Georgia Southern Takes Down Jacksonville State For First Win

Georgia Southern celebrated its home opener from Paulson this weekend, where the Eagles defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 31-24.

The Eagles started their season with back to back losses in California against Fresno State and USC. Georgia Southern entered the weekend knowing that the defense had to be better than the past two games– in which the Eagles had give up 50+ points in each.

While there is still room for improvement, the Eagles defense held Jacksonville State to 394 yards of total offense.

The Eagles jumped on the board first to begin the game on a two-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback JC French IV– less than five minutes into the game.

The Gamecocks answered with a rushing score of their own from quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to tie the game, 7-7.

Georgia Southern once again took the lead as Dalen Cobb returned the kickoff 95 yards for another touchdown. After Jacksoville State scored again, Tipp Bryant knocked in a 37-yard field goal to give Georgia Southern a 17-14 lead and conclude a wild first quarter.

🚨HOUSE CALL 🚨

95-yard kick-off return by @dalenc11. First kick-off return for a touchdown by the Eagles since 2023!

GS: 14 | JAX: 7
Q1, 6:22 pic.twitter.com/gqGo0OCKDS

— Georgia Southern Football (@GSAthletics_FB) September 13, 2025

Camden Brown was next to score for the Eagles as he made it 24-14 with an 18-yard receiving touchdown in the redzone. After a Jacksonville State field goal, the two teams traded rushing TDs from OJ Arnold of Georgia Southern and Gavin Wimsatt again for Jacksonville State to end the half, 31-24 Eagles.

The third quarter proved to be all Gamecocks as Jacksonville State made a 33-yard field goal followed by a 14-yard rushing touchdown from Brock Rechsteiner. Jacksonville State led 34-31 entering the final quarter.

The Eagles would be prove to be up for the challenge in the fourth as Tripp Bryant would make a 43-yard field goal to tie the game the followed by a six-yard OJ Arnold score with 3:33 remaining which would be the game winning touchdown.

JC French IV was solid for the Eagles as he went for 191 passing yards and a touchdown. The main takeaway was his zero interceptions in the win.

OJ Arnold was also a much bigger factor this weekend as he had 128 rushing yards and two house calls. His 128 yards eclipsed his previous two games rushing stats combined.

Georgia Southern did a great job of eliminating the Gamecocks passing ability only allowing 180 yards through the air. Their rush defense will have to continue to get better as they once again gave up a significant percentage of yards of offense on the ground.