“I think our defense was phenomenal today,” Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott said. “We just put the pressure on them all day long. It seemed like they had no answer for our defensive line and our pressure. It was fun to see. Even when we struggled offensively in the third quarter, the defense continued to pick us up. Just a phenomenal day on their part.”
Georgia State running back Destin Coates who had another great game running the football rumbled into the endzone with 23 seconds left in regulation to put the doubts of Panthers fans to bed.
Struggles were prominent to begin the game for Brown as he threw an interception to Pirates defensive back Warren Saba who took it to the house for six.
Brown did not let that deter him in the next series. This time he led the Panthers downfield on a five play, 74-yard drive which Coates capped off with a 13-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at seven.
On the next two offensive drives, Brown showed off his arm that Panthers fans raved about and were excited about coming into the season throwing two touchdowns.
Panthers wide receiver Sam Pickney was on the receiving end of a 38-yard touchdown pass giving the Panthers the 14-7 lead with 11:02 remaining in the first quarter.
Redshirt freshman receiver Jamari Thrash caught a beautiful 22-yard dime from Brown on the next possession to increase the Panthers lead to 14.
The second quarter featured junior running back Tucker Gregg finishing a 79 yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown to pile onto the Panthers lead.
After the Pirates responded with a 34-yard field goal by Jake Verity to cut the Panthers lead to 18, Pickney found himself on the receiving end again from Brown on a 13-yard touchdown reception to lead 35-10 with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter.
The Pirates were unable to get into the endzone before halftime and settled for another field goal. This time Verity converted from 40 yards as time expired to trail the Panthers 35-13.
Verity made a 48-yard field goal to score the only points of the third quarter making the score 35-16 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lane returned Pirates quarterback Holton Ahlers interception for a pick-six putting the Panthers ahead 42-16 with 13:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Pirates were able to score 13 straight points in less than three minutes to make it an interesting game and complete a possible comeback.
Pirates running back Tyler Snead rushed in from 31 yards to cut the lead to 19.
After the Panthers went three and out, the punt was blocked and Blake Proehl returned it for 29 yards cutting the Panthers lead to 13 with 8:07 remaining in regulation.
The offense silenced any of the Pirates’ aspirations of a comeback as Coates rumbled into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game with 23 seconds to ice the game.
Coates finished the game with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
Brown finished with 238 yards on 18-28 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
