ATLANTA-- After a back and forth game, junior Freddie Brock scored the game-winning touchdown to secure a 24-21 victory over Chattanooga in the home opener on Saturday night at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.
Georgia State put together a nine-play, 59-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 12-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Brock, with 7:01 remaining in the ballgame. Nickelback Jyron Gilmore snagged an interception with 0:58 on the clock to solidify the win.
"I really appreciate our guys coming fighting through and never giving in," head coach Dell McGee said. "It was an ugly win, but in the long run, we will learn alot from this."
Starting quarterback Christian Veilleux led the Panthers' passing attack with 238 yards through the air and tossing two touchdowns, including a 22-yarder to Ted Hurst in the back of the end zone. Hurst led the Panthers in receiving yards, with 83 on six completions.
The victory improved Georgia State's record to 1-1 on the season and head coach McGee secured his first Georgia State win.
Freddie Brock totaled 73 yards to lead the Panthers' ground attack and added one touchdown in the game, picking up 5.2 yards per carry along the way. Sy'veon Wilkerson also tacked on 41 yards on the ground, picking up 4.6 yards per carry.
K.D. McDaniel paced the Georgia State defensive effort, totaling six tackles and one recovered fumble. Jyron Gilmore added three tackles and one interception and Gavin Pringle had three tackles and one interception in the win.
The Panthers won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing three turnovers while coughing the ball up one time, with Georgia State turning those takeaways into three points. Georgia State converted on 43.8 percent of third-down attempts on the day.
Defensively, Georgia State held up fairly well against the Chattanooga offensive attack, holding the Mocs to 308 total yards. The Panthers defense disrupted the Chattanooga passing attack on the way to recording two interceptions and breaking up three Mocs passes.
How It Happened
Georgia State got on the scoreboard first and jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 7:16 left in the first quarter after Liam Rickman completed a 44 yard field goal.Chattanooga responded and went ahead 7-3 before the Panthers got on the scoreboard again on a 19-yard touchdown reception from Veilleux to Jordan Ford to retake the lead at 10-7.
Chattanooga then grabbed a 14-10 lead, but Georgia State scored again at the 7:35 mark in the third quarter with a 22-yard touchdown reception from Veilleux to Hurst to jump back in front 17-14.Chattanooga then took control of the lead, building a 21-17 advantage before the Panthers got on the scoreboard again with a 12-yard touchdown run from Brock to retake the lead at 24-21. Gilmore snagged an interception at the 0:58 mark to solidify the win. .
Game Notes
» Georgia State outgained Chattanooga 391-308, including a 153-76 advantage on the ground.
» Georgia State won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting two passes and recovering one fumble.
» Georgia State had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up seven points.
» Georgia State converted 7 of 16 third downs while Chattanooga was successful on 3 of 11.
» Xavier Robinson led the Panthers with eight tackles.
» James Allen punted five times for the Panthers with an average of 45.2 yards per punt while pinning the Mocs inside their own 20 two times.
» Georgia State won the time of possession battle 33:37 to 26:23.
» Veilleux completed 68.4% of his passes on the day, going 26-for-38 while averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.
The Panthers continue the four-game homestead hosting Vanderbilt on Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m. art Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.
