Scouting GSU

by Murray Poole

Location: Statesboro, GA.

Conference: Southern Conference

Enrollment: 20,574

Eagles in a thumbnail: Until they were tripped by Appalachian
State 31-28 on Nov. 3, the Eagles (8-2, 6-2
Southern Conference) were ranked No. 1 in America in the
FCS Division poll. Georgia Southern’s only other defeat was
a 23-21 setback to The Citadel in the Eagles’ second outing
this season. Georgia Southern, which has gained at
least a share of its 10th Southern Conference championship,
has toppled Jacksonville (58-0), Elon (26-23), Samford
(35-16), Western Carolina (45-13), Wofford (17-9),
Furman (38-17), Chattanooga (39-31, 3 OTs) and Howard,
this past Saturday by 69-26.

A look at the Georgia Southern offense: In their
patented triple-option attack, the Eagles are led by the
double-barreled running attack of junior quarterback Jerick
McKinnon (5-9, 208) and sophomore back Dominique
Swope (5-11, 221). McKinnon, from Marietta, has run for
1,056 yards and 11 touchdowns while Swope, from Buford,
has run for 819 yards and a conference-leading 14 touchdowns
in just eight games. Both average over 100 yards
per game rushing and in the romp over Howard, McKinnon
ran for a career-high 198 yards and three touchdowns as
the Eagles rolled up a staggering 529 yards on the ground.
Georgia Southern, of course, doesn’t throw it much as
McKinnon has passed for 396 yards and five touchdowns.
The Eagles average a whopping, league-leading 401 yards
a game on the ground and also lead the SoCon in scoring
at 37.6 points per outing.

A look at the Georgia Southern defense: The Eagles
have struggled at times on this side of the ball, giving up
point totals of 23, 23, 31, 31 and 26 but have also had
their bright moments in a shutout of Jacksonville and limiting
Samford, Western Carolina, Wofford and Furman to
16, 13, 9 and 17 points, respectively. Georgia Southern
ranks second in scoring defense in the SoCon, surrendering
18.9 points an outing, and is led by senior linebacker
John Stevenson (5-11, 202) and senior safety J.J. Wilcox
(6-0, 215). Stevenson, who hails from Stone Mountain, has
recorded 83 tackles while Wilcox, from Cairo, has notched
63 stops.

What Eagles head coach Jeff Monken says: “It was
critical we find a way to win. We had to get to eight wins.
Last year only two teams made the playoffs with seven
wins, and 22 of the top 25 in the rankings this year already
had seven wins. We couldn’t afford to hope and cross our
fingers. There’s still no guarantee we’ll get in postseason
play, but this will help. Now, we’ve got to prepare to play
the University of Georgia.”

Game Prediction: This game is most timely for the Bulldogs
as it falls between Auburn and state-rival Georgia
Tech and since the Eagles run the triple-option offense
under Monken, who learned the craft under Tech head
coach Paul Johnson, it should provide the Georgia defense
with a look at what the Bulldogs will see Thanksgiving
weekend when the Yellow Jackets buzz between the
hedges. Georgia Southern has never been intimidated by
the Bulldogs in their past meetings in Athens and likely
won’t be this coming Saturday, either. I called this contest
38-17, Georgia, in the preseason and although I believe
the Bulldogs should now tally 45 points or more against
the smaller Eagle defense, with Georgia coming off the big
SEC East title clinching in Auburn and likely being a bit
emotionally spent, let’s keep it at that 38-17 prediction.

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