Tag: Georgia State

A large topiary ÒAÓ shines in the afternoon sun during the AppState Mountaineers' football practice at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

Appalachian State plays first home game since Hurricane Helene

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Appalachian State will make a return to its home field on Saturday, hosting Georgia State in the first game on campus since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last month.

The Mountaineers played two home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone before Helene hit on Sept. 27. Their Sun Belt conference game Saturday will be the first there in 37 days.

Their game scheduled at home against Liberty on Sept. 28 was canceled, and the Mountaineers played two road games — losses at Marshall and Louisiana — since.

Classes resumed on campus on Oct. 16, and school officials said folding football back into the community was carefully done.

“We’re working to thoughtfully, responsibly and respectfully bring university events back to Boone that are supported by students, faculty and staff, as well as a passionate base of alumni and others who love Appalachian State University and Western North Carolina,” interim chancellor Heather Norris said. “We’re committed to ensuring that the university continues to support and sustain our community in meaningful and lasting ways.

The game featuring two 2-4 (0-3 Sun Belt) teams will serve as a positive moment for the region.

“App State Football is an important part of the culture and economy of our university community, the High Country, and the western North Carolina region,” athletic director Doug Gillin said. “We are thankful to university, town and county leadership, and are committed to provide a safe and responsible return to home competition. We hope this event will further rally our community and help support all those who are recovering.”

After Saturday, Appalachian State will have two remaining home games against Old Dominion (Nov. 2) and James Madison (Nov. 23).

–Field Level Media

Vanderbilt Commodores Head Coach Clark Lea congratulates players from both teams after beating Alcorn State 55-0 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Georgia State upends Vanderbilt on late TD pass

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Christian Veilleux hit Ted Hurst with a 25-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left, helping Georgia State to a 36-32 upset of Vanderbilt in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Veilleux threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score.

The Panthers’ Kevin Swint had eight tackles, including two sacks and a forced fumble.

Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

The Commodores made several key mistakes, including nine penalties for 85 yards. Safety CJ Taylor was ejected in the fourth quarter for targeting.

Liam Rickman’s 45-yard field goal at the 10:22 mark of the third quarter gave the Panthers a 15-10 lead.

After the Commodores punted on their first possession of the second half, Veilleux fired a touchdown to a diving Rykem Laney to extend the lead to 22-10.

After a Georgia State punt, Bryan Longwell picked Veilleux and returned it to the Panthers 37, setting up an 18-yard Pavia-to-Eli Stowers touchdown pass with 14:07 remaining.

But the Panthers answered with Veilleux’s 18-yard touchdown run with 11:42 left.

Vanderbilt drove to the Panthers 25 but Swint broke up a fourth-down pass at the 20.

Vanderbilt scored touchdowns with 2:29 and 1:14 left on short runs by AJ Newberry and Sedrick Alexander but couldn’t hold the Panthers on the ensuing drive.

Georgia State led 12-10 at the half thanks to two huge Vanderbilt mistakes.

The first came on the game’s third play. Swint hit Pavia from the back side, forcing a fumble that Izaiah Guy recovered to give the Panthers possession at the Commodores 20.

Seven plays later, Rickman gave Georgia State a 3-0 lead with a 24-yard field goal.

Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor hit a 28-yard field goal with 12:28 left in the second quarter.

Veilleux hit an open Ted Hurst for a 33-yard touchdown on Georgia State’s next possession.

The second mistake came when Vanderbilt’s Steven Sannienola gave the Panthers a safety. He fumbled a kickoff in the end zone, pulled it back across the goal line and knelt on it in the end zone for two uncontested points.

Pavia struck back just before half, hitting Newberry on a wheel route for 53 yards to the GSU 8. Pavia then found an open Junior Sherrill to cut the deficit to two with 46 seconds left.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball past Georgia State Panthers safety Isaiah Holland (13) in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech cruises past Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Haynes King threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Georgia Tech to a 35-12 win over Georgia State on Saturday in Atlanta.

