What You Need to Know:
* Nick Arbuckle passed for a GSU-record 471 yards and four touchdowns as Georgia State rolled up a record 643 yards of offense in a 41-19 victory at Texas State.
* Georgia State scored its most points under Trent Miles and equaled its fewest points allowed.
* Robert Davis had five receptions for a career-high 177 yards, Penny Hart added six catches for 113 yards, and Donovan Harden caught two TDs.
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS -- Nick Arbuckle passed for a Georgia State-record 471 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers rolled up a school-best 643 yards of offense in a 41-19 victory at Texas State Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
Georgia State (3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt) reached its highest point total under head coach Trent Miles while equalling its fewest points allowed under the third-year mentor.
The Panthers' receiving trio of Robert Davis, Penny Hart and Donovan Harden combined for 16 receptions, 348 yards and four scores as Arbuckle tied his own school record for touchdown passes.
With five catches for 177 yards, Davis came within nine yards of the GSU receiving record. He got the air attack started with a 44-yard reception on the Panthers' first play of the game and then grabbed a 34-yard touchdown on GSU's fourth play. He also had a 48-yard catch Georgia State's first play of the second half.
Hart added six catches for 113 yards, including a 17-yard scoring pass, and Harden caught touchdowns of eight and four yards while topping 2,000 career yards.
Arbuckle needed just 23 completions for his 471 yards as he had 10 completions of 20 yards or more to five different receivers.
The Panthers also rushed for 172 yards, led by 51 yards on eight carries by Taz Bateman in his first game back from injury. Demarcus Kirk added 47 yards on 10 attempts.
The GSU defense held Texas State (2-7, 1-4 Sun Belt) to 19 points, including a late touchdown with just three seconds left. Chandon Sullivan and Antreal Allen came up with interceptions for the Panthers. In the decisive second quarter in which the Panthers turned a 14-6 lead into a 31-12 halftime advantage, GSU held the Bobcats to 71 total yards and 0-for-3 on third downs.
Wil Lutz booted field goals of 42 and 44 yards and punted for a 41.2-yard average.
“Our kids did a great job of coming together and playing four quarters," Miles said. "We preached all week about starting fast and finishing strong. We were able to do that. We started fast and we finished strong. My hats off to our kids. I think our defense was outstanding, our offense was outstanding and our special teams were outstanding. They could have come out today and felt sorry for themselves and they didn't. They came out and they battled and they got the reward they were looking for.”
“We're all about trying to win games and making this a great college experience for these young mean, which it was today. This foundation has been built extremely strong. We're excited for what Coach [Bill] Curry started and what we're taking and building. It starts with great young men.”
After Texas State kicked a field goal on its opening possession, the Panthers went to the air right away as Arbuckle hit Davis for a 44-yard completion down the middle on GSU's first offensive play. Two plays later, the pair connected again, this time for a 34-yard touchdown pass and a 7-3 GSU lead.
The Georgia State defense forced two more long field attempts on the Bobcats' next two possessions, one of which was missed. Leading 7-6, the Panthers put together another 75-yard touchdown drive, this one capped by Bateman's 5-yard scoring run. The sophomore back had been out since breaking his forearm in Game 2 vs. New Mexico State.
Texas State answered with Robert Lowe's 4-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, but the Bobcats' two-point conversion failed, preserving GSU's 14-12 lead. From there, the Panthers scored 27 straight points before Texas State added a late touchdown with just three seconds left in the game.
The Panthers return home to host South Alabama Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
