Panthers earn 7th win with rout, await bowl fate

The Georgia State defense has been setting high standards over the past two games, but the effort and physicality shown during the third quarter Saturday was something the Panthers can hold up as a model going forward.

The Panthers came up with five sacks and a scoop-and-score in the third quarter and put away Troy 37-10 on Senior Day at Center Parc Stadium.

“They were eating like Thanksgiving dinner,” Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott said. “It was like when we have our Friday night meals. I have to call them up by their class because they storm the line. That’s exactly what they were like. Everybody wanted a piece.”

Georgia State improves to 7-5 overall, only the second time in program history it has produced seven regular-season wins. The Panthers finished 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, their most league wins, good for second place in the Eastern Division.

“I’m so proud of their effort and everything they accomplished today,” Elliott said. “As a head football coach, I very seldom relax on the sideline. But just seeing their effort defensively, I knew we were going to take care of it.”

And the Panthers, who became bowl-eligible with last week’s win, likely enhanced their reputation among those who decide bowl destinations.

The defensive numbers were strong: five sacks, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, 57 rushing yards allowed. Twice, Troy turned it over on downs. The Panthers now have 34 tackles for loss over the past three games and a school-record 84 this season. They have 34 sacks, one short of the school record set last season.

Chris Moore led the team with seven tackles and forced a fumble. Nose tackles Dontae Wilson and Akeem Smith each had six tackles. Jamil Muhammad had two sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

“The momentum in the stadium definitely changed,” Muhammad said. “I think everybody in the stadium could feel that. We’ve kept preaching finish the game, finish the game, because we’ve been in spots where we’ve been playing well and then we finished a little sloppy.”

It was a tough week for Troy (5-7, 3-5). Coach Chip Lindsey was fired to begin the week and the Trojans were unable to gain bowl eligibility by suffering their third straight loss.

Georgia State ran for 247 yards, with Jamyest Williams carrying 15 times for 108 yards — giving him 1,063 for his career — and a 50-yard touchdown and Tucker Gregg running 17 times for 83 yards. Quarterback Darren Grainger was 11-for-22 passing for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Georgia State opened the scoring on a 13-yard pass from Grainger to Aubry Payne, the 11th touchdown of his career.

The Panthers made it 14-0 on a 26-yard throw from Grainger to Sam Pinckney, who stretched out for the catch and kept his foot in the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.

After an interception by Antavious Lane — the eighth of his career, setting a school record — Georgia State turned the turnover into points, with Noel Ruiz kicking a 43-yarder for a 17-0 lead.

Troy made the score 17-3 at halftime when Brooks Buce hit a season-long 48-yarder.

Georgia State added a 45-yard field goal from Ruiz on the opening drive of the second half to extend the lead to 20-3, then put the game away when Blake Carroll sacked Gunnar Watson to cause a fumble, which Muhammad picked up and carried 72 yards for a touchdown.

“Jamil told me earlier in the week he was going to get him some,” Elliott said. “He said, ‘I got some more for you.’ And he delivered.”