King completed 24 of 29 passes with one interception for the Yellow Jackets (2-0). Malik Rutherford caught seven passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. Jamal Haynes rushed 17 times for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Georgia State (0-1) was led by quarterback Christian Veilleux, who completed 19 of 34 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown.

The loss ruined the debut of Georgia State coach Dell McGee, who was hired in February when head coach Shawn Elliott resigned days into spring practice to become the run game coordinator at South Carolina. McGee had spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia.

Georgia State took its opening drive to the 1-yard line but was stuffed by a Georgia Tech goal line stand.

Georgia Tech scored two possessions later after Zeek Biggers recovered a fumble at the Georgia State 20. The Yellow Jackets cashed in on a 1-yard run by Haynes.

Georgia State threatened again, reaching the 1, but opted for a 21-yard field goal from Liam Rickman rather than risk coming away with no points.

Georgia Tech scored with four seconds left in the half when King followed the left tackle for a 2-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead at halftime.

The Yellow Jackets scored on their first possession of the second half. After a timeout, Eric Singleton Jr. took a reverse for a 35-yard touchdown run, giving Tech a 21-3 lead. The Yellow Jackets stretched it to 28-3 when King threw a 52-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Rutherford.

Georgia State hung close with a 47-yard Rickman field goal and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Veilleux to Dorian Fleming. The two-point pass failed and Georgia Tech led 28-12.

Tech responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from King to Avery Boyd for a 35-12 lead.

It was the first time the two schools had played. Georgia State began its program in 2010 and has only played at the FBS level for 15 seasons.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) warms up prior to the Gasparilla Bowl against the UCF Knights at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Neighbors Georgia Tech, Georgia State meet for first time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Their campuses are only a few miles apart, but Atlanta-based Georgia Tech will host Georgia State on Saturday for the first time on the gridiron.

Georgia Tech (1-0) is coming off a dramatic 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

Georgia State is opening its season under new coach Dell McGee, a former Georgia assistant who was hired in the spring when Shawn Elliott resigned to become an assistant coach at South Carolina.

Georgia Tech features an excellent quarterback in Haynes King, who completed 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and rushed for 54 yards, and running back Jamal Haynes, who ran 11 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns against the Seminoles.

The Yellow Jackets had not beaten a top 10 team since 2015 — also Florida State — and coach Brent Key wants to make sure they take the victory in stride and don’t leave themselves susceptible to an upset.

“As a coach, you always have concerns,” Key said. “Anybody that knows me, I have 10,000 things all in my head spinning right now that we have to get to — the mindset and how we’re going to talk to them and what we’re going to do.”

Georgia State brought in 48 new players via the transfer portal or from the high school ranks. The Panthers finished 7-6 and beat Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2023.

“Our kids are very enthused, showing a lot of passion,” McGee said. “Excited about our opener. I think this is a great opportunity for our kids to play in an environment that’s pretty electric. I’m eager to see where our guys stand and how we’ve improved.”

The Panthers have not named a quarterback, although the leading candidates are a pair of transfers — Zach Gibson, who came over from Georgia Tech, and Christian Veilleux, a former starter at Pitt.

“There’s always potential for a rotation,” McGee said. “It could be four guys, it could be one guy. Not sure yet.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Georgia Bulldogs run game coordinator and running back coach Dell McGee talks to media on media day before the 2023 CFP National Championship game at Los Angeles Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Georgia State to name Dell McGee its football coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Georgia State is expected to name Dell McGee as its head football coach, multiple outlets reported Friday.

McGee, 50, has been on Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia since 2016, coaching the running backs and also serving as assistant head coach and run game coordinator. In that span, the Bulldogs won two College Football Playoff championships.

He will replace Shawn Elliott, who resigned immediately on Feb. 15 to accept the job as tight ends coach at South Carolina. At the time, Georgia State halted practice and postponed the team’s spring game.

