ATLANTA, GA — On a quiet Saturday afternoon at Center Parc Stadium, two struggling programs — both entering at 1-6 — squared off in what turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly entertaining games of the season. While the stands were sparse and the Georgia State band played to scattered applause, the action on the field delivered energy, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish that kept the few hundred fans who showed up on edge until the final whistle.
First Quarter: Offensive Fireworks Light Up a Small Crowd
Despite the low turnout, Georgia State came out charged, led by long snapper Joe Laterza, who hurdled a cameraman as the Panthers took the field. Their opening drive fizzled, but the tone was set for a back-and-forth first quarter defined by big plays and quick strikes.
South Alabama quarterback Bishop Davenport opened the scoring with a touchdown pass to Brendan Jenkins, a Georgia native from Hoschton, to give the Jaguars a 7-0 lead. Georgia State answered immediately when QB Cameran Brown hit WR Ted Hurst for a long touchdown to even the score.
The fireworks continued. On 3rd-and-9, Davenport connected with RS Freshman Jeremy Scott for a 74-yard bomb to reclaim the lead. Brown responded by finding RB Dennis Murray Jr. for a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown, tying the game once more at 14-14.
The Jaguars struck again before the end of the quarter. Davenport delivered a 55-yard dart to WR Devin Voisin, setting up a short touchdown run by RB Kentrel Bullock, who would later play a key role in deciding the outcome. By the end of the first quarter, both offenses had combined for more than 350 total yards, with South Alabama holding a 21-14 advantage.
Second Quarter: Jaguars Stay Hot, Panthers Stumble
The second quarter saw Georgia State’s offense lose momentum. After a scoreless drive to open the quarter, South Alabama extended its lead as Davenport capped a methodical drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, putting the Jaguars up 28-14.
The Panthers continued rotating their backfield, giving carries to multiple running backs, but their star Branson Robinson remained largely absent from the action, recording just one carry for five yards in the first half. Georgia State’s next scoring chance came up empty when a field-goal attempt went wide, keeping the score 28-14.
South Alabama nearly made it five straight touchdown drives before halftime, but a double-reverse touchdown was wiped out by a holding penalty. The Jaguars then missed a field goal with five seconds left in the half — their first empty possession of the game — sending both teams to the locker room with the score unchanged.
At halftime, Bishop Davenport had completed 15 of 17 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, posting an incredible 246.1 passer rating. South Alabama’s offense looked unstoppable, while the Panthers struggled to match drives and trailed 28-14 at the break.
Third Quarter: Georgia State Finds Its Groove
Georgia State opened the second half with new energy. Their defense forced a rare stop, and RB Jordan Simmons provided a spark in the running game. Rashad Amos added tough carries to move the Panthers into the red zone, but the drive stalled, leading to a successful field goal that trimmed the deficit to 28-17.
The Panthers’ defense continued to find life. ILB Kendrick Walker made a crucial ankle-grab sack on Davenport to end another Jaguars drive, marking a noticeable shift in control. Offensively, Georgia State’s commitment to the run showed — by midway through the quarter, they had given carries to four different backs, with Simmons leading the way at six attempts.
Still, despite moving the ball effectively, the Panthers couldn’t capitalize beyond that early field goal. They entered the red zone again near the end of the quarter but trailed 28-17 as the clock expired. WR Ted Hurst, the senior from Savannah, was the Panthers’ clear offensive standout with 4 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Fourth Quarter: A Comeback, Then a Collapse
The fourth quarter began with fireworks. On the first play, Cameran Brown found Ted Hurst once again — this time in the back of the end zone — as Hurst leaped over a defender for a highlight-reel touchdown. The two-point conversion failed after Brown was sacked, but the Panthers had cut the lead to 28-23, seizing momentum.
The Jaguars, once red-hot, suddenly looked out of rhythm. Davenport missed an open receiver on their first drive of the fourth quarter, leading to a punt. Georgia State kept pushing behind their rejuvenated rushing attack, with Jordan Simmons breaking runs of 14 and 15 yards before the Panthers faced adversity when OL Donovan Funsch went down with an injury in the red zone.
Moments later, Brown tossed a short touchdown to TE Grant Hollier, and this time the Panthers converted the two-point try — a pass to Dennis Murray Jr. — giving Georgia State its first lead of the game, 31-28, with 9:38 remaining.
For the first time all season, the Panthers had clawed back from a double-digit deficit to take control. Chants of “Let’s Go State!” echoed faintly from the small crowd as hope filled the stadium.
But South Alabama refused to fold. Davenport found Jeremy Scott for a 39-yard completion to set up a red-zone opportunity. A 13-yard run by RB Kennan Phillips put the Jaguars inside the 10, and although Davenport misfired on a potential touchdown throw, Hamilton Diboyan nailed a field goal to tie the game 31-31 with 5:39 left.
Both teams battled fiercely down the stretch. The intensity was palpable — pads cracked, sidelines yelled, and every yard mattered. Each squad wanted desperately to avoid a seventh loss, and both played like it.
Then came the turning point. With just over two minutes left, Georgia State’s veteran running back Rashad Amos fumbled deep in his own territory, giving the Jaguars a golden chance to steal the game.
Davenport and Bullock delivered. Kentrel Bullock ripped off a 24-yard run to the 5-yard line and then punched it in from four yards out, reclaiming the lead for South Alabama, 38-31, with 1:49 remaining.
Georgia State’s final drive started with promise after a defensive pass interference call moved them near midfield, but on third down, a deep pass to Hurst left the star receiver shaken up. Facing 4th-and-5 with 1:09 left, the Panthers’ comeback hopes ended when LB Terrell Johnson Jr. intercepted Brown’s pass after a heavy Jaguars rush.
South Alabama ran out the clock to seal the win.
Final Score: South Alabama 38, Georgia State 31
The Jaguars (2-6) earned their second win of the season, while the Panthers fell to 1-7 despite a strong second-half surge.
Player of the Game: RB Kentrel Bullock — 20 carries, 113 yards, 2 touchdowns.
The contest reflected why both programs have struggled in 2024: flashes of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistency, defensive lapses, and late-game miscues. Still, for all their flaws, both teams played with heart, making this “battle of 1-6s” one of the most compelling games few people actually saw.
