The 2008 season may not be up to standards in Statesboro, Ga., but the Georgia Southern Eagles looked like the Eagles of old Saturday night in their 52-28 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
It was similar to the 48-10 GSU win in 2005, the 51-17 game in 2004 and the 34-3 contest during Mocs coach Rodney Allison’s first season in 2003 — nothing like the last two games, UTC victories.
The Eagles scored, scored again and scored some more in almost every way imaginable. They scored touchdowns in all three facets of the game: offense, defense and special teams.
“It feels almost the same, almost like Georgia Southern is back to normal,” said senior receiver Raja Andrews, who played against the Mocs in 2005. “As we saw tonight, if Georgia Southern is playing the way we did, there’s no difference.
“Great things happen.”
Sophomore quarterback Antonio Henton orchestrated the Eagles’ excellence Saturday. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He added 88 yards on 13 carries and appeared to be filling in nicely for Walter Payton Award winner Jayson Foster, who was recently cut by the Miami Dolphins.
“We’ve been close all season long of busting out, and tonight we came out fast and I thought our quarterback managed the game extremely well. He had one mistake,” GSU coach Chris Hatcher said. “I think he had a tremendous game, managing the offense and doing what we needed to beat their blitz schemes and zone schemes.”
Seven players had at least three carries for the Eagles, and nine had at least one reception.
Former Calhoun High star Adam Urbano gained 59 yards on six carries and scored twice. He gave the Eagles a 24-14 lead in the second quarter on a 3-yard scamper around the right side, and he scored again around the right side from 15 yards out in the third quarter. Former Dalton kicker Adrian Mora booted all eight GSU extra points.
“I had a bunch of family and friends and some former coaches here, so I wanted to put on a show,” Urbano said. “I hope to contribute like this the rest of the season.”
The Eagles (3-3, 1-2) won their first SoCon game of the season after losing by two to Elon and by one in overtime against Wofford.
UTC linebacker Joseph Thornton took the loss personally and considered turning off his cell phone after the game.
“My sister goes there (to GSU), and so do a lot of friends,” Thornton said. “But there’s not much I can do about it now.”
David Uchiyama is a sports writer at the Chattanooga Times Free Press who began his tenure here in May 2001. His primary beats are UTC athletics — specifically men’s basketball and athletic department administration — and golf, which includes coverage from the PGA Tour to youth events. He also covers other high school sports, outdoor adventures, and contributes to other sections of the newspaper when necessary. David grew up in Salinas, Calif., and began working ...
Score was 52-28.
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