LendingTree Bowl celebration
Todd Drexler/Sideline Sports

Football

Another Season of Firsts & Records

Panthers Cap Successful Season with LendingTree Bowl Victory

Like all football teams, Georgia State battled uncertainty in 2020, but the end result was more of the same for head coach Shawn Elliott's program as his Panthers continued to achieve firsts and rewrite records in another successful season, capped by a victory in the LendingTree Bowl.

Still just 11 years old, the program earned its fourth bowl berth in six years, including three of the last four seasons under Elliott. The Panthers posted consecutive winning seasons and earned back-to-back bowl berths for the first time, and GSU's 6-4 record (4-4 Sun Belt) marks the best winning percentage in school history.

"We were all really fortunate to have this opportunity to play," Elliott said. "For us to have the opportunity to play 10 games and finish our season with a win in the LendingTree Bowl, it was a remarkable season. I don't think you can really understand what our student-athletes had to go through, going all the way back to March when everything was shut down."

The Panthers played their best football down the stretch, ending the season on a three-game winning streak with come-from-behind victories over South Alabama and Georgia Southern before their 39-21 win over Western Kentucky in the LendingTree Bowl.

"The defense was playing really well, and the offense continued to do what they do," Elliott said. "It just came together. It's a great thing to see as a football coach when you play your best ball at the end of the season, and we were certainly doing that."
 
"I'm very proud of the season that we had," Elliott added. "At the same time, we left some wins our there, some close games, and the 6-4 record could have been much better. We're going to really work on that in the offseason and push toward the future and making that happen."

Georgia State's offense continued to be explosive yet balanced while averaging a school-record 33.3 points per game, a feat that is particularly noteworthy because the unit was directed by a first-year starting quarterback in Cornelious Brown IV, who did not have the benefit of a traditional spring practice, offseason and preseason camp. Brown finished second in the Sun Belt in passing (227.8) and total offense (257.9) per game and MVP of the LendingTree Bowl after passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 40 yards. After GSU fell behind 7-0, Brown directed four straight touchdown drives to send the Panthers into the locker room with a commanding 27-7 lead.

"The transformation he made, from the first six practices last spring to the end of the season was just remarkable," Elliott said. "But I can tell you one thing that didn't change was his confidence. He has great confidence, not only in himself but in our entire offensive system.

"I talk a lot about taking the answers that defense gives, and that's a lot on him. I just think he did a heck of a job. And the great thing about him is that he understands how much better he can get."

NOTES ON THE 2020 SEASON

After winning the LendingTree Bowl 39-21 over Western Kentucky, Georgia State evened its bowl record at 2-2, including 2-1 under head coach Shawn Elliott, who has guided the Panthers to bowls in three of his four seasons. Both wins have come against WKU.

Georgia State's 6-4 final record is the best winning percentage in program history and gives the Panthers back-to-back winning seasons for the first time.

The Panthers will take a three-game winning streak (South Alabama, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky) into their 2021 season opener vs. Army on Sept. 4 at Center Parc Stadium.

Georgia State's average of 33.3 points per game is the highest scoring average in program history, bettering last year's mark of 31.2 ppg. The 2020 squad ranks second in rushing yards per game (194.0) and third in total offense per game (424.3).
 
The GSU defense allowed an average of 136.6 rushing yards per game, just missing the school record of 136.4 ypg, set in 2017. This year's average of 3.86 yards per opponent rush is a record, well ahead of the 4.13 yards per rush allowed in 2017.

Over the final four games, the GSU defense allowed averages of 19.0 points and 322.0 yards of total offense in wins over South Alabama, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky and a four-point loss at App State.

With three sacks against WKU, Georgia State's season total of 35 (3.5 pg/No. 7 FBS), 11 more than the previous season record of 24 (set in 12-game season in 2017). That includes 21 sacks over the final five games.
 
With three turnovers, GSU forced 21 on the season (12 int/9 FR), No. 8 in FBS and one shy of the school record of 22 in 2015. The nine fumble recoveries are a school record.

Georgia State was the only team to intercept WKU QB Tyrell Pigrome all season. The interception by Antavious Lane--the school record-tying fourth pick of the season for the redshirt freshman safety--snapped his string of consecutive passes without an interception at 278.
 
INDIVIDUAL HONORS

QB CORNELIOUS BROWN IV
Sun Belt Offensive Player of Week: Nov. 9 (ULM)
Manning Award Star of the Week (Nov. 30)
FWAA Fresh Four (Nov. 30)
FWAA Freshman All-American Team Midseason Watch List
LendingTree Bowl MVP

ILB BLAKE CARROLL
All-Sun Belt Conference (HM)

TE ROGER CARTER
All-Sun Belt Conference (3rd team)

RB DESTIN COATES
All-Sun Belt Conference (3rd team)
LendingTree Bowl Offensive Player of the Game
 
G SHAMARIOUS GILMORE
All-Sun Belt Conference (1st team)
Outland Trophy Watch List
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference (1st team)

OLB JONTREY HUNTER
LendingTree Bowl Defensive Player of the Game

WR JONATHAN IFEDI
NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist

S ANTAVIOUS LANE
All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)
Sun Belt Defensive Player of Week: Oct. 5 (East Carolina)
FWAA Freshman All-American Team Midseason Watch List
AP All-Bowl Team

WR CORNELIUS McCOY
All-Sun Belt Conference (HM)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)

WR SAM PINCKNEY
All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)
Biletnikoff Award Watch List

PK NOEL RUIZ
All-Sun Belt Conference (1st team)
Sun Belt Special Teams Player of Week: Nov. 30 (Georgia Southern)
Lou Groza Award Star of the Week (Nov. 30)
LendingTree Bowl Special Teams Player of the Game

OLB JORDAN STRACHAN
All-Sun Belt Conference (3rd team)
Sun Belt Defensive Player of Week: Nov. 26 (Troy)
Nominee for Burlsworth Trophy

ILB TRAJAN STEPHENS-McQUEEN
All-Sun Belt Conference (HM)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)

C MALIK SUMTER
All-Sun Belt Conference (HM)
Rimington Trophy Watch List

CB QUAVIAN WHITE
All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Sept. 21)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)

DE HARDRICK WILLIS
All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)

NG DONTAE WILSON
All-Sun Belt Conference (3rd team)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference (2nd team)

WR COACH TRENT McKNIGHT
Nominee for Broyles Award
 
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Players Mentioned

Cornelious Brown IV

#4 Cornelious Brown IV

QB
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Antavious Lane

#34 Antavious Lane

S
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Cornelious Brown IV

#4 Cornelious Brown IV

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Antavious Lane

#34 Antavious Lane

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
S