Eagles Fall to 25th-Ranked Cougars

Saturday, September 26

Statesboro, GA

4 PM

Georgia Southern University

1-3 , 0-0

Houston

3-1 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
#25 Houston	14	14	7	7	42
Georgia Southern	0	14	7	7	28

9/26/2026 8:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score 2026 Football Season, presented by Vallant Bank

Team begins conference play next week

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern played No. 25 Houston tough, but fell 42-28 on Saturday at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. The Eagles generated 355 yards and 22 first downs, including 289 passing yards and three touchdown passes, but were limited to 66 rushing yards. The Cougars finished with 441 yards of offense and converted 8 of 9 third-down chances, while the Eagles went 7-for-13 on third down and 3-for-4 on fourth down.

The Cougars turned an Eagles lost fumble into seven points and finished the first quarter with a 14-0 lead. The Eagles matched the Cougars with 14 second-quarter points, getting a 40-yard touchdown pass from Max Johnson to Alex Taylor and a 2-yard scoring run from Ty Cummings that was highlighted by an onside kick recovery by Josh Dallas. The Cougars totaled 148 yards and nine first downs in the quarter, went 2-for-2 in the red zone and on third down, and carried a 28-14 lead into halftime.

The Cougars held the ball for 10:09 in the third quarter and recorded nine first downs, with 80 passing yards and 61 rushing yards, while the Eagles had four first downs, 48 passing yards and 13 rushing yards. The Eagles still matched the Cougars 7-7 in the quarter, converting their lone fourth down on Max Johnson's 23-yard touchdown pass to Taylor, and the Cougars led 35-21 entering the fourth quarter.

The Eagles held the ball for 9:26 of the fourth quarter, went 2-for-3 on fourth down and produced six first downs, including a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive finished by Max Johnson's 5-yard touchdown pass to River Helms. The Cougars matched the Eagles with seven points in the quarter and closed out a 42-28 final.

Max Johnson completed 26 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor caught six passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Helms added five receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. Jakyri Jones led the defense with nine tackles.

Game Notes:

- Taylor - Recorded a season-high 119 receiving yards.

- Taylor - Scored two receiving touchdowns for the first time this season.

- Dallas - Recorded at least seven receptions in three consecutive games.

- Johnson - Tossed a season-high three touchdowns.

- Helms - Achieved his first receiving touchdown of the season.

The Eagles travel to Conway, South Carolina, to face Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Brooks Stadium (7 PM).