Panthers Face Second Straight Ranked Opponent at No. 22/21 Coastal Carolina

GEORGIA STATE (4-5, 3-2) at No. 21 COASTAL CAROLINA (7-1, 4-1)
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 2 p.m. | Brooks Stadium

TV: ESPN+
RADIO: WRAS-FM 88.5

THE KICKOFF: Georgia State faces its second straight ranked opponent and its third straight road game as the Panthers travel to No. 22/21 Coastal Carolina Saturday at 2 p.m.

> For the second time this season, Georgia State went on the road and took a ranked opponent down to the wire as the Panthers took the lead at No. 24 Louisiana with five minutes left before falling 21-17 on a late touchdown last Thursday night.

> Georgia State ranks No. 15 in FBS in rushing, averaging 220.4 ypg. The Panthers have topped 200 yards rushing in their last four games.

> The running back tandem of Tucker Gregg (651 yds, 5 TD) and Jamyest Williams (495 yds 5 TD) has the topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season, combing for 1,146 yards. Quarterback Darren Grainger adds 416 yards rushing.

> The GSU defense has allowed a total of six touchdowns in the last three games. The Panthers have helped themselves by forcing five turnovers in the three games and making four fourth-downs stops, including three inside the GSU 10-yard line.

> After finishing this three-game road swing, the Panthers will return home for their final two games, hosting Arkansas State (Nov. 20) and Troy (Nov. 27).

GEORGIA STATE vs. RANKED TEAMS: Coastal Carolina will be Georgia State's fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the season, all on the road, following No. 22 North Carolina, No. 23 Auburn and No. 24 Louisiana

> At No. 24 Louisiana last Thursday, the Panthers took a 17-14 lead on Tucker Gregg's 1-yard touchdown run with 5:25 to play, but the Ragin' Cajuns scored the winning touchdown with 2:32 left to win 21-17.

> Earlier this season, Georgia State led at No. 23 Auburn until the final minute, when the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-down play with 45 seconds left.

> Last season, the Panthers lost 34-31 in overtime to No. 19/21 Louisiana in the season opener.

> GSU also had a close call at No. 9 Wisconsin in 2016, leading 17-13 with less than 10 minutes to play before the Badgers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 7:25 left and went on to win 23-17.

> Five of Georgia State's 11 ranked opponents have been Power Five teams ranked 12th or higher in the AP poll.

PALMETTO TIES: Georgia State has 18 players from South Carolina on its roster.

> QB Darren Grainger played at Conway High School, less than 10 miles from the Coastal Carolina campus.

> CB Quavian White is from nearby Greer, S.C. (Greer HS).

> Other notable Panthers from South Carolina include WR Sam Pinckney (Greenwood), TE Roger Carter (Columbia) and punter Michael Hayes (Florence).

> Head coach Shawn Elliott is a native of Camden, S.C. He served as offensive line coach and interim head coach at South Carolina before taking over at GSU.

> Also on the coaching staff:
OC Brad Glenn - Native of Seneca, S.C., and former head coach at Greer HS (1995-2000).
DC Nate Fuqua - Played & coached at Wofford
TE Josh Stepp - Former head coach at Lexington HS (2013-16) and Dreher HS (2010-12). Played QB at Furman & Newberry.
DL Travian Robertson - Played at South Carolina.
CB Cory Peoples - Native of Bishopville, S.C., who played at South Carolina.
GA Will Hunter - Played QB at North Greenville.
QC Bryson Allen-Williams - Played OLB at South Carolina.

THE SERIES: The series, which began in 2017, is tied at 2-2, with the visiting team winning all four meetings. Coastal Carolina won last year's game, 51-0 in Atlanta, but the Panthers won 31-21 in Conway in 2019 behind a 350-yard rushing output. GSU also won at CCU in 2017, 27-21.

TUCKER THE TRUCKER: Senior running back Tucker Gregg, known for his hard-nosed style, has trucked his way to 1,258 career rushing yards to rank No. 6 in GSU history. He needs 36 yards to pass Dan Ellington (1,293), now his coach, for fifth place.

> The former walk-on and Burlsworth Award nominee is fourth in the Sun Belt with 651 yards this season.

> Gregg rushed for 99 yards at No. 24 Louisiana, including a 1-yard touchdown that gave GSU a 17-14 lead with five minutes left. He gained 48 yards on that drive alone.

> He rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 21-14 win over Georgia Southern.

> Gregg rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 12 carries at No. 23 Auburn. He had a career-long 57-yard run to set up a score in the first quarter, and then a 50-yard TD run to put GSU ahead 24-10 late in the second quarter. He is the first Panther to have two runs of 50 or more yards in the same game.

ROGER THAT: Super senior tight end Roger Carter, who caught his 12th career touchdown at Louisiana, is Georgia State's career leader in TD catches by a tight end.

> With 90 career receptions, Carter is tied with Keith Rucker (2013-16) for most catches by a tight end, and he is second to Rucker (1,148) with 1,137 career yards.

> Among all players, Carter is ninth in receptions and receiving yards and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions.

TACKLE BOX: ILB Jordan Veneziale (ven-zee-AL) as Georgia State's leading tackler. The junior moved into the starting lineup in Game 2 vs. North Carolina, and for the season, he has collected 71 tackles, with 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His average of 7.9 tackles per game ranks third in the Sun Belt.

> Sophomore safety Antavious Lane is third on the team with 61 tackles, but he leads the Sun Belt in solo tackles (5.0 per game).

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Players Mentioned

#5 Roger Carter: TE; 6' 2"; Senior

#26 Tucker Gregg: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#39 Michael Hayes: PK-P; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#15 Sam Pinckney: WR; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#40 Jordan Veneziale: ILB; 6' 0"; Junior

#20 Quavian White: CB; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Jamyest Williams: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Darren Grainger: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Roger Carter
: 6' 2"; Senior
: TE

#26 Tucker Gregg
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#39 Michael Hayes
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK-P

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: S

#15 Sam Pinckney
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#40 Jordan Veneziale
: 6' 0"; Junior
: ILB

#20 Quavian White
: 5' 10"; Senior
: CB

#21 Jamyest Williams
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: RB

#3 Darren Grainger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: QB