JACKSONVILLE—Jax State hits the road for the second time in three weeks for their next matchup at Allen E. Paulson Stadium to take on Georgia Southern.
Last week, the Gamecocks won their home opener with a 34-24 victory over Liberty which also served as both squads' Conference USA opener.
Jax State amassed 338 rushing yards last Saturday led by
Cam Cook's career-best 198 rushing yards with two touchdowns. For his efforts, Cook was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week and Bubba Grayson was selected as the Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Gamecocks were called for just one penalty in the game.
In the kicking game, Jax State had a 10 yard advantage in average starting field position and
Garrison Rippa had a 10-point day which was highlighted by a 50-yard field goal, the second-longest of his career.
Georgia Southern has spent the last two weeks in California, opening up at Fresno State in Week 1 then faced USC at the LA Memorial Coliseum last week. Quarterback JC French IV completed 19 passes last week at USC and was a preseason second-team All-Sun Belt selection by Phil Steele. OJ Arnold is the leading rusher, averaging better than five yards per carry. Defensively, Brandon Tyson is at the top of the tackle chart with 19 total which includes one for loss and an interception.
There is a lot of familiarity between the two programs with Jax State head coach
Charles Kelly serving on staff at Auburn while Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton was a quarterback there.
Clint Trickett and
Taylor Housewright were both on staff at Georgia Southern last season.
Paulson Stadium is one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to play with the Eagles holding an all-time record of 218-51 at home which includes a 33-7 mark in their home openers.
The teams have met four times previously with the Eagles having won each of the previous matchups and have the distinction of being the only team to beat the 1992 national championship team in the first meeting between the two programs. This will be the first meeting since 2002 when the Eagles were a 41-3 winner in Statesboro. It will also be the first time the two teams have met as FBS members.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Central in Statesboro and the game will air on ESPN+.
