It was a shootout between the Georgia State Panthers and the Arkansas State Red Wolves that came down to the final minutes, but the Red Wolves squeaked by 35-33.
The first half had all signs pointing to Georgia State’s first victory of the season as they led 17-7, the first time the Panthers had led at halftime since their season opener to Samford.
The Panthers had out-ran the Red Wolves 146-46 by halftime keeping the second best rushing team in the Sun Belt quiet.
However, second-half turnovers led to 14 of Arkansas State’s points and ultimately gave the Red Wolves the edge they needed to surpass the Panthers.
“There’s nothing else to talk about, it’s the four turnovers,” head coach Trent Miles said in his post game interview with the Georgia State Radio Network. “You can’t turn the ball over four times and expect to win.”
Arkansas State came out in the second half inspired and quickly earned 14 points in less than four minutes.
The first touchdown came on a fumble by senior Albert Wilson that was recovered by Sterling Young and taken to the end zone.
Minutes later, the second touchdown came on a blocked punt by Brock Barnhill for the Red Wolves and was recovered by Raziel Valgis in the end zone stunning the Panthers and taking a 21-17 lead.
The Panthers were able to fight back on the following drive to retake the lead.
A 17-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Kelton Hill put the Panthers in the lead for the second time in the game by a field goal.
However, the fumbles kept coming as true freshman running back Jonathan Jean-Bart fumbled giving the Red Wolves the ball at the Georgia State 27-yard line.
After going for it on fourth-and-1, running back Michael Gordon pushed for the score as the Red Wolves took the lead for a third and final time.
Kicker Wil Lutz kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it a one point game, but receiver J.D. McKissic made a 5-yard touchdown catch to give the Red Wolves an eight point lead on the following drive.
McKissic finished with five catches for 51 yards. He also returned two kickoffs for 107 yards.
The Panthers had one last shot to garner their first win of the season on a drive that started on their own 23-yard line with under four minutes left.
The Panthers went with the trick play as Bell handed it to Hill who made a 71-yard touchdown pass to Wilson making it a two point game.
The Panthers went for the two-point conversion to try and tie it at 35, but were unable to get it as Bell was forced to throw on the run.
The score would hold up 35-33 giving the Panthers their 11 loss this season.
The Panthers defense competed with the second best team in the Sun Belt after a shaky start where the Red Wolves scored in the opening minutes of the game on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Adam Kennedy to Darion Griswold.
However, the Panthers defensively turned things around for the remainder of the game forcing six punts and two turnover-on-downs.
The Panthers held the Red Wolves to 138 rushing yards for the game, 290 total yards.
Kennedy finished 14-for-19 with 152 yards yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers running game served as the Panthers main outlet of offense right out of the gate, an area the Panthers have struggled all season long.
Bell rushed for a 4-yard touchdown when the Panthers were down 7-3 giving them their first lead.
Bell finished 13-for-25 for 178 yards and one passing touchdown.
Senior receiver Albert Wilson rushed for an 80-yard touchdown extending the Georgia State lead to 17-7 at the half.
Wilson had seven catches for 149 yards and one touchdown and rushed twice for 104 yards and one touchdown.
The Panthers finished with 184 rushing yards, their best rushing performance of the season.
The Panthers have one game left at home next Saturday against South Alabama to try and avoid a winless season.
