Close losses becoming the norm for the Panthers

It was an all too familiar scene as the Georgia State Panthers gave up an early lead to lose to Texas State 24-17.

The Panthers fell to 0-7 for the season, 0-2 in the Sun Belt conference.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats came out of the game with their first Sun Belt victory in the program’s history, improving their record to 4-3, 1-2 in the conference.

For Georgia State, it seemed history was repeating itself as a late interception thrown by quarterback Ronnie Bell ultimately shut the door on the Panthers from getting their first victory of the season.

Bell threw an interception late in the game against Troy solidifying the Trojans win.

“We beat ourselves,” head coach Trent Miles said. “We had some guys that busted a few things there at the end,” Miles said referencing the interception.

Senior safety Justin Iwuji made the interception for the Bobcats. It was his second of the season.

Penalties continued to be a problem for the Panthers. The Panthers committed 10 penalties for 84 yards.

One of the more significant penalties was on a pass interference called on linebacker Tarris Batiste midway through the fourth quarter on third down. The penalty gave the Bobcats a first down and ultimately led them to score and take the lead for the final time in the game.

“I know our defensive coaches are sick,” Miles said. “We had a couple calls there that were perfect and we get a pass interference call.”

The Panthers went into the game with most of their starting offensive linemen out due to injuries from the previous game against Troy.

Left tackle Ulrick John, left guard Tim Wynn, and center Cade Yates were all on the sideline for the Panthers.

Redshirt freshman Garrett Gorringe filled in at left guard while third-string center Ronald Martin started at center for Georgia State. Right guard A.J. Kaplan moved over to left tackle while true freshman Brandon Pertile played at right guard.

The young offensive line was able to hold defenders majority of the time opening the way for Georgia State to get 160 yards rushing, their most rushing yards in a game this season.

Travis Evans led the team in rushing with 71 yards on 18 carries. Receiver Albert Wilson rushed the ball eight times for 44 yards.

The offensive line did allow two sacks and made quarterback Ronnie Bell run out of the pocket to throw several of his passes.

Bell finished the game 20-for-36 with 208 yards and one touchdown pass. He also rushed for 30 yards and one touchdown.

The Panthers went out firing to start the game with a 45-yard play-action reverse to Albert Wilson.

The Bobcats pushed it to fourth-and-one setting, but the Panthers converted on a rush from fullback Sean Jeppesen keeping the drive alive.

The Panthers were able to get down the field setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Bell to give the Panthers the lead early.

The Panthers defense started strong holding the Bobcats to three-and-out on their first two drives of the game.

However, the third drive was the charm for the Bobcats as they picked up their first first down of the game followed by a 34-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Nutall to tie the game at seven.

Following a 59-yard run from Texas State’s leading receiver Robert Lowe, Texas State was able to take the lead with a 20-yard field goal.

The game held at 10-7 going into the fourth quarter in the midst of a Georgia State drive that made it to the Bobcats 2-yard line before the Panthers kicker Wil Lutz hit a field goal from 19 yards out to tie the game at 10.

On the following drive, a 35-yard run from Nutall took the Bobcats inside the Georgia State 10-yard line just minutes later.

Nutall went on to score on a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Bobcats a 17-10 lead.

Nutall had 90 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns.

Lowe had a career-high 177 yards on 19 carries.

Lowe scored the Bobcat’s final score of the game to give Texas State a two-possesion lead on a 1-yard run.

The Panthers made a late rally in the game scoring in the final second of the game on a 5-yard pass to freshman receiver Robert Davis, but there was no time left as the Panthers lost by one touchdown.

The Panthers will prepare for another road game next Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe (3-4, 1-1) at 7 p.m.