Inaugural Game, Final Score

Football

Tenth Anniversary of Inaugural Football Game

41-7 Victory Before 30,237 Fans at Georgia Dome

The football era began at Georgia State with a 41-7 victory over NAIA Shorter before 30,237 fans in the Georgia Dome on Thursday Sept. 2, 2010. 

Quarterback Drew Little led the Panthers attack with a 13-of-17 performance and two passing touchdowns, while running back Parris Lee scored twice on the ground, including the first touchdown in program history.

The program's first-ever game capped a preparation period that began in April 2008, when it was first announced that the school would field a football team.

"I've never been more proud of a group of young men than I am of this group," said head coach Bill Curry.
 
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Head coach Bill Curry celebrates with Parris Lee (7), Arthur Williams (84)


Georgia State (1-0) piled up 366 yards of total offense, including 212 yards rushing, in the contest and allowed the Shorter offense inside the red zone just once in the game. Safety Brandon Jones led the defense with six tackles on the night. 

The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, moving the ball 63 yards on 11 plays on the game's first possession and capping the drive with a 4-yard Lee touchdown run. A 15-yard completion by Little to wide receiver Danny Williams on third down put the ball inside the Shorter 10 and helped set up the opening score. 

Georgia State scored three times in the second quarter on two Iain Vance field goals (from 22 and 18 yards out) and a touchdown drive of 30 yards after the Panthers recovered a Shorter fumble. Little found tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi for an 8-yard score and the Panthers' first-ever touchdown through the air. 

Quarterback Kelton Hill piloted the offense for the first drive of the second half, which resulted in the first of the period's two field goals. Hill capped the scoring in the contest with a 24-yard touchdown run with eight seconds remaining in the game. 

The second-half scoring for the Panthers began with Lee's second touchdown of the game, a 10-yard run into the corner of the end zone with 2:12 left in the third. Little found wide receiver Jordan Giles from 16 yards out for the Panthers' first score of the fourth quarter and his second passing touchdown of the night. 

Shorter scored its first points of the game with 8:14 left in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ben Williams, making the score 27-7. The Hawks had a chance to get on the scoreboard on their first possession of the second half, but David Guilford hooked the 51-yard field goal attempt wide left. 

Georgia State finished the game with no turnovers; Shorter gave the ball up twice on the evening.

"When you don't turn the ball over and you get some turnovers you almost always win," added Curry. "That is an incredible coefficient of victory that we have hammered and preached so hard." 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CATCH UP WITH MEMBERS OF THE INAUGURAL TEAM:

Ben Jacoby: Carrying a Unique Piece of GSU Football History
Michael Hall: From a Tryout in Borrowed Cleats to the Frontlines
Jake Muasau: Pursuing a Career in Sports Psychology
Kalan Jenkins: Operating with Lessons Learned on the Football Field
Mark Hogan: Forever a Trivia Question
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