Defense Rules the Day

The story of Georgia State's 49-29 victory over East Carolina was the outstanding play of the Panther defense, which did not allow the Pirates to score an offensive touchdown.

>Defensive coordinator Nate Fuqua's unit held East Carolina to 50 yards rushing, the lowest total by a GSU opponent since WKU (minus-2 yards) in the 2017 AutoNation Cure Bowl and tied for the third-lowest figure in program history.

>The GSU defense allowed just 286 total yards on 78 plays, an average of 3.7 yards per play (second lowest figure in school history)

>The Panthers collected eight pass breakups and nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks.

"I think our defense was phenomenal today," head coach Shawn Elliott said after the game. "We just put the pressure on them all day long. It seemed like they had no answer for our defensive line and our pressure. It was fun to see. Even when we struggled offensively in the third quarter, the defense continued to pick us up. Just a phenomenal day on their part."

Following that game, the Panthers stack up well in the Sun Belt Conference and on the national level.

>Georgia State leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 8 in FBS in third-down defense, holding opponents to a conversion rate of 25.8 percent.

>With an interception in each of the first two games, Quavian White is tied for the NCAA lead (1.0 per game). He now has five career interceptions, which is tied for third in GSU history (record is 7), and he is the Panthers' career leader with 88 interception return yards.

>Georgia State leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 5 in FBS with five interceptions on the season.

>Redshirt freshman safety Antavious Lane is the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week. He returned an interception 34 yards for a score and also made five tackles and broke up two passes against East Carolina.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

#20 Quavian White: CB; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: S

#20 Quavian White
: 5' 10"; Junior
: CB

Players Mentioned

#34 Antavious Lane

#20 Quavian White

Players Mentioned

#34 Antavious Lane

#20 Quavian White