The Georgia Southern Eagles limp into Sun Belt play with a record of 1-3 having, lost their last three games, two of which were to Power-4 teams. This week they face off against a team in a very similar situation as they travel to Coastal Carolina, who are also 1-3 with two losses to Power-4 teams.
Last week the Eagle offense looked like they took a step in the right direction as quarterback Max Johnson had his best start completing 26 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagle running game managed just 66 total yards, but coach Clay Helton felt like they adapted well to what Houston was trying to do on defense.
“I feel like Max played his best game as an Eagle and I think we have gained momentum offensively,” Helton said. “Now it’s time to not get stagnant but rather continue to progress. Our biggest improvements have come on third down in moving the chains. I like the way coach Ryan Aplin has tried to push the ball down field with explosiveness and using someone like Alex Taylor after we lost Ashton Hollins.
Helton is faced with a couple of tough injuries as leading receiver Ashton Hollins is undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, while leading tackler R.J. Myles may have to miss the season with an achilles injury. Defensively, Helton feels things are okay despite giving up 73 points the last two weeks and not having any tackles for loss last week.
“This is a good defense,” Helton said. “They have shown what they can do so it isn’t a question of whether or not they can get it done. I think what we have struggled with in the last two games is how we have done on first and second down efficiency especially in the run game. Houston has a great offense and they did a great job on first down of setting themselves up in second and third and short yardage. That is where we have to do better on defense as well as trying to get some turnovers like we did in the first few games.”
Two weapons the Eagles were able to utilize against Houston that Helton believes will continue to grow are quarterback Weston Bryan and receiver Alex Taylor. Taylor had 119 yards and two touchdowns while Bryan completed his only pass and rushed for 26 yards on six carries.
“I told coach Aplin to play this game with no fear and I was really proud of how aggressive he was,” Helton said. “I thought he came up with some creative ways to use a great weapon like Weston. We found a stat that 52 percent of the time Weston touches the ball, it leads to a first down or a touchdown. I expect us to continue to use him, and Alex Taylor really came through with Ashton out and played like we thought he could all year.”
This week the Eagles take on Coastal Carolina whom they have beaten the last five teams the two teams have met. Coastal is led by quarterback Deuce Bailey who has thrown for over one thousand yards and 10 touchdowns.
“What they have been able to do with the pass game with Deuce Bailey is impressive,” Helton said. "His creativeness to escape pressure and push the ball downfield is special. They have not only one of the better passing units in our conference but in the entire country. We have to be able to be great in the secondary because they are very efficient in the pass game.
The weather could play a factor Saturday as well as both teams prefer to pass the ball and conditions could be very wet.
“It could be an interesting game if the weather plays a factor and it’s wet that could dictate what you are able to do,” Helton said. “I think one of the keys is going to be for our defense to make their quarterback uncomfortable. We are going to have to find a way to get him off his spot and create negative yardage plays. We did a really good job of that in the first three games but not as much the last two.”
Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern are set for a 7:00 kickoff Saturday night in Conway S.C.
