. GS 20-10
• After UMass kicked a field goal, Werts led the Eagles back down the field, capping off five-play drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Colby Ransom, his first collegiate scoring reception. GS 27-13
• Monteo Garrett salted the game away with a nifty 5-yard touchdown run with 2:08 left in the game. GS 34-13

Player of the Game: Quarterback Shai Werts threw for 154 yards and two scores, while rushing for 83 yards and another score, giving him six touchdowns accounted for in two games.

Up Next: The Eagles (2-0) will return to action next Saturday, traveling to the Palmetto State to take on No. 2 Clemson (2-0) at Memorial Stadium. The non-conference tilt will kick off at 3:30 p.m. in and the broadcast network will be announced on Sunday.