GREENVILLE, S.C. – All Jayson Foster needed was a chance.
Foster got more touches than he has all season on Saturday when the Georgia Southern junior took the majority of snaps at quarterback. He welcomed the challenge, rushing for a game-high 157 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
“It felt good to have more opportunities and a chance to make plays and hopefully put some more points on the board,” he said. “It felt good to get out there and contribute a little bit more.”
Foster accounted for more than 2,300 total yards as the Eagles’ starting quarterback a year ago, but was moved to wide receiver in first-year coach Brian VanGorder’s new offense. He has lined up under center a few times this year, but was used more Saturday in place of struggling starter Travis Clark, who has been playing injured, according to VanGorder.
“I knew I was going to be in and out at quarterback, depending on how the game went, and I played a little bit more than I thought I would,” Foster said.
The number of snaps Foster took was also more than Furman coach Bobby Lamb expected, but Lamb said he wasn’t surprised to see Foster line up at quarterback.
“I knew they were struggling at quarterback, and we actually worked on Jayson and Travis playing quarterback,” Lamb said. “Basically, we had to prepare for two different game plans, but I didn’t realize he was going to play that much. I’ve said from Day 1, he’s the most dangerous player in the conference, and we did a great job on him. They had 121 yards at the half, and 83 on one run, so I thought we did an outstanding job.”
Foster’s 83-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter was the play of the day in GSU’s 13-10 loss.
With the Eagles in the I-formation and Foster under center, the speedy junior went the distance on the first play of GSU’s third drive, sprinting down the right sideline before cutting back across the field to tie the game at 7-7. The 83-yard haul was GSU’s longest run of the season and the fifth longest in school history.
“It was a quarterback run all the way,” Foster said of his score. “I got a great block by Dusty Reddick and Lamar Lewis and just cut it back and tried to sprint for the end zone.
“It felt a little bit like last year, but I had to get back used to playing quarterback, calling the plays and getting everybody set. It’s a little bit different, but I got the hang of it as the game went on.”
Eagles turn to Galvin
Georgia Southern went with its third kicker of the season Saturday, turning to junior Bo Galvin for field goals and extra points. Galvin nailed an extra point and then a 40-yarder late in the second quarter to give GSU a 10-7 edge at the break. It was his first career field goal and the Eagles’ longest in two years. Galvin also attempted a game-tying, 32-yard kick with 51 seconds remaining in the game, but the ball sailed wide left.
Senior Jonathan Dudley held the job at the beginning of the year but struggled and was replaced by sophomore Patrick Bolen. Bolen had the job for a few weeks, but apparently lost the role after he missed a pair of field goals in last week’s loss to Wofford.
“Luckily I got to start off with an extra point to get my jitters out,” Galvin said. “I was fortunate enough to put my second one through, then I just couldn’t come through today. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”
Extra points
A scout from the Atlanta Falcons attended Saturday’s game to check out GSU senior linebacker John Mohring. …The Eagles were 1-for-6 on third-down conversions in the first half and 3-for-13 for the game. …Senior linebacker Jason Earwood left the game with an injury early in the third quarter. He did not return…It was the first time this season Mohring did not have a tackle for a loss. His 294 career tackles moved him into fifth-place on the school’s all-time list.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
Foster got more touches than he has all season on Saturday when the Georgia Southern junior took the majority of snaps at quarterback. He welcomed the challenge, rushing for a game-high 157 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
“It felt good to have more opportunities and a chance to make plays and hopefully put some more points on the board,” he said. “It felt good to get out there and contribute a little bit more.”
Foster accounted for more than 2,300 total yards as the Eagles’ starting quarterback a year ago, but was moved to wide receiver in first-year coach Brian VanGorder’s new offense. He has lined up under center a few times this year, but was used more Saturday in place of struggling starter Travis Clark, who has been playing injured, according to VanGorder.
“I knew I was going to be in and out at quarterback, depending on how the game went, and I played a little bit more than I thought I would,” Foster said.
The number of snaps Foster took was also more than Furman coach Bobby Lamb expected, but Lamb said he wasn’t surprised to see Foster line up at quarterback.
“I knew they were struggling at quarterback, and we actually worked on Jayson and Travis playing quarterback,” Lamb said. “Basically, we had to prepare for two different game plans, but I didn’t realize he was going to play that much. I’ve said from Day 1, he’s the most dangerous player in the conference, and we did a great job on him. They had 121 yards at the half, and 83 on one run, so I thought we did an outstanding job.”
Foster’s 83-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter was the play of the day in GSU’s 13-10 loss.
With the Eagles in the I-formation and Foster under center, the speedy junior went the distance on the first play of GSU’s third drive, sprinting down the right sideline before cutting back across the field to tie the game at 7-7. The 83-yard haul was GSU’s longest run of the season and the fifth longest in school history.
“It was a quarterback run all the way,” Foster said of his score. “I got a great block by Dusty Reddick and Lamar Lewis and just cut it back and tried to sprint for the end zone.
“It felt a little bit like last year, but I had to get back used to playing quarterback, calling the plays and getting everybody set. It’s a little bit different, but I got the hang of it as the game went on.”
Eagles turn to Galvin
Georgia Southern went with its third kicker of the season Saturday, turning to junior Bo Galvin for field goals and extra points. Galvin nailed an extra point and then a 40-yarder late in the second quarter to give GSU a 10-7 edge at the break. It was his first career field goal and the Eagles’ longest in two years. Galvin also attempted a game-tying, 32-yard kick with 51 seconds remaining in the game, but the ball sailed wide left.
Senior Jonathan Dudley held the job at the beginning of the year but struggled and was replaced by sophomore Patrick Bolen. Bolen had the job for a few weeks, but apparently lost the role after he missed a pair of field goals in last week’s loss to Wofford.
“Luckily I got to start off with an extra point to get my jitters out,” Galvin said. “I was fortunate enough to put my second one through, then I just couldn’t come through today. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”
Extra points
A scout from the Atlanta Falcons attended Saturday’s game to check out GSU senior linebacker John Mohring. …The Eagles were 1-for-6 on third-down conversions in the first half and 3-for-13 for the game. …Senior linebacker Jason Earwood left the game with an injury early in the third quarter. He did not return…It was the first time this season Mohring did not have a tackle for a loss. His 294 career tackles moved him into fifth-place on the school’s all-time list.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
