Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Georgia State fell at No. 1-ranked Alabama 45-3 Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama (5-0) looked every bit the nation's top team and defending BCS National Champions, led by quarterback A.J. McCarron, who completed 15-of-16 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns in less than two quarters of play.
The Crimson Tide jumped on Georgia State (0-5) with 38 first-half points before the Panthers played Alabama within 7-3 in the second half.
“My hats off to Alabama – they're the No. 1 team in the nation for a reason,” GSU head coach Trent Miles said. “They're a great football team, extremely talented and well-coached.
“Our young men competed hard, but when you're playing the No. 1 team in the nation at their place and you're a tremendous underdog, you can't help them. We went out and helped them in the first half. We fumbled a kickoff return, we had some missed tackles, we had some young guys not get lined up correctly. Make no mistake, Alabama did what they needed to, but we didn't need to help them.
“At halftime, we discussed coming out in the second half and playing like the score was 0-0, and it was a 7-3 ballgame in the second half,” Miles continued. “We can build on that and get some momentum going into conference play.”
Georgia State's Wil Lutz booted a school-record 53-yard field in the third quarter to get the Panthers on the scoreboard against an Alabama defense that has allowed just three field goals over the last three games. The previous GSU record for longest field goal was 49 yards by Iain Vance against Morehead State in 2010.
“Coach Miles asked me if I had the distance, and I told him, 'Give me a shot,'” said Lutz, the sophomore from Newnan, Ga. “I wish it meant more, but I'm grateful for the opportunity.”
GSU quarterback Ronnie Bell completed 11-of-20 passes for 146 yards. Albert Wilson was the Panthers' leading receiver with four catches for 60 yards, including a 34-yard reception that set up Lutz's field goal. Freshman Robert Davis and sophomore Avery Sweeting added three receptions each.
“Our young men are disappointed that they lost, but they're more disappointed in their overall execution in the first half,” Miles said.
The Panthers only committed one turnover but the fumbled kickoff return late in the first quarter gave Alabama the ball at the GSU 10-yard line. On the next play, McCarron found DeAndrew White for a 10-yard touchdown as White made a spectacular one-handed catch to put the Crimson Tide ahead 21-0.
The Panthers also hurt themselves with a season-high 10 penalties, including several pre-snap penalties likely caused by a late personnel change due to injuries. With all three of Georgia State's tight ends injured for this game, true freshman offensive lineman Brandon Pertile lined up at tight end for the first time.
Georgia State returns home next Saturday to host Troy for Homecoming and the inaugural Sun Belt Conference game in school history. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. For tickets, call 866-GA-STATE.
