ATLANTA – Playing the first FBS game of the year, Georgia State roared back with 17 fourth-quarter points including Wil Lutz's game-winning 26-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining for a 38-37 win over Abilene Christian on Wednesday night in the Georgia Dome.
In his first game for Georgia State, quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the come-from-behind victory as he threw for 413 yards -- just one shy of the school record--on 31 of 47 passing with four touchdowns. It was the fifth 300-yard passing game in school history.
- Arbuckle, a junior college transfer, became the fifth different opening day starter at quarterback in five years for the Panthers after coming out of the huddle on the opening drive of the season.
- The quarterback was also especially mobile on the final drive, including a key 17-yard rush in the waning seconds.
- Arbuckle was a team captain before the game started and was joined for the coin toss by linebacker Joseph Peterson and linebacker Jarrell Robinson.
In the fourth quarter, Arbuckle led GSU on scoring drives of 44 yards, 77 yards and the final drive of 72 yards, 30 yards of which he covered on the ground in the final 30 seconds.
- Arbuckle tossed touchdowns to Joel Ruiz (34 yards and 9 yards), Avery Sweeting (41 yards) and Lynquez Blair (27 yards) while finishing one yard shy of tying the school record for passing yards.
Before Arbuckle helped GSU to 189 total yards in the fourth quarter, the Panthers had stalled, being outgained 132-75 in the third, including just five yards on the ground. During that stretch, Georgia State struggled without starting running back Krysten Hammon in the lineup after suffering an injury early in the second period. Hammon, a true freshman, rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries in the opening half and finished with 74 yards on 13 attempts.
Hammon's return early in the fourth period along with linebacker Joseph Peterson's first career interception gave the Panthers life. Senior Lynquez Blair pulled GSU back within 30-28 with his first career touchdown reception as he caught a quick out and curled the first-down attempt up the middle for a 27-yard score.
Georgia State got its second score of the fourth quarter when Arbuckle hit Ruiz with a 9-yarder to cap a 77-yard drive and pull the Panthers within 37-35 with 4:31 to play. That was GSU's third scoring drive of at least 70 yards on the night.
The Panthers' winning drive began at their own 19 with 2:41 on the clock and included a 56-yard scoring pass to Donovan Harden that was called back on a holding penalty. Arbuckle made the miscue a distant memory as he continued to push the Panthers down the field, twice converting on fourth down to keep the drive alive. On 4th-and-5 at the GSU 24, Arbuckle found Ruiz for 12 yards, and on 4th-and-19 at the GSU 27, he hit Blair for 24 yards out to midfield. Arbuckle rushed 13 yards to the ACU 26 and the 17 yards to nine to set up the winning field goals.
Abilene Christian started the season's scoring with a 25-yard field to open the game and ended the first half with a 60-yard Cedric Gilbert catch and run for a score. The field goal was forced after GSU held on third down inside the 10-yard line, which was a common theme early on.
- Georgia State got on the board for the first time this season with a five-play, 58-yard drive that took only 1:34 off the clock and ended with a 34-yard pass from Arbuckle to Ruiz.
- The Panther defense played well in the first half, especially on third downs. On the crucial down, GSU limited ACU to just three conversions on eight attempts. The Panthers were 6 of 7 on third downs in the opening frame.
- Georgia State led at halftime for the fourth time in five season-opening games, including the second straight year.
With 12:00 to play in the second quarter, Georgia State fullback Jonathan Lytle scored on a 2-yard run to give the Panthers a 14-3 advantage. A Wildcat pass interference penalty kept the drive alive and then Ruiz came to life again, exciting the crowd with a nifty leaping catch for 19 yards to the ACU 2.
GSU ended the half with a 302 to 243 advantage in yards, and had converted six of its seven third-down attempts. On the game, the Panthers combined for 566 total yards, including 153 on the ground. Hammon finished with 74 yards while Kyler Neal added 46.
Peterson led the way on defense with 11 tackles, a QB hurry and the interception while Bruce Dukes had eight tackles and pass breakup.
Parker McKenzie led Abilene Christian with 403 passing yards by hitting 30 of 40 attempts with four touchdowns. Demarcus Thompson reeled in 156 receiving yards.