McGee is a Georgia native and played defensive back at Auburn (1992-95). The Cardinals selected him in the fifth round of the 1996 draft, and he had a brief NFL career with Arizona and the Detroit Lions and also played in NFL Europe, the Arena Football League and the XFL.

His previous coaching stops include Georgia Southern.

–Field Level Media

Dec 23, 2023; Boise, ID, USA; Georgia State Panthers head coach Shawn Elliott hoists the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl trophy after the game against the Utah State Aggies at Albertsons Stadium. Georgia State defeats Utah State 45-22. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Spring practices halted as Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott resigns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Georgia State head football coach Shawn Elliott resigned Thursday, forcing the university to halt spring practice and postpone the team’s spring game.

Elliott is leaving to accept the job as tight ends coach at South Carolina.

“This was not a professional move, but a personal move,” Elliott told ESPN. “We’ve made it work for seven years with my family still living in Columbia, and I even thought about not coaching this year. I had promised my daughter that I would be there for her senior year of high school and when this opportunity came up to go back to South Carolina and coach again, it was something I couldn’t pass up. I’ve always loved South Carolina.”

Spring practice started Tuesday to launch what was to be a group of 15 practices for the Panthers. The spring game initially was scheduled for March 7.

Elliott, 50, spent seven seasons with the Panthers, leading them to five bowl games. They beat Utah State 45-22 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl last season.

Just last week, Elliott welcomed 12 new arrivals on National Signing Day, hoping to build upon his team’s 7-6 record in 2023.

He leaves Georgia State with a 41-44 record.

A South Carolina native, Elliott was part of the Gamecocks’ coaching staff from 2010-16 in a variety of roles before departing to accept the Georgia State job.

“We want to thank Shawn Elliott for his hard work and dedication the last seven years to build this football program. I know this was a difficult decision for him, but I understand his personal reasons, and we wish the best for Shawn and his family,” athletic director Charlie Cobb said.

“We are proud of what this football program has accomplished in such a short time. Six bowl games and four bowl victories in our first 10 years at the FBS level — I don’t know of another start-up program that has had that kind of success so quickly.

“I am confident that we will hire an outstanding football coach who will take Georgia State football to even greater heights. We plan to move quickly.”

Cobb did not state when spring practice might resume.

“It’s extremely difficult to step away from the Georgia State football program, particularly the players and staff who have gone above and beyond,” Elliott said. “As hard as this decision is professionally, it’s something that I must do personally.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 23, 2023; Boise, ID, USA; Utah State Aggies running back Rahsul Faison (3) is tackled during the first half against the Georgia State Panthers at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Darren Grainger, Georgia St. rip Utah St. at Idaho Potato Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Darren Grainger threw for three touchdowns and ran for two while Freddie Brock rushed for 276 yards and a score as Georgia State walloped Utah State 45-22 in the Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on Saturday.

Grainger was 19-for-22 in the air for 257 yards while rushing for 111 yards on 24 carries as the Panthers (7-6) emphatically snapped a five-game losing streak, rolling up 395 yards in the first half and 643 for the game as they did anything they wanted against the Aggies’ leaky defense.

Brock got the start at running back after Marcus Carroll, who rushed for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, transferred to Missouri. Carroll was one of four key starters who hit the portal after the regular season, part of the reason why oddsmakers installed Utah State as a two-point favorite.

But Georgia State simply couldn’t be stopped, establishing a 31-14 halftime lead, and then putting the game away in the second half with a pair of touchdown drives that made it 45-14 before the Aggies (6-7) scored in garbage time.

Utah State quarterback Levi Williams, the MVP of this game two years ago when playing at Wyoming, hit on 12 of 21 passes for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.

But the contest was decided long before then, as the Panthers rattled off 31 straight points to break away from a 14-14 tie. They scored on five of their first six possessions, stopped only by a fumble inside the Aggies 10-yard line.

