Georgia Southern 34-No. 25 Appalachian State 14Usually an upset of a ranked opponent happens in a non-conference game for a Sun Belt squad, but Georgia Southern (7-1, 4-0 Sun Belt) was able to do so in a big way against ranked Appalachian State (5-2, 3-1) on Thursday.
Shai Werts ran for 129 yards and a touchdown while throwing for another on his only completion to lead the Eagles. Wesley Fields ran 18 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
A big reason for the lopsided win was the absence of quarterback Zac Thomas for the Mountaineers. Thomas went down with concussion like symptoms and Peyton Derrick and Jacob Huesman took the reins from the starting QB. Those two combined to throw for four interceptions. Marcus Williams Jr. had a rushing touchdown in the loss while Huesman threw for a score.
There's a good chance that Georgia Southern enters the Top 25 for the first time and they'll take their top spot in the Sun Belt to Louisiana Monroe (4-4, 2-2). Appalachian State hopes to get Thomas back when they head to Coastal Carolina (5-3, 2-2).
Troy 38-South Alabama 17It was a wild first half for the Trojans (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt) and Jaguars (2-6, 1-3) as Troy took a 31-17 lead into the midway point, but only the men of Troy would score in the second half on Tuesday.
Sawyer Smith threw three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Trojans. B.J. Smith led a strong running attack with 22 carries for 170 yards and a score in the win.
Evan Orth threw two touchdowns, but also three interceptions. Tra Minter finished a yard shy of 100 on 23 carries for South Alabama.
Troy welcomes Louisiana (4-4, 2-2) next while the Jaguars head to Arkansas State (4-4, 1-3).
The Red Wolves (4-4, 1-3 Sun Belt) and Ragin' Cajuns (4-4, 2-2) traded blows back and forth before Louisiana finished off Arkansas State in the final moments.
Louisiana held a 34-28 lead going into the fourth, but Justice Hansen connected with Kirk Merritt for a go ahead 73-yard touchdown. That lead was short lived as the Cajuns got a 53-yard strike from Andre Nunez to Jarrod Jackson to go back ahead, but a missed two-point conversion made it 40-35.
The Red Wolves answered shortly after as Marcel Murray ran in from seven yards out and Hansen converted a two-point conversion pass for a 43-40 lead. Louisiana kept the scoring going when Trey Ragas put his team up 47-43 on a 2-yard touchdown run. Arkansas State got one last shot, but failed to gain any yards in four plays.
The Ragin' Cajuns head to Troy (6-2, 4-0) next while the Red Wolves host South Alabama (2-6, 1-3).
Coastal Carolina 37-Georgia State 34The Chanticleers (5-3, 2-2 Sun Belt) scored the final ten points to rally past Georgia State (2-6, 1-3).
The Panthers ground game was chalked full of big plays in the third quarter as Tra Barnett ran for a 75-yard touchdown, quarterback Dan Ellington had a 42-yard TD run, and Barnett finished the quarter with a 42-yard TD run of his own to give Georgia State a 34-27 lead.
Coastal Carolina was able to hang around depsite the scoring flurry and tied the game on a Alex James 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. After forcing a punt, the Chanticleers set up for a go ahead field goal with 2:54 to play. Georgia State got one last shot and opted to go for it rather than try a 53-yard field goal to tie. Ellington's pass fell incomplete and the Chanticleers came away with the win.
Coastal Carolina hosts Appalachian State (5-2, 3-1) next while the Panthers host Texas State (2-6, 0-4) as both teams try to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Texas State 27-New Mexico State 20Texas State (2-6) stayed alive for bowl contention with a win over New Mexico State (2-7) who had their bowl bid dashed in the loss.
The Bobcats built a 27-13 lead when Shane Jackson stripped Willie Jones III and ran the fumbled back 34 yards to cut the deficit to seven. The Aggies had a chance to tie, but Josh Adkins was picked off in the end zone with New Mexico State inside the ten yard line.
Texas State could've put the game away, but Clayton Stewart missed a 44-yard field goal. The Aggies got one last shot, but turned the ball over on downs to end the game.
The Bobcats will head to Georgia State (2-6, 1-3 Sun Belt) next.
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