STATESBORO – Davis Brin threw for three touchdowns, Jalen White ran for over 100 yards and the defense got three takeaways as the Georgia Southern football team rolled past Georgia State 44-27 Thursday night in front 23,389 fans at Allen E. Paulson Stadium to become bowl eligible.

Georgia Southern got out to an early 7-0 lead on its second drive of the game. After a 16-yard gain by White and a pass interference call, Brin completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Khaleb Hood. The Panthers quickly responded on the next drive to even the score 7-7, but a 35-yard by Michael Lantz pushed the Eagles in front after the first quarter 10-7. 

The Eagles extended their lead with 5:43 left on the clock when White punched the ball into the end zone on fourth and 2. The drive was highlighted by a 21-yard completion to Derwin Burgess Jr. to set up the touchdown. 

The GS offense continued to roll with under five minutes in the half when Brin completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sanders Jr. for his first touchdown of the season and the second of his career. 

Southern forced its first turnover of the game when Marc Stampley II intercepted Panther quarterback Darren Grainger to give the ball back to the Eagles with one minute remaining in the half. Michael Lantz drilled a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-7 entering the half. 

Georgia State opened the second half with the ball driving down the field to the GS 32-yard line. The Eagle defense forced the Panthers to kick a 32-yard field goal but Isaac Walker got a hand on the ball to prevent the score.  

Dalen Cobb recorded his first career touchdown on the next drive when Brin completed a 76-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 34-7. The touchdown reception was the longest play of the season for the Eagles. 

The Panthers crawled back into the game late in the third quarter with two quick touchdowns to cut into the lead, 34-21 but Lantz made his third field goal of the game from 40-yards out to push the lead back out to 37-21. 

The defense forced its second turnover when Marques Watson-Trent picked off Grainger, returning the ball 50 yards for a pick-six and his first career touchdown. The score marks the third-straight home game the Eagles have recorded a pick-six. 

GS secured its third turnover after Watson-Trent forced a fumble, Khadry Jackson recovered the ball to limit the Panthers from driving down the field. Georgia Southern is now 6-0 on the season when getting three takeaways.

White led the offense with 25 carries for 116 yards including one touchdown. Hood led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 75 yards. Brin completed 22 of 35 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown while Lantz connected on three field goals. Watson-Trent had eight tackles, a forced fumble and an interception while Tyrell Davis also had eight tackles. Walker had 1.5 tackles for loss, a blocked kick and his nation-leading fifth forced fumble.

Next Up
The Eagles (6-2, 2-1 SBC) return to action against Texas State (5-2, 2-1) on Saturday, Nov. 4 in San Marcos, Texas, for a key conference matchup. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. (ET)/6 PM (CT) on ESPN+.