Sports

Georgia State looks to earn first bowl win in AutoNation Cure Bowl

By Wilton Jackson

Conner Manning #7 of the Georgia State Panthers looks to pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. 

By Wilton Jackson

ATLANTA — The 2017 football season has been an interesting one for Georgia State. From moving into its new Georgia State Stadium – the old Braves’ Turner Field – to losing its first two games of the season to FCS team Tennessee State and Big Ten powerhouse Penn State, things were very shaky for the Panthers and first-year head coach Shawn Elliott.

Turnovers and finding consistency on both sides of the ball really had an impact on the Panthers' rough start to begin the season. Things, however, would not remain the same for Georgia State.

From nearly the end of September to the second week of November, the Panthers won six of their seven games before losing their final two games of the season to conference opponents in Appalachian State and Idaho.

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Despite the late-season losses, Georgia State – a team that has only had a program for eight years and went 1-23 in its first two years of existence – still managed to earn its second bowl appearance in three seasons. The Panthers' first appearance came in the 2015 Cure Bowl where they suffered a 27-16 loss to San Jose State.

With another bowl appearance, Elliott and his Panthers have the chance to build on their solid season when they take the field against Western Kentucky in the AutoNation Cure Bowl Saturday in Orlando.

The two teams are not strangers to each other. The last time Georgia State (6-5) played WKU was in 2013 when the Hilltoppers defeated the Panthers, 44-28, under head coach Bobby Petrino, when WKU was completing its final season in the Sun Belt Conference and GSU was playing in its first season in the FBS.

Four years have passed and the Panthers hope to win their first bowl game in program history against a WKU team that lost some steam this season in Conference USA.

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Western Kentucky (6-6) won back-to-back C-USA titles under former head coach Jeff Brohm. Following his departure to Purdue and WKU getting a new coach in Mike Sanford this season, the Hilltoppers earned their fourth consecutive bowl berth despite less wins this season.

While some things have changed for WKU, the Hilltoppers deadly passing attack has not as they led the C-USA in total passing yards, passing yards per game and total completions. Nationally, the Hilltoppers are ninth in pass offense behind the play of quarterback Mike White. The senior quarterback has thrown for 3,286 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

If the Hilltoppers hope to win in their first appearance in the Cure Bowl, the passing game will be their key to success as their ground attack generated the fewest yards in the FBS this season.

WKU, however, could face some trouble against the Panthers’ defense. The Hilltoppers offensive line allowed White to be sacked 42 times this season, the fifth highest in the FBS this season.

If the Panthers can get pressure on White, the Hilltoppers’ offense could face some difficulties.  Defensively, Georgia State ranked fifth in total defense but eighth in pass defense in the Sun Belt.

Nationally, the Panthers ranked 62nd in total defense, giving up 391 yards of offense to their opponents. Panthers defensive backs Chandon Williams and Bryan Williams will be given the task of limiting the production of White and company.

The Panthers will lean on quarterback Conner Manning to lead them to victory. Manning threw for 2,870 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season and led the Sun Belt in completion percentage.

Penny Hart, Manning’s go-to wide receiver and favorite target, set a school record for 73 catches, 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He also ranks eighth nationally in receiving yards per game (99.5) and 12th in receptions (6.6 per game).

Running back Glenn Smith will also play a role in the Panthers’ offense as he is one of three players in the nation to record at least 1,000 yards rushing, 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 return yards in his career.

WKU enters Saturday’s game ranked 50th in total defense, giving up 374 yards per game and 37th in pass yards allowed (201).

WKU is 4-1 in bowl games and in its last two bowl games in Florida – 2015 Cure Bowl and 2016 Boca Raton Bowl – the Hilltoppers won. As for Georgia State, the Panthers hope to walk away from their second Cure Bowl appearance with in a win.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Camping World Stadium.

Cox Media Group

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