Homecoming Week at Georgia State ended with the Panthers blown out by the Arkansas State Red Wolves by a final of 52-10 on Saturday at the Georgia Dome. It is the team’s worst of three defeats during Homecoming.
Georgia State won the opening toss and elected to receive. The Panthers advanced the football to the Red Wolves’ side of the field, but had to punt to Arkansas State.
The Red Wolves began their first possession at their 15-yard line. Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten completed a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Dijon Paschal as the big play to fuel the drive.
Knighten then found Darion Griswold for a 7-yard touchdown for Arkansas State’s first points. The ensuing extra point attempt from Tres Houston was good as they went ahead 7-0.
The Panthers’ next offensive series only lasted one play as linebacker Qushaun Lee forced a fumble of Marcus Caffey. Caleb Caston recovered the football and the Red Wolves took over at the Georgia State 22-yard line.
Georgia State’s defense was able to hold the Red Wolves to three points as Arkansas State only managed one first down with a short field. Houston’s field goal from 26 yards out was good for a 10-0 lead.
The next Panthers’ offensive series resulted in a three and out and another punt. Arkansas State would then possess the ball for just under two minutes as it was capped off by a 50 yard run up the middle of the field by Michael Gordon on a 3rd and two play. The lead then increased to 17-0.
After another Panthers’ three and out and punt, Arkansas State had the ball again, but were flagged with a false start penalty. Knighten connected with Dijon Paschal for 48 yards to put them in position to score again. They did so on 3rd and goal with a Knighten pass to Kenneth Rains to make the score 24-0 as the first quarter concluded.
Knighten concluded the quarter with 119 passing yards to only seven for Nick Arbuckle.
Both teams began the second quarter with punts on their first pair of drives. Georgia State would punt again on its third drive back to the Red Wolves and forced a fumble on Knighten. Trey Payne recovered the football, giving the Panthers a short drive starting at the Arkansas State 28-yard line.
Georgia State advanced the football to the 3-yard line, but could only muster a Wil Lutz 26-yard field goal for their first points of the game. This made the score 24-3 Arkansas State.
Just as the Red Wolves did at the end of the first quarter, they tacked on seven more points as the second quarter ended.
The Red Wolves got 53 yards from Michael Gordon on a 3rd and 11 from their 34-yard line to advance the ball inside the Panthers’ red zone. That was followed up by a 13-yard touchdown rush from Johnston White for a 31-3 lead. The half concluded with this Arkansas State leading by 28.
Arkansas State had gained 335 yards on total offense in the first half compared to only 95 for the Panthers. Gordon had 153 yards at the half and a touchdown, while Knighten contributed 121 yards and two touchdowns. Arbuckle ended the half with only 52 yards passing and three sacks.
The Red Wolves would pick up where they left off as the second half commenced. Their first drive of the second half lasted over two minutes, six plays and 75 yards. It concluded in a 51-yard touchdown run from Knighten to extend their lead to 38-3.
The Panthers moved the ball into the Arkansas State red zone on their ensuing possession in hopes of scoring seven points. Georgia State went for it on a 4th and five play as Arbuckle attempted a quarterback keeper. He was stopped shy of first down yardage as the Red Wolves took over again after the turnover on downs.
It would translate into another Arkansas State scoring drive. This one would last 12 plays and 93 yards for just over four minutes. It would be capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run from Gordon to make the game 45-3 in their favor.
Georgia State advanced the football to the Red Wolves’ 40-yard line on their next drive after converting on 3rd and 11 earlier in the drive.
Instead of punting on 4th and 8 from the 40-yard line of Arkansas State, Arbuckle attempted a completion to Robert Davis. The pass was incomplete.
As the fourth quarter began, the Panthers did get a big play on defense when Tanner Strickland forced a fumble of Brandon Byner on 2nd and five from the Georgia State 24-yard line. James Traylor recovered, giving the Panthers first down from the 28-yard line.
Ben McLane then came in at quarterback to replace Arbuckle. His third play of his first drive leading the Panthers offense ended in an interception by Andrew Tryon at the Georgia State 34-yard line.
Arkansas State converted that turnover into points. Operating with a short field, the Red Wolves eventually put seven more points on the board when Knighten completed a short touchdown pass to Warren Leapheart.
The Red Wolves’ advantage ballooned to 52-3 after the seven play, a 34-yard drive that lasted for two minutes and forty seconds.
With about four minutes left to play in the game, the Panthers finally found the end zone when a 12-play, 67 yard drive that lasted over six minutes that was capped off by a touchdown run by Gerald Howse from two yards out. This made the score 52-10. Ten of the 12 plays on that drive were run plays to Howse.
The final Red Wolves drive lasted ten plays, for 49 yards and almost four minutes as they ran out the clock and clinched an emphatic victory over the Panthers.
After the game, head coach Trent Miles expressed shock at the proceedings.
“That was not the same football team I saw for five weeks coming into this game,” Coach Miles said. “We didn’t play at the level we are capable of playing. That starts with the coaching staff and it starts with me. It’s the responsibility of the coaching to have them playing at a high level and I failed to do that today.”
For the Red Wolves, Knighten threw for 215-yards and three touchdowns. He completed 20 out of his 26 passes. He also rushed for 108-yards on 12 carries. Gordon had 12 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. J.D. McKissic had five receptions for 40-yards.
Arbuckle finished the game with 162 yards on 18 out of 36 passing and was sacked four times. Howse had 11 carries for 34 yards and one touchdown. Blair finished with five receptions and 47 yards.
“I would never see anything like this happen,”Arbuckle said. I expected fully that we were going to be able to win this game. If you were to tell me that the final score would be 52-10, I would think we would have the 52.”
Georgia State will play South Alabama Oct.18 in Mobile, Ala.