Grainger started the onslaught with two 1-yard touchdown runs that sandwiched a 35-yard scoring strike from Williams to Jalen Royals. Davon Booth added a 65-yard scoring jaunt for Utah State. Grainger made it 21-14 with 15 seconds left in the first quarter by hitting Tailique Williams for a 27-yard touchdown.

Grainger found Cadarrius Thompson for a 23-yard score with 1:17 left in the first half for the 31-14 lead at the break.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2022; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback Levi Williams (16) can't escape the grasp of a Colorado State Rams defender at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Levi Williams, Utah State back to Boise, geared up for Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Levi Williams gets a second chance to shine at the Potato Bowl.

Utah State’s backup quarterback draws the start Saturday in Boise, Idaho, where the Aggies meet slumping Georgia State with Williams returning to the same game where he was awarded Most Valuable Player honors in 2021.

Williams piloted Wyoming to a 52-38 win over Kent State, running for 200 yards and scoring four touchdowns in that game. This year, he has the chance to lead Utah State (6-6) to a winning season and perhaps enjoy another big game while doing it.

“Bring me back to the Potato Bowl, I guess,” Williams said. “But I’m super blessed and super humbled. I love this team and we’re going to try to go up there and get a nice win to end the season.”

Williams is a big reason Utah State is here, running for three scores and throwing for two more on Nov. 26 in a 44-41 double overtime win at New Mexico. He accounted for 351 total yards, rushing for 153 on 25 carries and completing 16 of 27 attempts for 198 yards.

His 13-yard touchdown run was the decisive score that made the Aggies bowl-eligible.

“Levi did a great job at New Mexico,” said Utah State coach Blake Anderson. “I thought he did a phenomenal job coming in that last week, preparing the right way and going out playing with some poise and leadership.”

Williams is actually the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart but moved up the ladder with Cooper Legas (1,815 yards, 19 TD passes) and McCae Hillstead (1,005 yards, 10 TDs) shelved by injuries. The Aggies were 3-5 after a 42-21 loss at San Jose State Oct. 21 but won three of their four games in November, losing only to Mountain West Conference champion Boise State.

Georgia State (6-6) enters with little positive traction from the end of the regular season. The Panthers limp into bowl season with a five-game losing streak, blowing a 21-0 halftime lead in their regular-season finale on Nov. 26 in a bitter 25-24 loss at Old Dominion.

After that loss came two others when leading rusher Marcus Carroll and top receiver Robert Lewis hit the transfer portal and surfaced quickly at Southeastern Conference programs; Carroll chose Missouri and Lewis went to Auburn.

Carroll rushed for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and more than 100 yards per game. Lewis caught 70 passes for 881 yards and seven scores. That will be a lot of production to make up for Georgia State.

They are two of a whopping 13 players to hit the portal. Included are right tackle Montavious Cunningham (Virginia Tech) and cornerback Bryquice Brown (Boston College). One who stuck around is quarterback Darren Grainger, who threw for 2,368 yards with 17 touchdowns while adding 625 yards and eight scores on the ground.

“This is an opportunity for our football team to finish the season the right way,” said Panthers coach Shawn Elliott.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) attempts to leap over the arms of Florida Gators linebacker Mannie Nunnery (34) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Heisman prose: No. 15 LSU rallies behind trophy QB to greet Ga. State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 15 LSU is going to a bowl game but can’t win the Southeastern Conference championship.

Georgia State is bowl eligible but can’t win the Sun Belt championship.

So neither the 7-3 Tigers’ nor the 6-4 Panthers’ primary preseason goals are swinging in the balance of their non-conference game Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Even so, the game holds significant importance.

Jayden Daniels and his LSU teammates can strengthen the quarterback’s case for winning the Heisman Trophy.

And the Panthers have an opportunity to experience one of the premiere atmospheres in all of college football.

