2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

The 2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, and competed in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Chad Lunsford.

2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football
New Orleans Bowl champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast Division
2020 record8–5 (4–4 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBob DeBesse (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorScot Sloan (3rd season)
Home stadiumPaulson Stadium
(Capacity: 25,000)
2020 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 14 Coastal Carolina xy+  8 –0     11 –1  
Appalachian State  6 –2     9 –3  
Georgia Southern  4 –4     8 –5  
Georgia State  4 –4     6 –4  
Troy  3 –4     5 –6  
West Division
No. 15 Louisiana xy+  7 –1     10 –1  
South Alabama  3 –5     4 –7  
Arkansas State  2 –6     4 –7  
Texas State  2 –6     2 –10  
Louisiana–Monroe  0 –7     0 –10  
Championship: Louisiana at Coastal Carolina (Canceled)
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Eagles finished the 2019 season 7–6, 5–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in second place in the East division. The Eagles received an invitation to the Cure Bowl where they were defeated by Liberty 16–23.

Preseason

Sun Belt coaches' poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on August 25, 2020. Georgia Southern was picked to finish 2nd in the East Division with 36 total votes.[1]

East Division
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Appalachian State49 (9)
2Georgia Southern36
3Troy32 (1)
4Georgia State20
5Coastal Carolina13
West Division
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Louisiana47 (7)
2Arkansas State40 (2)
3South Alabama22 (1)
4Texas State21
5Louisiana–Monroe20

Preseason All-Sun Belt teams

The Eagles had five players selected to the preseason All−Sun Belt teams; three from the defense and two from special teams.[1]

Schedule

Georgia Southern had games against Boise State and Ole Miss, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] They added a November game with Army on August 11.[4] On October 7, the game against Appalachian State scheduled for October 14 was postponed to December 12 due to COVID-19 positive tests within the Mountaineers' football program.[5]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 123:30 p.m.Campbell*
ESPNUW 27–265,789
September 26Noonat No. 19 Louisiana
ESPN2L 18–205,585
October 37:00 p.m.at Louisiana–Monroe
ESPN+W 35–306,338
October 174:00 p.m.UMass*
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPN2W 41–04,856
October 24Noonat No. 25 Coastal Carolina
ESPNUL 14–285,000
October 297:30 p.m.South Alabama
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPNW 24–173,457
November 71:00 p.m.Troy
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPN3W 20–135,012
November 143:00 p.m.Texas State
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPN3W 40–384,478
November 21Noonat Army*
CBSSNL 27–285,078
November 28Noonat Georgia State
ESPN3L 24–304,523
December 56:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic*
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPN+W 20–33,867
December 126:00 p.m.Appalachian State
  • Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA (rivalry)
ESPN3L 26–346,228
December 233:30 p.m.vs. Louisiana Tech*
ESPNW 38–33,000
Schedule Source:[6][7]

Game summaries

Campbell
Campbell at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Fighting Camels 13 076 26
• Eagles 3 3714 27
  • Date: September 12, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 4:14 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 35 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,789
  • Referee: T. Livingston
  • Television network: ESPNU
     
See also: 2020 Campbell Fighting Camels football team
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO −34.558.5[8]
StatisticsCampbellGeorgia Southern
First downs1720
Total yards380346
Rushing yards143284
Passing yards23762
Turnovers01
Time of possession26:0433:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CampbellPassingHajj-Malik Williams17/27, 237 yards, 2 TDs
RushingHajj-Malik Williams11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJai Williams4 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts7/13, 53 yards, 1 TD
RushingShai Werts14 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingD. J. Butler3 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD

at Louisiana
Georgia Southern at Louisiana
1 234Total
Eagles 0 738 18
• No. 19 Ragin' Cajuns 0 7310 20
  • Date: September 26, 2020
  • Location: Cajun Field
    Lafayette, LA
  • Game start: 11:01 a.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 19 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,585
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Sunny, Humid • Wind: Calm
  • Referee: Wayne Winkler
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play–by–play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
    
See also: 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LA −13.552.5[9]
StatisticsGeorgia SouthernLouisiana
First downs2118
Total yards447438
Rushing yards192148
Passing yards255290
Turnovers21
Time of possession35:1424:46
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts11/18, 255 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJ. D. King24 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingWesley Kennedy III2 receptions, 105 yards
LouisianaPassingLevi Lewis18/32, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingChris Smith4 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingPeter LeBlanc3 receptions, 64 yards

at Louisiana–Monroe
Georgia Southern at Louisiana–Monroe
1 234Total
• Eagles 7 14140 35
Warhawks 3 1467 30
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: Malone Stadium
    Monroe, LA
  • Game start: 7:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 hours
  • Game attendance: 6,338
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: 4 ESE MPH
  • Referee: Tre. Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Harris (play–by–play) and Mike Hammett (analyst)
      
