Saturday's Peach State College Scoreboard: A Vol Navy boat caught fire, downhill after that in Knoxville; GMC, Mercer, UGA, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State
Saturday’s Peach State results
Nassau 21, GMC 7
Nassau scored on an 11-yard pass play with 1:38 left in the game for the lead, then opened GMC’s drive with a sack, and that was followed by three straight incompletions.
The Bulldogs had leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 17-7 and 17-14 before Nassau had the final answer.
Damekus Taylor was 13 of 22 passing for 194 yards and a touchdown for GMC. Tyler Jordan had 41 yards on five carries, Tye Edwards 36 on 10.
Bleckley County grad Torenio Davis caught four passes for 140 yards and four scores, while Macon County grad Trey Brown had three catches for 25 yards.
GMC’s defense stuffed Nassau’s run game to minus-37 yards, and the visitors outgained the hosts 330-249 on one more snap.
Georgia State 38, Tennessee 30
The Panthers were a 25-point underdog.
Georgia State took home $950,000 for its visit to Knoxville, and that value was enhanced by the Panthers shocking Tennessee.
The Panthers, 2-10 last year, outscored the Vols 24-13 in the second half for Tennessee’s first home-opener loss since 1983.
SEC teams were on an 82-game winning streak as a favorite of at least 25 points. UT’s last loss to a Group of 5 school was vs. Wyoming in 2008, which helped lead to Phillip Fulmer retiring after the season.
The Panthers had three more first downs, despite an 11-for-24 day passing from new QB x. They held Tennessee to 93 yards rushing, and overall were outgained 404-352 on six more plays.
Warner Robins grad Marquez Callaway caught a 6-yard TD pass to tie the game, and finished with three catches for46 yards.
The omen: Vol Navy boat on fire before game
Worst loss in modern UT history?
Worries about too much ‘Rocky Top’ were unfounded
And temperatures rise around cabooses
GSU’s Elliott takes a shot at the SEC
The better, harder-playing team won?
Mercer 49, Western Carolina 27
The Bears were in such control in the first half that being outscored 13-7 in the second half meant nothing.
Nor did being outgained 445-419 and having eight fewer first downs. Going 5 for 12 on third down helps, as do five touchdowns of more than 30 yards.
Mercer got going early when David Durden returning the opening kickoff to the WCU, setting up a big catch from Tyray Devezin on a TD pass from Robert Riddle.
Kennesaw State 59, Point 0
The defending Big South champs had about as much trouble as expected with the NAIA foe: none.
It took the Owls three plays after kickoff for their first touchdown of the season. They needed five plays for their second.
Dodge County grad Kyle Glover and freshman Nykeem Farrow of Bleckley County saw limited action, with three carries for four yards.
The Owls won their first home opener since starting football a few years ago, and have won 24 of their last 27 games.
Georgia 30, Vanderbilt 6
The Bulldogs took care of business, leading 21-6 at halftime and watching the defense bow up the rest of the way.
Another home away from home.
Houston County grad Jake Fromm was 15 of 23 for 156 yards with a touchdown and no picks or sacks.
Peach County grad Kearis Jackson underwent X-rays on his hand after a fourth-quarter hit after a catch, the helmet hitting him square on that hand.
Freshman Travon Walker from Upson-Lee and co-Knight alum David Marshall had two tackles each
Northside grad Tae Daley had seven tackles for Vanderbilt, third-best on the defense, and chased down Zamir White in the second half and poked the ball out for a fumble that Georgia retained when it rolled out of bounds.
Georgia Southern at LSU 55, Georgia Southern 3
LSU no doubt got a little more focused after another Sun Belt team stunned another SEC team, Georgia State beating Tennessee. Granted, Georgia Southern is stronger than Georgia State, but LSU is better than Tennessee.
The Tigers were up 35-0 before the Eagles scored.
LSU handled the option, holding Georgia Southern to only 98 yards total offense on 50 plays, while the Tigers ran 72.