Georgia Southern University
8-5 , 6-2
Sam Houston
10-3 , 6-2
Turnovers the Difference as Eagles Drop Tough One to Sam Houston in New Orleans Bowl
12/19/2024 11:34:00 AM | Football
Team finishes the season 8-5
The Bearkats (10-3) jumped out to an early lead when a JC French interception was returned 29 yards for a touchdown just three minutes into the game. In the second quarter, Tracy Hill Jr. forced a fumble that was recovered by Ayden Jackson, sparking the Eagles' offense. French eventually found Josh Dallas on a 17-yard touchdown pass to tie things up. Sam Houston went 75 yards in 3:29 on the ensuing drive to retake the lead late in the second quarter. A third interception by French led to a short touchdown drive for the Bearkats to make it 21-7 with 3:09 left in the half. The Eagles got a 49-yard field goal from Gavin Stewart as time expired to make it 21-10 going to the break.
The two teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter before a quality Eagle drive led to Jalen White punching it in from 1 yard out to make it 21-16 after the two-point conversion failed. The score was set up by a 43-yard pass from French to Marcus Sanders Jr. With five seconds left in the third quarter, Stewart drilled another 49-yard field goal to make it a two-point game.
Sam Houston scored 10 straight in the fourth quarter to widen the lead, but a French 1-yard touchdown run with 9 seconds left gave the Eagles hope. The onside kick wasn't successful and the Bearkats took a knee and began the celebration as the clock ran out.
White led the offense with 90 yards on the ground and a score. Derwin Burgess Jr. wrapped up his career with six catches for 56 yards and French threw for 212 yards and a score. Marques Watson-Trent led the defense with 10 tackles, his seventh double-digit tackling output of the year and 17th of his career. Justin Meyers, Davon Gilmore, Elhadj Fall and Davion Rhodes all had sacks for the defense, which gave up just 267 yards of offense, 54 on the ground.
The Eagles (8-5) will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Fresno State. The complete schedule will be released in late February or early March.
Team Stats
GSU 0, SAM 7
SAM - Jimmerson,Jaylon 29 yd interception (Pavon,Christian kick)
GSU 7, SAM 7
GSU - Dallas,Josh 17 yd pass from French,JC (Stewart,Gavin kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:16
GSU 7, SAM 14
SAM - Evans,Simeon 33 yd pass from Watson,Hunter (Pavon,Christian kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:29
GSU 7, SAM 21
SAM - Watson,Hunter 2 yd run (Pavon,Christian kick), 4 plays, 13 yards, TOP 01:43
GSU 10, SAM 21
GSU - Stewart,Gavin 49 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 01:04
GSU 16, SAM 21
GSU - White,Jalen 1 yd run (), 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:53
GSU 19, SAM 21
GSU - Stewart,Gavin 49 yd field goal 8 plays, 26 yards, TOP 03:56
GSU 19, SAM 28
SAM - Watson,Hunter 1 yd run (Pavon,Christian kick), 8 plays, 88 yards, TOP 03:23
GSU 19, SAM 31
SAM - Pavon,Christian 21 yd field goal 8 plays, 28 yards, TOP 03:25
GSU 26, SAM 31
GSU - French,JC 1 yd run (Stewart,Gavin kick), 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 01:41