See also: 2020 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO −19.549.5[10]
StatisticsGeorgia SouthernLouisiana–Monroe
First downs1924
Total yards369426
Rushing yards34092
Passing yards29334
Turnovers00
Time of possession34:5325:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts3/7, 29 yards
RushingJ. D. King21 carries, 196 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingBeau Johnson1 reception, 17 yards
Louisiana–MonroePassingColby Suits31/54, 334 yards, 2 TDs
RushingColby Suits7 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingTyler Lamm5 receptions, 66 yards

UMass
Massachusetts at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Minutemen 0 000 0
• Eagles 14 14103 41
   
See also: 2020 UMass Minutemen football team
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO −3162[11]
StatisticsUMassGeorgia Southern
First downs1020
Total yards191436
Rushing yards111308
Passing yards80128
Turnovers21
Time of possession29:0930:51
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UMassPassingMike Fallon7/12, 41 yards, 1 INT
RushingWill Koch4 carries, 41 yards
ReceivingSamuel Emilus4 receptions, 28 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts11/16, 128 yards, 3 TDs
RushingWesley Kennedy III6 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMalik Murray4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

at Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina
1 234Total
Eagles 7 700 14
• No. 25 Chanticleers 7 7014 28
  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Location: Brooks Stadium
    Conway, SC
  • Game start: 12:02 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Fair • Wind: N 2 MPH
  • Referee: T. Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play–by–play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
   
See also: 2020 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
CCU −149[12]
StatisticsGeorgia SouthernCoastal Carolina
First downs1220
Total yards218382
Rushing yards119130
Passing yards99252
Turnovers22
Time of possession27:4332:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts7/20, 94 yards, 2 INTs
RushingJ. D. King15 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMalik Murray2 receptions, 46 yards
Coastal CarolinaPassingFred Payton15/28, 252 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingShermari Jones5 carries, 44 yards
ReceivingJaivon Heiligh5 receptions, 107 yards

South Alabama
South Alabama at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Jaguars 3 770 17
• Eagles 0 10014 24
  • Date: October 29, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 7:32 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,457
  • Referee: Kyle Olsen
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play–by–play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Lericia Harris (sideline reporter)
   
See also: 2020 South Alabama Jaguars football team
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO −3.552[13]
StatisticsSouth AlabamaGeorgia Southern
First downs1615
Total yards264345
Rushing yards64250
Passing yards20095
Turnovers11
Time of possession28:1931:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South AlabamaPassingDesmond Trotter20/27, 200 yards, 2 TDs
RushingCarlos Davis20 carries, 70 yards
ReceivingKawaan Baker5 receptions, 65 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts5/9, 95 yards, 1 INT
RushingWesley Kennedy III13 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingMalik Murray1 reception, 38 yards

Troy
Troy at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Trojans 0 1030 13
• Eagles 0 6140 20
  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,012
  • Referee: Jeremy Parker
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Stewart (play–by–play) and Danny Waugh (analyst)
     
See also: 2020 Troy Trojans football team
Pregame lineOver/under
TROY −352[14]
StatisticsTroyGeorgia Southern
First downs1420
Total yards235411
Rushing yards34326
Passing yards20185
Turnovers21
Time of possession17:1342:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TroyPassingJacob Free21/47, 201 yards, 2 INTs
RushingJamontez Woods3 carries, 23 yards
ReceivingKaylon Geiger6 receptions, 49 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts12/13, 85 yards, 1 INT
RushingGerald Green10 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingNajee Thompson1 reception, 35 yards

Texas State
Texas State at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Bobcats 7 14710 38
• Eagles 17 10310 40
  • Date: November 14, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 3:35 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 11 minutes
  • Game attendance: 4,478
  • Referee: T. Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Stewart (play–by–play) and Danny Waugh (analyst)
          
See also: 2020 Texas State Bobcats football team
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO −1249.5[15]
StatisticsTexas StateGeorgia Southern
First downs1820
Total yards299437
Rushing yards30386
Passing yards26951
Turnovers33
Time of possession18:4141:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas StatePassingBrady McBride7/13, 155 yards, 2 TDs
RushingBrock Sturges6 carries, 31 yards
ReceivingMarcell Barbee5 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts6/9, 51 yards, 1 INT
RushingShai Werts21 carries, 120 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingWesley Kennedy III1 reception, 23 yards

at Army
Georgia Southern at Army
1 234Total
Eagles 14 760 27
• Black Knights 0 7147 28
  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Location: Michie Stadium
    West Point, NY
  • Game start: 12:02 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,078
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: W 10 MPH
  • Referee: Mike Roche
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Bem Holden (play–by–play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Tina Cervasio (sideline reporter)
    
