Box Score ATLANTA – Tra Barnett rushed for 242 yards to set Georgia State records for rushing yards in a game, season and career and lead the Panthers to their fourth straight win and bowl eligibility for the third time in five years with in a 52-33 victory over Troy Saturday night at Georgia State Stadium.
 
GSU piled up a school-record 390 yards rushing as a team, breaking the school record for the third time in four games. The Panthers (6-2, 3-1 Sun Belt) remained undefeated (4-0) at home this year while Troy fell to 3-4 and 1-2 in Sun Belt play.

"What a tremendous effort by our football team," head coach Shawn Elliott said. "Everyone is probably saying we are bowl eligible, but to tell you the truth, I do not want to even think about bowl eligibility. If we achieve what I think we can achieve in practice and preparation, we have a chance to go fight for this championship. I will challenge our football team. I want them to understand we have the capability to compete for it.

"As I sit here tonight, we have an opportunity to do so much more than go to a bowl game, that is why I am so proud."

Barnett's 242 yards shattered the school record of 201 yards by Russell vs. Rhode Island in 2012. He broke the record with a 41-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1 with one minute to play to seal the victory.
 
The senior from Elberton, Ga., became Georgia State's career rushing leader with 1,631 yards, passing Travis Evans (1,500, 2010-13). His two touchdowns give him sole possession of the GSU career record for rushing touchdowns with 15.
 
With 928 yards on the year, Barnett also broke the Georgia State single-season record previously held by Russell (747 in 2012).
 
"Talk about a guy who fought to get in that backfield," Elliott said. "To see him go out there and do those things, it makes our entire team smile. I think he is setting records that will last for a while, and he is still not finished. He has a great group that helps him, our tight ends, our offensive line, our quarterback, our defense, and everyone. I am very proud of what he stands for, who he is, and how he comes to work."

Seth Paige joined Barnett in the 100-yard column with 109 yards on just nine carries, including a 65-yard touchdown run.

Quarterback Dan Ellington accounted for four touchdowns, going 18-of-25 for 189 yards passing and two touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 32 yards and two scores.

Leading 28-14 at the half, Georgia State extended its lead on its first possession of the second half with an 80-yard drive that covered 16 plays and seven minutes on the clock as Ellington scored from one yard out to give GSU a 35-21 lead with four minutes to play in the third quarter.
 
After a Troy touchdown, Georgia State answered with Brandon Wright's 29-yard field goal. But the Trojans needed less than two minutes to score another touchdown and pull within 38-27 with nine minutes to play.
 
Then Ellington directed another long drive as the Panthers drove 75 yards on 13 plays for Roger Carter's 4-yard touchdown catch, eating up another five minutes to give GSU a 45-27 lead with 3:51 left.
 
Reggie Todd's 79-yard kickoff return set up another Troy touchdown, but the Panthers recovered the ensuing on-sides kick, and Barnett put an exclamation point on the win with a 41-yard touchdown run with 1:04 to play. That last run gave him the GSU single-game rushing record, breaking Russell's mark of 201 yards vs. Rhode Island in 2012.
 
Georgia State opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive on its first possession, capped by Ellington's 19-yard touchdown run, to take a quick 7-0 lead four minutes into the game.
 
After Troy tied the score, the Panthers scored on back-to-back possessions. Ellington connected with tight end Aubry Payne, who caught a tipped ball over the middle and raced for the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 10 minutes left in the second quarter. For Payne, that is his team-leading sixth touchdown catch in seven games.
 
The Panthers got a fourth-down stop and took over at their 35-yard line. On the first play, Paige took the handoff from Ellington and raced 65 yards, dragging tacklers into the end zone for the score. The sophomore running back has two of the five longest runs in school history; he set the GSU record with a 82-yard touchdown last season vs. ULM.
 
Leading 21-14, Ellington directed a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Barnett's 5-yard scoring run, to take a 28-14 lead with 3:28 left at the half.
 
Twice in the first half after Troy drove into GSU territory, the Panther defense came up with third-down sacks by Terry Thomas and Victor Heyward to keep the Trojans off the scoreboard.

Heyward led the defense with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a pass breakup.

Georgia State is off next week before traveling to ULM on Nov. 2