Saturday's Peach State College Scoreboard: Tough day for Mercer, FVSU, Tech, GSU-Boro (final edition)
Saturday’s Peach State results
Saturday’s Peach State results
Virginia 33, Georgia Tech 28
All Georgia Tech did was win.
The Yellow Jackets turned in perhaps their best overall game of the season despite being nowhere near normal health, but Virginia came up with just enough plays to survive at home.
And that makes it painful. The emotion from head coach Geoff Collins said as much.
The Jackets took an early lead, less than two minutes into the game. Virginia tied it a little more than five minutes and took the lead in three minutes.
Tech thought it had some halftime momentum with a score 44 seconds from halftime, but a 40-yard kickoff return led to a four-play, 33-second touchdown drive for a 24-21 halftime lead.
Tech couldn’t manage to tie it again, getting to within five with 5:30 left. Virginia was able to run out the clock, converting two third downs along the way.
Kennesaw State 38, Campbell 35
Campbell had more first downs, more yards, fewer penalties, and scored first and scored last.
And lost.
No. 11 Kennesaw State overcame deficits of 14-3 and 21-10 with three straight touchdowns to take the lead for good in a big Big South battle in Buies Creek, N.C.
Backup QB Tommy Bryant ran for three scores and passed for two as KSU won its 13th conference game out of 14.
Albany State 42, Fort Valley State 6
The third quarter was the fatal quarter for Fort Valley State, which opened with the Wildcats down a point.
It ended with them down by 29.
Albany State scored two touchdowns less than two minutes apart early in the quarter to take control and win the 30th Fountain City Classic.
The Wildcats scored with 22 seconds left in the second quarter, but missed the PAT, perhaps an omen, for little went right after that.
The Rams were doubled up in time of possession, but outgained FVSU by 10, passing for only five yards while the Wildcats ran for only 11.
Wofford 41, Mercer 7
The stats were an indication that it wasn’t closer than the score.
The No. 23 Terriers put up 558 yards in total offense, had 15 more first downs, and converted 7 of 12 third-down plays while having a 16-minute advantage in possession to ruin Mercer’s homecoming and senior day.
The Bears were down 20 before scoring late in the second quarter. But the Terriers added to the lead six inutes into the third quarter, turning in a season’s best on defense in yards allowed.
Troy 49, Georgia Southern 28
The hosts got off to a nice start, 14-0 after one, and maintained a level of control against the visiting Eagles while almost doubling Georgia Southern in yards.
The Trojans ran for 273 and passed for 330, topping the Eagles’ 152 and 181. The rushing advantage was a bit of a surprise.
Troy almost doubled Georgia Southern in first downs, 27-16, despite having the ball for 10 fewer minutes.
The Trojans turned in a program record nine sacks for losses of 49 yards, and Georgia Southern was shutout in sacks against an offense that tried 42 passes.
Peach County grad Trevon Woolfolk had three carries for 22 yards and a score for Troy.
Louisiana-Monroe 45, Georgia State 31
After three quarters, it was tied, and there was no reason to think it wouldn’t go down to the final few minutes.
It kind of did, host Louisiana-Monroe breaking the tie with 7:40 left in the game and sealing it with 2:46 left, the final two touchdowns coming from Markis McCray on a run and pass reception.
The Panthers (6-3/3-2) led 3-0, 17-14, 24-21, and tied the Warhawks (4-5/3-2) at 24 all and 31 all.
The teams quasi-split 56 first downs, the Panthers outgaining the Warhawks 414-299 rushing on seven more tries, but ULM had a 291-122 passing advantage.
Thus, they combined for 1,126 yards and only four punts.
School record can’t avoid loss
Georgia 27, Missouri 0
Those hoping for a Georgia night of style points – on the heels of Alabama’s loss earlier Saturday – didn’t get anything near their wish.
They did get four Rodrigo Blankenship field goals – he missed one – and a quality night from receiver George Pickens, and a night of basic efficiency.
And their third shutout of the season.
Jake Fromm hooked up with Lawrence Cager and Pickens for 11 of his 13 completions, and for 160 of his 173 yards. Pickens caught two touchdown passes.
D’Andre Swift ran 12 times for 83 yards, while the Missouri (5-4/2-3) managed 50 yards on 24 carries. Missouri entered the game 47th among 130 FBS teams in total offense, and was held to 198 yards in total offense, below its average of
Georgia (8-1/5-1) managed 339 yards, a chunk below its average of 462.1.
Missouri hadn’t been shut out since 2014, 34-0 by Georgia.
The game featured a pair of former high school teammates from Mary Persons, Missouri’s Jatorian Hansford and Georgia’s Malik Herrings, both defensive ends on the next level.
Hansford started and was credited with one tackle, while Herring also started but had no stats in the immediate postgame stats.