Manning helps lift Panthers to victory

ORLANDO, Fla. — From 0-12 to Cure Bowl champions in four years.

Georgia State’s fledgling football program took a bow Saturday, celebrating a 27-17 victory over Western Kentucky — the first postseason victory in school history. who for program’s and for victories stepped Conner “I 276 the set had told for second yards a on in the a school eight-year them the Manning a winning season. Panthers and field time before record a that history record touchdown in threw (7-5), the the we for team the first-year most said. that was wanted Coach going Shawn this to game win,” Elliott

my team “There mind that that wanted was we no it were doubt and the we in were added. going “We’re to win a it,” bunch Elliott of players misfit that coaches learned and how misfit to work hard and fight every day.”

The Panthers (7-5) started their program from scratch in 2010, going 6-5 as an FCS independent. They began the transition to FBS with a 1-10 record in 2012, then sank to a program-worst 0-12 the following year — Georgia State’s first in the Sun Belt Conference.

Saturday’s appearance in the Cure Bowl was the team’s second in three years. The Panthers lost to San Jose State 27-16 here in 2015, finishing 6-7.

“Coming into the year a lot of us believed we could have a special year,” Manning said. “The new coaches brought a lot of energy, and we started this during the winter. We got to work early with the goal of being in this position.”

Manning threw a 42-yard TD pass to Roger Carter, Demarcus Kirk scored on a 26-yard run, and Kyler Neal finished a 16-play drive consuming 9 minutes of the fourth quarter with a 1-yard TD run that put Georgia State up 27-10.