Saturday, September 5
Statesboro, GA
7:00 PM
Georgia Southern University
1-0 , 0-0
31
vs
0
Charleston Southern
0-2 , 0-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston So. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ga. Southern | 21 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
Eagles Shut Out Charleston Southern to Open Season
9/5/2026 11:38:00 PM | Football
Defense pitches first shutout since 2023
STATESBORO — Georgia Southern opened its 2027 football season with a 31-0 shutout of Charleston Southern 31-0 on Saturday at Allen E. Paulson Stadium/Evans Family Field. The Eagles scored 21 points in the first quarter to bust the game open early and the defense held the Bulldogs to 110 yards, 8 rushing yards and nine first downs while recording six sacks and two takeaways. It marks the first shutout for the Eagles since a 2023 blanking of The Citadel.
The Eagles finished the first quarter ahead 21-0 after scoring touchdowns on drives of 75, 57 and 69 yards. Max Johnson completed 15 of 17 passes for 147 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown to Ashton Hollins, while the defense held the Bulldogs to minus-7 rushing yards, 1 passing yard and 0-for-2 on third down.
The Eagles produced 50 rushing yards and 69 passing yards in the second quarter, while the Bulldogs were held to 4 rushing yards, 7 passing yards and one first down. The defense added four tackles for loss and two sacks, including Anthony Bynum's sack before Festus Davies recovered a fumble at midfield, and Tripp Bryant's 32-yard field goal accounted for the quarter's scoring as the Eagles led 24-0.
The Eagles scored the only points of the third quarter, finishing a 90-yard drive with Ty Cummings' 18-yard touchdown run and Bryant's PAT to make it 31-0. The Eagles threw for 65 yards and rushed for 39 in the quarter, while holding the Bulldogs to 3 rushing yards, 27 passing yards and recording two sacks.
The fourth quarter was scoreless, and the Eagles finished off a 31-0 win with a defensive stop as Jayden Jackson intercepted Jared Echols at the Eagles' 5 with 14 seconds left. Turner Helton went 5-for-8 for 70 yards in the quarter, while the Eagles' defense held the Bulldogs to 8 rushing yards and produced one sack, three pass breakups and the late red-zone interception.
Max Johnson completed 28 of 39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Hollins caught eight passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Bynum recorded five tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. Rashon Myles Jr. led the Eagles with six tackles and added a sack.
Georgia Southern (1-0) will travel to Clemson to take on the Tigers Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles finished the first quarter ahead 21-0 after scoring touchdowns on drives of 75, 57 and 69 yards. Max Johnson completed 15 of 17 passes for 147 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown to Ashton Hollins, while the defense held the Bulldogs to minus-7 rushing yards, 1 passing yard and 0-for-2 on third down.
The Eagles produced 50 rushing yards and 69 passing yards in the second quarter, while the Bulldogs were held to 4 rushing yards, 7 passing yards and one first down. The defense added four tackles for loss and two sacks, including Anthony Bynum's sack before Festus Davies recovered a fumble at midfield, and Tripp Bryant's 32-yard field goal accounted for the quarter's scoring as the Eagles led 24-0.
The Eagles scored the only points of the third quarter, finishing a 90-yard drive with Ty Cummings' 18-yard touchdown run and Bryant's PAT to make it 31-0. The Eagles threw for 65 yards and rushed for 39 in the quarter, while holding the Bulldogs to 3 rushing yards, 27 passing yards and recording two sacks.
The fourth quarter was scoreless, and the Eagles finished off a 31-0 win with a defensive stop as Jayden Jackson intercepted Jared Echols at the Eagles' 5 with 14 seconds left. Turner Helton went 5-for-8 for 70 yards in the quarter, while the Eagles' defense held the Bulldogs to 8 rushing yards and produced one sack, three pass breakups and the late red-zone interception.
Max Johnson completed 28 of 39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Hollins caught eight passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Bynum recorded five tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. Rashon Myles Jr. led the Eagles with six tackles and added a sack.
Georgia Southern (1-0) will travel to Clemson to take on the Tigers Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
ILB
/ FootballTeam Stats
CSU
GS
Total Yards
117
504
Pass Yards
109
351
Rushing Yards
8
153
Penalty Yards
35
65
1st Downs
10
26
3rd Downs
5
5
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
28:25
31:35
1st Quarter
CSU 0, GS 14
GS - Hollins,Ashton 57 yd pass from Johnson,Max (Bryant,Tripp kick) 1 plays, 57 yards, TOP 00:09
CSU 0, GS 21
GS - Bryan,Weston 1 yd run (Bryant,Tripp kick), 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 05:10
2nd Quarter
CSU 0, GS 24
GS - Bryant,Tripp 32 yd field goal 8 plays, 36 yards, TOP 00:52
3rd Quarter
CSU 0, GS 31
GS - Cummings,Ty 18 yd run (Bryant,Tripp kick), 9 plays, 90 yards, TOP 04:28
Game Leaders
CMP
28
TD
1
YDS
281
INT
0
CMP
5
TD
0
YDS
70
INT
0
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