Week 3 Preview: Georgia State vs Murray State

A lackluster run defense and a debut dud has the Georgia State Panthers (GSU) licking their wounds after suffering a crushing 38-16 loss at the hands of the Memphis Tigers and falling to 0-2.

The Panthers will stay home and welcome the Murray State Racers (MSU) to town, another 0-2 team, making this a showdown where something has got to give. The Panthers and Racers will face off for the second time ever, the first matchup going to Murray State 48-28 in Atlanta.

Georgia State:

Redshirt senior quarterback TJ Finley’s return to the Sun Belt was rocky, despite starting the game 10-for-10, he was knocked out breifly due to injury and finished the day 21-for-29 while passing for over 200 yards but he failed to find the endzone. Additionally, his interception accounted for the only Panther’s turnover.

The Georgia State run game didn’t find much success throughout the game, going for only a combine 49 yards as a unit that was lead by redshirt junior quarterback Cameron Brown who ran for 25 yards and scored the only GSU rushing touchdown. The team ranks 106th in all of FBS for rushing offense with 240 rushing yards and just 3.8 yards per attempt.

In the air, the Panthers found success, the recieving room went for 340-yards through the air and averaged 11.7 yards. Junior wide reciever Javon Robinson found himself leading the pack with 5 receptions, including a 44-yard catch, for 78 yards and one touchdown with an average of 15.6 yards.

On the other side of the ball GSU defense has struggled against the run, allowing 205 yards with four touchdowns and an average of 5.1 yards-per-carry to the Memphis running back room. The Panther’s defense also allowed the Tigers to go 5-for-10 on third down converstions and 1-for-1 on a forth down conversion. The GSU defense found itself lead by redshirt junior linebacker Josiah Robinson who had seven tackles (all solo) and two tackles for loss.

Second-year head coach Dell McGee expressed dissapointment in his team’s perfomance against Memphis.

“A lot of things occured in the second half that we got to correct,” McGee said during his postgame press conference. “They controlled the ball, they controlled the tempo…offensively we couldn’t convert and move the chains.”

McGee added that he did notice improvements from their first game and that they need to take a bigger leap this week.

Murray State:

The Murray State defense is heading into saturday’s game having given up a whopping forty-five points in their last two games. Last week against Southeastern Louisianna, the Racer’s defense allowed thirty-one first downs and let the Lions go 8-for-13 on 3rd down conversions. MSU was pummeled in the ground and in the air, letting up 480 yards (218 passing yards and 262 rushing yards) and four rushing touchdowns. Junior defensive back Bryan Pulley hauled in the only turnover for the Racers in the first quarter.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jim Ogle had a monster game through the air against SE Louisiana, completing 25-of-39 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Ogle spread the ball around effectively, nine different recievers getting a reception with redshirt sophomore wide reciver Cam Bulluck finding the most success by reeling in four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Murray State has 485 yards through the air so far this season, finding themselves ranked 26th in all of FCS for passing offense.

The Racer’s running back room eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time this season against Memphis, netting two touchdowns. Senior running back Jawaun Northington lead the charge with 19 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. The Racer’s may look to favor the ground game a little heavier this week against a leaky Georgia State defensive front that is allowing 250 yards-per-game this season thus far.

Second-year head coach Jody Wright took the blame for Murray State’s miscues against Southeastern Lousianna.

“I told them it’s on me, hundred percent on me to get the self-inflicted wounds corrected,” Wright told reporters in the postgame.

Wright went on to praise his coaching staff for their gameplaning.

Murray State at Georgia State:

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept 13th at 7:00p.m. ET

TV: ESPN+

Radio: WRAS-FM 88.5 (Local)

Click here for information on tickets. Georgia State fans can also contact the ticket office at (404)-413-4020 or email the ticket office at tickets@gsu.edu