The Georgia State Panthers have three games left to try and earn a victory this season as they push on with an 0-9 record.
The Panthers, who are 0-4 in the Sun Belt, host the No. 1 team in the Sun Belt Saturday- the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Rajin’ Cajuns (7-2, 4-0 Sun Belt).
The Panthers are coming off a bye week in which head coach Trent Miles said the team’s goal was to stay healthy.
“We did a lot of individual work, we did scheme work towards Louisiana-Lafayette, [and] did a lot of work on timing,” Miles said was the focus of the bye week.
The Panthers last game was a hard-fought battle against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers falling 44-28 after coming back in the third quarter narrowing the gap to 10 points.
The game featured the best rusher in college football, Antonio Andrews, who the Panthers defense held to 110 yards and no touchdowns. It was among Andrews’ least productive games this season.
However, it was second string running back Keshawn Simpson who rushed for four touchdowns against the Panthers defense who has struggled stopping the run allowing over 2,000 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.
“We’re not really big. We get overmatched in a lot of games physically,” Miles said on the rush defense. “It’s not a schematic problem, it’s young men are learning the system.”
Turnovers contintued to be a problem for the Panthers offense as Ronnie Bell threw two interceptions against the Hilltoppers including one in the fourth quarter that lead to a touchdown drive from the Hilltoppers.
Bell has thrown nine interceptions this season with six of them coming in the last four games.
On top of the numerous injuries that have caused the Panthers to suffer, suspensions were announced last week for two receivers.
Senior Kelton Hill and sophomore Avery Sweeting were suspended. Hill was suspended for a conduct detrimental to the team.
Miles downplayed the suspension to just a kid oversleeping and missing weights, although it was unclear if he was referencing Hill.
Sweeting was suspended indefinitely to focus on academic-related activities.
“Those [suspensions] weren’t because of bad attitudes or bad guys,” Miles said.
Miles said receivers who could get increased reps to fill the holes are Paris Lee, Danny Williams and Lynquez Blair.
Saturday, the Panthers defense goes up against another top running back for a second consecutive game. This time it’s the junior back Alonzo Harris.
Harris has 12 touchdowns this season and 719 yards averaging 5 yards per carry.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are the best rushing team in the Sun Belt and No. 18 in the NCAA averaging 223 yards per game.
Harris also leads the Sun Belt in scoring with 72 points.
However, Louisiana-Lafayette can pass the ball just as effectively behind junior quarterback Terrance Broadway.
Broadway is trying to outdo his career high numbers last season of 2,842 yards and 17 passing touchdowns. Broadway finished 2012 as MVP of the New Orleans Bowl after leading the team over East Carolina.
So far, Broadway has had no trouble this season throwing for 14 touchdowns and 1,864 yards averaging 9.14 yards per throw.
Last week against Troy, Broadway completed 8-of-13 passes for two touchdowns. One was on a 60-yard pass to Elijah McGuire, Broadway’s second longest pass-and-catch this season.
McGurie is a true freshman running back who’s ability to rush for six touchdowns and 579 yards as the second-string back behind Harris as put him in the running for Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have had one of their better seasons in recent history and received seven votes last week in the USA Today coaches poll ranking them at 30.
Louisiana-Lafayette dropped their first two games this season on the road to Arkansas and Kansas State, but then was able to turn things around winning seven straight as they travel to the Georgia Dome.
The Ragin’ Cajuns woes on the road didn’t last long as they were able to win on the road against Akron, Western Kentucky and Arkansas State advancing their road record to 3-2.
“I don’t think them playing on the road is a big factor for them,” Miles said adding he thought the team gave an impressive performance on the road at Western Kentucky. The Ragin’ Cajuns won that game 37-20.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off a 41-36 victory over Troy in which Louisiana-Lafayette was able to fight off Troy long enough to keep them in the top spot in the Sun Belt.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will clinch the Sun Belt title with either two more wins in their last three games, or if Arkansas State loses a game.
The game between Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia State will be featured on ESPN3 as well as broadcasted on 1340 AM The Fan 3. The game kicks off at 2 p.m.
