The Georgia State University Panthers took on the Marshall Thundering Herd in their Week 12 Sun Belt matchup on Saturday, November 15. It was senior day for the Panthers, and they were looking to send their tenured players out with a win in the last home game of the season.
Georgia State entered the game with a 1-8 record and sat 13th in the conference, while Marshall was 4-5 and needed a victory to increase their chances of becoming bowl eligible. The Thundering Herd relied heavily on the run game, averaging 211.1 rushing yards per game going into Week 12 according to Fox Sports, ranking 16th nationally.
The Panthers have playmakers as well, such as wide receiver Ted Hurst, who recorded 57 catches for 854 yards and 6 touchdowns ahead of the contest which ranked 2nd in the Sun Belt.
Game Analysis
Georgia State: Quarterback TJ Finley got the start for Cameron Brown, who was out with an injury. The Panthers offense struggled to get going through the air as Finley was pressured often and forced out of the pocket on multiple plays.
Finley went 25 of 39 for 251 yards with 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, and a fumble that went out of bounds. Running back Jordon Simmons had a productive day, carrying the ball 19 times for 164 yards and a touchdown. Top receiver Ted Hurst continued to showcase his talent, catching 7 passes for 74 yards and making big plays downfield.
Defensively, Georgia State struggled to stop the run but managed to sack Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson twice.
Marshall: Offensively, the Herd were tough to stop as they kept a balanced attack throughout the game. The combination of running and passing from quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson was dominant. Del Rio-Wilson went 22 of 27 for 321 passing yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions, while rushing for 97 yards to lead the team on the ground.
Tight end Toby Payne was a reliable target for Del Rio-Wilson, finding space often and catching 5 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, averaging 22 yards per reception.
Defensively, Marshall stifled Georgia State’s offensive drives, consistently forcing them into three and outs. The Herd’s front seven applied pressure, which caused TJ Finley to lose rhythm and timing throughout the game.
Georgia State started to rally late in the third quarter, but it was not enough as Marshall secured a 30-18 victory, improving to 5-5 with bowl implications in sight while Georgia State falls to 1-9.
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