Box Score SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford College was defeated 38-35 by Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium. A record crowd of 12,124 was on hand for Wofford Homecoming. Georgia Southern kicker Jesse Hartley made a 44-yard field goal with 8:58 remaining in the game to give the Eagles a 38-35 lead.
Wofford is now 7-3 on the season and are 4-2 in conference play. Georgia Southern is 7-2 overall and are 4-2 in the Southern Conference. Wofford was led by Kevious Johnson with 137 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown. Josh Collier completed three-of-ten passes for 100 yards. Tripp Smith led Wofford receivers with one catch for 59 yards. Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster had 279 rushing yards on 28 carries and had three touchdowns.
“We fought hard but made a couple of mistakes and you can’t make mistakes against a good team,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “We did not get it done on the last fourth-down attempt. The kids battled and kept competing the whole way. We are down in some personnel due to injuries, which is frustrating but we have to go on and get ready for the next one. Georgia Southern has done a great job this season. This is the best the league has been, top to bottom. We have one more game to go and still have a chance, but it is going to be tough.”
On the second play of the game, Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster went 82 yards for touchdown and an early lead just 24 seconds into the game. Wofford responded with a 71-yard drive, highlighted by a 59-yard reception by Tripp Smith from Dane Romero. Michael Hobbs went in from three-yards out to tie the game at 13:38 in the first quarter.
The Terrier defense forced the Eagles to punt on their next possession. Back on offense, Wofford was able to take the lead when Justice Joslin scored on a 19-yard run at 6:07 in the first quarter. Jayson Foster continued to impress, going 72 yards for a touchdown at 5:17.
Wofford gained three first downs on their ensuing drive, but were forced to punt. Early in the second quarter, Georgia Southern put together an 86-yard drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Foster, his third of the day.
The Terriers were driving, but a fumble was recovered by Chris Rodgers to give the ball to the Eagles. After a gain of one first down, Georgia Southern was forced to punt. Wofford was forced three-and-out on the next drive and defensive back Ronald Flott punted in place of an injured Chris Tommie.
With the Eagles back on offense, a ten-play drive was capped by a one yard rushing touchdown by Mike Hamilton with 3:06 remaining in the second quarter. Wofford was forced to punt on the next drive, and Georgia Southern went into the half with a 28-14 lead.
To open the second half, Josh Collier found Jeremy Marshall open for a 44-yard touchdown reception at 13:46 to cut the Georgia Southern lead to 28-21. The Eagles turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-two. However the Georgia Southern defense was able to force a three-and-out by the Terriers.
With the Terriers’ defense coming up with a big three-and-out, the offense responded with a 47-yard reception by Fenn Allen to the ten-yard line. Three plays later, Kevious Johnson scored on a two-yard run at 3:21 in the third quarter to tie the game at 28-28.
After another three-and-out forced by the Terrier defense, Jeremy Marshall was intercepted by Chris Covington to return the ball to the Eagles. Following the turnover, Georgia Southern drove 38 yards in seven plays and scored with a one-yard run by Mike Hamilton at 14:14 in the fourth quarter.
Back on offense, Andy Strickland took the ball 39-yards on a reverse up the sidelines for a touchdown at 10:52 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35-35. With a 45-yard kickoff return, Georgia Southern was able to regain the lead at 38-35 when Jesse Hartley kicked a 44-yard field goal at 8:58 in the fourth quarter.
Wofford picked up a key fourth-and-six with a run by Kevious Johnson. Dane Romero added two more first down runs to get inside the Eagles 20-yard line. On fourth-and-two at the 15-yard line, the Terriers turned the ball over on downs.
Georgia Southern picked up three key first downs, including one with 1:22 remaining in the game to run out the clock for the 38-35 victory.
Next week the Terriers will complete the regular season next Saturday with a trip to Chattanooga.
Wofford vs. Georgia Southern
Post-Game Notes
The Homecoming crowd of 12,124 was the largest ever home crowd at Gibbs Stadium for a Wofford game. Wofford has had two of the top five attendances this season.
Wofford is now 39-20-2 all-time in Homecoming games. It ended a streak of nine-straight Homecoming wins by the Terriers.
Kevious Johnson rushed for a season-high 137 yards, which marked his third-straight 100+ rushing game. It is also his 13th career 100+ rushing game.
Safety Dan Tavani returned to action after missing three games due to a knee injury.
Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster rushed for 279 yards, the first time since October 17, 1998 (Brad Hoover, Western Carolina, 203 yards) an opponent has rushed for over 200 yards against Wofford.
After an injury to Chris Tommie in the first quarter, Patrick Mugan had his first career kickoff and Ronald Flott punted in his second game.
Wofford was down at the half for only the third time this season. The Terriers are now 0-3 in those games.
Attendance: 12,124
