Panthers lose to nationally ranked Jacksonville State in first road game

Georgia State (1-2) football suffered its second straight loss of the season, in Jacksonville, Alabama after falling to the No.16 ranked Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-1) Saturday, 37-21. The first possession of the day resulted in a Matt Hubbard punt after the Panthers were unable to get the ball past their own 21-yard line. Capitalizing on the great field position the Gamecocks delivered the first blow by scoring a touchdown on their first possession. Kevyn Cooper made the huge plays for JSU during the scoring drive with a 17-yard reception and 28-yard touchdown reception from Coty Blanchard. Blanchard replaced starting quarterback Marques Ivory after Ivory was injured in last week's game against UT-Martin. Georgia State started their next drive from their own 20 after a 14-yard run from all-purpose receiver Albert Wilson. However, the drive resulted in another punt. The Panther defense made their presence known in the game by shutting down the Gamecocks and forcing a three-and-out. The Panthers offense responded with a ten play, 4:13 drive. Wilson caught an 18-yard pass to advance the Panthers to the JSU 26, and an 11-yard catch by Williams resulted in the first score for Georgia State. Four minutes into the second quarter Hubbard's punt was blocked by Barry Stafford and recovered by Clarence Jackson for a JSU touchdown. After an extra point by James Esco the score was now 14-7, Jacksonville State. Georgia State quickly responded however, with a one-yard Donald Russell touchdown run. Wilson had yet another 18-yard reception on the scoring drive and finished the game with 146 yards receiving. Georgia State went into the half tied with JSU at 14. The second half of was not as positive for the Panthers, and the game slowly slipped away from Georgia State.  "We kept their drive alive with silly mistakes. We didn't show poise in clutch." said Head Coach Bill Curry. The Gamecocks scored two times straight in the third quarter, first with an Esco 23-yard field goal, then a 17-yard rush from Blanchard for a touchdown. Georgia State scored their final points of the game on a three yard Travis Evans rushing touchdown. The score was set up by a 54-yard Wilson reception. Running back Washaun Ealey, a recent University of Georgia transfer, reached the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run and increased the Gamecock lead to 9. However Esco would miss the extra point attempt. Down 21 to 30 the Panthers looked to get back on the scoreboard. But after Mark Hogan's roughing the kicker penalty, the Panthers turned the ball back over to JSU, which resulted in another Blanchard rushing touchdown for 11 yards. Georgia State will make its way to Houston next week for its second straight away game. The game will be on CSS starting at 8 p.m. ET.