Daniels enhanced his Heisman candidacy with an historic performance in a 52-35 home victory against Florida last Saturday.

He accumulated an SEC-record 606 yards of total offense while becoming the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and rush for 200 yards in the same game. The showing came seven days after he was forced from a loss at Alabama because of a concussion.

“He’s the best quarterback in the country, best playmaker in the country and he’s the best player,” Tigers coach Brian Kelly said. “What matters is who’s the best player, he’s the best player. His numbers prove to everybody what he’s done over the entire year.”

Panthers coach Shawn Elliott agreed.

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Elliott said.

Kelly pointed out that Daniels has had a lot of help. The Tigers have established the most productive offense in college football. The wall of blockers, as well as wide receiver Malik Nabers, who has 1,284 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, are drawing raves as among the best in the nation.

“You just have to look towards some of the key plays in the game (against Florida) and particularly the long runs, you don’t run down the field unless you have others that are committed to making sure that occurs,” Kelly said. “You have to have receivers that are committed to that as well and running backs.

“You’re getting it from a number of different players that are setting up an unselfishness on our football team, in particular on the offensive side of the ball.”

Georgia State has lost three consecutive games, a downer following a 6-1 start that had it in the thick of the race for the Sun Belt title.

“We’ve got to gain back the confidence that we had early in the year,” Elliott said.

The Panthers lost to visiting Appalachian State 42-14 last Saturday afternoon.

“We ran into a buzz saw,” Elliott said.

Then Saturday night Elliott learned of Daniels’ record-setting performance that led to more than 700 yards in total offense for LSU, which the coach said “might be the most potent offensive team I’ve witnessed.”

“I thought, ‘lucky me, lucky Georgia Panthers. We get to go play the LSU Tigers,’” Elliott said with a laugh. “We look forward to it. It’s not all doom and gloom. If you’re you’re going to play LSU you want to play them on Saturday night. That’s a great experience and it’s going to be a great time for us.

“We’re going to go down there and give it everything we’ve got.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Kamari Morales (88) runs for a touchdown after a catch against the Georgia State Panthers in the first half at Center Parc Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina overcomes three turnovers to edge Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 284 yards and North Carolina overcame three turnovers to hold off Georgia State 35-28 on Saturday in Atlanta.

Maye completed 19 of 24 passes with one interception and two touchdowns and Omarion Hampton ran 16 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 10:42 left in the game.

Georgia State had three possessions after North Carolina (3-0) took the lead but had to punt each time.

Georgia State quarterback Darren Grainger was 16-for-24 for 184 yards and three touchdowns and ran 18 times for 75 yards. Robert Lewis caught seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Georgia State (0-2) has lost both its games to Power Five opposition.

The Tar Heels scored on their first possession when Maye found tight end Kamari Morales for a 55-yard catch and run touchdown. Georgia State answered with a 45-yard field goal by Michael Hayes to cut the lead to 7-3.

North Carolina scored two straight touchdowns, a 7-yard run by D.J. Jones and a 28-yard pass from Maye to Kobe Paysour. Georgia State cut the lead to 21-10 on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Grainger to Kris Byrd.

Georgia State had one more chance before halftime when UNC gambled on fourth-and-2 at its own 39 and Maye was sacked by Jontrey Hunter. But the Panthers were unable to move the ball and Hayes had his 44-yard field goal try blocked by Myles Murphy.

Georgia State scored 18 straight points to start the third quarter. Lewis caught a 49-yard pass from Grainger, Hayes kicked a 45-yard field goal and Lewis caught a 29-yard pass. The two-point conversion pass to Jamari Thrash gave GSU a 28-21 lead with 2:04 left in the third quarter.

North Carolina answered by scoring in four plays, with Hampton breaking the line and running for a 58-yard touchdown with 33 seconds left in the third to tie the game at 28-28.

The game marked the first time an opponent from a Power Five conference had played at Georgia State since the program began in 2010

–Field Level Media