11/9/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Quarterback accounted for five touchdowns in win over Marshall
NEW ORLEANS - Georgia Southern seventh-year quarterback Max Johnson was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his play against Marshall. It marks the first weekly honor for the Athens, Georgia, native.
Â
Â
Offensive Player of the Week - Max Johnson, Georgia Southern
Max Johnson had a big day as the Eagles downed Marshall 49-13 in Sun Belt action. The seventh-year player tied the school record with four touchdown passes and ran for his first score of the year, accounting for five touchdowns, tying the record for the most ever by a Clay Helton quarterback. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 271 yards, including a long of 70 yards. He also ran for 16 yards and wasn't sacked. He is one of six FBS quarterbacks who have thrown for 2,000 or more yards, 15 or more touchdowns and two or less interceptions.
Defensive Player of the Week - Alonzo Jackson Jr., Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. delivered a dominant all-around defensive performance in the Bulldogs' 41-17 road victory over Troy, recording a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while adding a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown. His performance helped Louisiana Tech extend its winning streak to six games and improve to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. Jackson was instrumental in a defensive effort that limited Troy to just 47 rushing yards on 32 attempts and 262 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs forced a season-high five turnovers, including four fumble recoveries and an interception, while holding the Trojans' offense without a touchdown over the final three quarters.The Haynesville, Louisiana, native made his presence felt early in the second quarter, recording a sack and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Ayden Combs at the Troy 12-yard line. Jackson later delivered the game's final score, recovering a Troy fumble and returning it 66 yards for a touchdown with 1:05 remaining to seal the 24-point victory.Following his performance, Jackson leads the Sun Belt Conference with 15.5 tackles for loss, averaging 1.72 per game, and is tied for the conference lead with nine sacks, averaging one per contest. He also leads the league with three fumble recoveries while ranking ninth in tackles per game (7.67), totaling 69 stops through nine contests. Jackson is the only Sun Belt defender averaging at least 1.5 tackles for loss per game and is the conference's only player with at least 15 tackles for loss. Nationally, Jackson is tied for the third-most TFLs and tied for the fifth-most sacks in FBS. Jackson's performance marked his third game this season with at least 10 tackles and his sixth game with at least one sack. His defensive touchdown was Louisiana Tech's first fumble return for a score since Sept. 13, 2025, against New Mexico State.Â
Â
Louisiana Tech linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. delivered a dominant all-around defensive performance in the Bulldogs' 41-17 road victory over Troy, recording a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while adding a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown. His performance helped Louisiana Tech extend its winning streak to six games and improve to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. Jackson was instrumental in a defensive effort that limited Troy to just 47 rushing yards on 32 attempts and 262 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs forced a season-high five turnovers, including four fumble recoveries and an interception, while holding the Trojans' offense without a touchdown over the final three quarters.The Haynesville, Louisiana, native made his presence felt early in the second quarter, recording a sack and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Ayden Combs at the Troy 12-yard line. Jackson later delivered the game's final score, recovering a Troy fumble and returning it 66 yards for a touchdown with 1:05 remaining to seal the 24-point victory.Following his performance, Jackson leads the Sun Belt Conference with 15.5 tackles for loss, averaging 1.72 per game, and is tied for the conference lead with nine sacks, averaging one per contest. He also leads the league with three fumble recoveries while ranking ninth in tackles per game (7.67), totaling 69 stops through nine contests. Jackson is the only Sun Belt defender averaging at least 1.5 tackles for loss per game and is the conference's only player with at least 15 tackles for loss. Nationally, Jackson is tied for the third-most TFLs and tied for the fifth-most sacks in FBS. Jackson's performance marked his third game this season with at least 10 tackles and his sixth game with at least one sack. His defensive touchdown was Louisiana Tech's first fumble return for a score since Sept. 13, 2025, against New Mexico State.Â
Â
Special Teams Player of the Week - Morgan Suarez, James Madison
Morgan Suarez tied his career high with 18 total points in JMU's 54-23 win at Southern Miss on Thursday. He went 4-for-4 on field goals and made all six extra points on the night. It marked his second four-FG performance of the season. Suarez's makes came from 32, 31, 40 and 34 yards out. He now has 100 total points on the season, which leads the Sun Belt by a wide margin.
Georgia Southern plays at Georgia State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., in Atlanta.
Â
Morgan Suarez tied his career high with 18 total points in JMU's 54-23 win at Southern Miss on Thursday. He went 4-for-4 on field goals and made all six extra points on the night. It marked his second four-FG performance of the season. Suarez's makes came from 32, 31, 40 and 34 yards out. He now has 100 total points on the season, which leads the Sun Belt by a wide margin.
Georgia Southern plays at Georgia State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., in Atlanta.
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballSunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Saturday, November 07
Monday, November 02