See also: 2020 Army Black Knights football team
Pregame lineOver/under
ARMY –338.5[16]
StatisticsGeorgia SouthernArmy
First downs1220
Total yards311268
Rushing yards175243
Passing yards12625
Turnovers13
Time of possession21:3638:24
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts6/7, 80 yards, 2 TDs
RushingWesley Kennedy III8 carries, 71 yards
ReceivingMalik Murray3 receptions, 41 yards
ArmyPassingTyhier Tyler1/1, 25 yards
RushingTyhier Taylor35 carries, 121 yards
ReceivingChris Cameron1 reception, 25 yards

at Georgia State
Georgia Southern at Georgia State
1 234Total
Eagles 0 1437 24
• Panthers 3 10017 30
  • Date: November 28, 2020
  • Location: Center Parc Stadium
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game start: 12:05 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 55 minutes
  • Game attendance: 4,523
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SSE 8 MPH
  • Referee: Wayne Winkler
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Stewart (play–by–play) and Sam Crenshaw (analyst)
     \  
See also: 2020 Georgia State Panthers football team and Modern Day Hate
Pregame lineOver/under
GSU –351[17]
StatisticsGeorgia SouthernGeorgia State
First downs1322
Total yards370427
Rushing yards29655
Passing yards74372
Turnovers22
Time of possession30:4829:12
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts4/7, 67 yards
RushingLogan Wright8 carries, 143 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingKhaleb Hood1 reception, 44 yards
Georgia StatePassingCornelious Brown IV28/39, 372 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingDestin Coates15 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingSam Pinckney10 receptions, 126 yards

Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
Owls 0 030 3
• Eagles 0 10010 20
  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 55 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,867
  • Referee: T. Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play–by–play) and Danny Waugh (analyst)
  
See also: 2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
Pregame lineOver/under
FAU –2.540.5[18]
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticGeorgia Southern
First downs1618
Total yards322339
Rushing yards133269
Passing yards18970
Turnovers40
Time of possession23:1536:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassingJavion Posey7/15, 107 yards, 2 TDs
RushingJavion Posey8 carries, 61 yards
ReceivingJordan Merrell3 receptions, 67 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingJustin Tomlin3/12, 70 yards
RushingJustin Tomlin20 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingLogan Wright2 receptions, 65 yards

Appalachian State
Appalachian State at Georgia Southern
1 234Total
• Mountaineers 0 71017 34
Eagles 7 1009 26
  • Date: December 12, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
  • Game attendance: 6,228
  • Referee: Kyle Olson
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Stewart (play–by–play) and Danny Waugh (analyst)
       
See also: 2020 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and Appalachian State–Georgia Southern football rivalry
Pregame lineOver/under
APP –945[19]
StatisticsAppalachian StateGeorgia Southern
First downs1716
Total yards381349
Rushing yards173204
Passing yards208145
Turnovers24
Time of possession34:5225:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Appalachian StatePassingZac Thomas18/29, 208 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingNate Noel13 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingThomas Hennigan8 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
Georgia SouthernPassingMiller Mosley5/14, 122 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
RushingJustin Tomlin6 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDexter Carter Jr.1 reception, 78 yards, 1 TD

Louisiana Tech (New Orleans Bowl)
Georgia Southern vs. Louisiana Tech
1 234Total
• Eagles 7 14710 38
Bulldogs 0 300 3
   
See also: 2020 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team and 2020 New Orleans Bowl
Pregame lineOver/under
GASO –4.551[20]
StatisticsLouisiana TechGeorgia Southern
First downs1517
Total yards232448
Rushing yards113322
Passing yards119126
Turnovers40
Time of possession25:3334:27
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana TechPassingJD Head9/14, 78 yards, 1 INT
RushingIsrael Tucker20 carries, 123 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Graham3 receptions, 26 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts7/12, 126 yards, 1 TD
RushingGerald Green16 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKhaleb Hood1 reception, 65 yards, 1 TD

References
  1. "Sun Belt Announces Preseason Poll, Players of the Year and All-Conference Teams". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. August 25, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. McMurphy, Brett. "Sources: Mountain West Cancels Fall Football Season". WatchStadium.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. "Georgia Southern Adds Road Football Game at Army West Point". Georgia Southern Athletic Department. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  5. "Georgia Southern/Appalachian State Game Postponed". Georgia Southern Athletics. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  6. "2020 Georgia Southern Eagles Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. "2020 Football Schedule". Georgia Southern University Athletics. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  8. "Campbell Fighting Camels vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns". Odds Shark. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  10. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks". Odds Shark. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. "Massachusetts Minutemen vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  12. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  13. "South Alabama Jaguars vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  14. "Troy Trojans vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  15. "Texas State Bobcats vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  16. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Army Black Knights". Odds Shark. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  17. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs Georgia State Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  18. "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  19. "Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  20. "LA Tech Bulldogs vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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