BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After having its game against New Hampshire moved by a few hundred miles and one time zone, there was a legitimate question to be asked as to whether Georgia Southern showed up.
    The offensive woes that plagued the Eagles in their season opening 42-7 loss to Auburn showed only minimal signs of improvement. Even worse, an Eagle defense that had produced big plays a week ago was constantly outdone by the FCS Wildcats as New Hampshire claimed a 22-12 victory at Legion Field in Birmingham.
    “I’m as frustrated and upset as I can be,” GS head coach Tyson Summers said. “We didn’t execute the way we need to. We didn’t come out and start the way we need to. We didn’t score on some big drives. There’s a lot of places where we need to look ourselves in the eye and figure out whether we’re doing the right things.”
    In the opener, the Eagles (0-2) were thoroughly outplayed, but found bright spots in committing just three penalties and winning the turnover battle.
    Against the Wildcats (2-0), Georgia Southern held a 326-274 advantage in total yards, but committed two costly turnovers, missed a field goal and stalled out a number of drives with penalties.
    “The bottom line is that we need to figure out a way to score points,” Summers said. “Looking at the statistics, there are a lot of places where we did much better. But that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t score points and you don’t come out ahead. New Hampshire is a good team and they made the important plays where we didn’t.”
    The trouble began almost immediately.
    Myles Campbell returned the opening kick just shy of midfield and the Eagles quickly gouged out some positive plays to move well into UNH territory. But the timing on an option pitch was way off and Shai Werts missed L.A. Ramsby as the ball hit the ground and New Hampshire recovered.
    The Wildcat offense had no such issues, marching 70 yards in 13 plays and capping things off when Neil O’Connor hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Knight. Georgia Southern didn’t align right on a trick formation on the PAT and the Wildcats struck for an easy two-point conversion.
    The Eagles went three-and-out on their second possession and a 27-yard strike to O’Connor kicked off a New Hampshire drive that ended in a two-yard touchdown plunge by Evan Gray.
    “You look at that first drive.,” Summers said. “We take it right down and then fumble. And then we can’t get off the field defensively. It’s a 14-point swing when we were looking at getting up 7-0 early. Those are the things that really get to you.”
    Georgia Southern had the ball to begin the second quarter and slogged down the field, methodically covering 54 yards over 17 plays. The Eagles reached the New Hampshire 14 on a pass from Werts to Campbell, but a chop block sent Georgia Southern in the wrong direction and Tyler Bass went wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt.
    “It’s disappointing,” Campbell said. “We know we need to do better. We’re making too many mistakes that are keeping us from doing what we want to do on offense.”
    New Hampshire put the Eagles behind the 8-ball before halftime when Knight lofted a perfect touch pass to O’Connor for an 18-yard scoring strike to send the Wildcats into halftime with a 22-0 lead.
    The Georgia Southern defense got things straightened out during the break. The Wildcat attack that had the Eagles on its heels throughout the first two quarters went silent, gaining just 72 yards and three first downs over the final 30 minutes of action.
    Unfortunately for the Eagles, the 22-point deficit was too big of a hole for the sputtering offense to climb out of.
    Georgia Southern’s offense - with the help of the special teams unit - earned its first points of the season after gaining possession at its own 4-yard line midway through the third quarter. The Eagles marched 70 yards in 16 plays and Bass was true from 43 yards out to make it 22-3.
    The problem for the Eagles was that despite the offense’s grudging success, the drive had eaten up over seven minutes of clock for the minimal return of a field goal that kept the deficit at three scores.
    “We’re not executing, plain and simple.” Summers said. “Like I said, I’m frustrated and upset. I know the fans are upset, and they have a right to be.”
    A muffed ensuing kickoff pinned New Hampshire and Logan Hunt’s second sack of the day pushed the Wildcats back to their own 3. Knowing that time was on their side and that they could give up a couple of points while keeping their three-score lead, the Wildcats intentionally took a safety on their punt attempt to make it 22-5 as the third quarter came to a close.
    Knowing that their chances were running out, the Eagles again drove nearly the length of the field. And miscues were again their undoing.
    Georgia Southern reached the UNH 8 before a high snap got past Werts. Wesley Fields seemed to avoid disaster by picking up the ball and limiting the loss of yardage, but receiver Obe Fortune - trying to throw a block on the broken play - was flagged for targeting when he took out a Wildcat defender that was bearing down on Fields.
    The penalty resulted in an ejection for Fortune and pushed the Eagles back to the UNH 32. On the next play, Werts and his receiver had some miscommunication and Werts’ throw sailed into the end zone - and into the waiting arms of Wildcat safety Isiah Perkins.
    The Eagles found the end zone on their next drive when L.A. Ramsby plunged in from two yards out, but the final two possessions for Georgia Southern ended in turnovers on downs.
    Georgia Southern is scheduled to remain in Birmingham until at least Tuesday as it tries to avoid the worst of Hurricane Irma. The extended stay will kick of the beginning of a bye week as the Eagles won’t see the field again until a Sept. 23 matchup at Indiana.