Football 9/5/2022 1:21:00 PM

History-Making Home Opener vs. UNC Saturday at Noon

GEORGIA STATE (0-1) vs. NORTH CAROLINA (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 10 | 12 p.m. | Center Parc Stadium

TV: ESPNU
RADIO: WRAS-FM 88.5, GeorgiaStateSports.com, GSU Athletics mobile app

TICKETS: GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX, 404-413-4020

THE KICKOFF: Saturday's home opener vs. North Carolina is another milestone for the Georgia State program as the Panthers host a Power 5 opponent at home for the first time.

> Georgia State is playing back-to-back Power 5 opponents for the first time in program history.

> The Panthers have won seven of their last nine games.

> Georgia State opened the season with a 35-14 loss at South Carolina. The Panthers held their own offensively and defensively, rushing for 200 yards and outgaining the Gamecocks 311 to 306 total yards, but hurt themselves by allowing two special teams touchdowns.

> The GSU defense held South Carolina to 79 yards rushing and 306 total yards while allowing only 20 points (including two 50-plus field goals).

> Super senior CB Quavian White led the defensive effort with two interceptions, two tackles for loss including a sack, a pass breakup and five tackles.

> With his two picks, White equalled teammate Antavious Lane for the current GSU record with nine career interceptions.

> Head coach Shawn Elliott's squad has played in three straight bowl games, including back-to-back wins in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl and 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl. The Panthers have played in bowl games in four of Elliott's five seasons.

> Georgia State and North Carolina are meeting for the second straight year. Last season in Chapel Hill, the Panthers were within 24-10 with six minutes left in the third quarter before UNC scored four straight touchdowns and went on to win 59-17.

PANTHERS VS. POWER 5: Georgia State is facing a Power 5 opponent for the second straight week and the 15th time in program history. This is Georgia State's fourth game against an ACC program, and the Panthers have also faced teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12.

> One of the biggest moments in GSU athletics history was the Panthers' 38-30 victory at Tennessee in the 2019 season opener, the program's first win over a Power Five team.

> In that Tennessee win, Georgia State trailed 17-14 at the half but outscored the Vols 24-13 in the second half. Tra Barnett's 19-yard run gave GSU a 28-23 lead, and then quarterback Dan Ellington sealed the win with a 22-yard touchdown run with five minutes left. Now Georgia State's tight ends coach, Ellington also threw two TD passes in the game, and the GSU defense held Tennessee to 98 yards rushing.

> Last season, the Panthers had a close call at Auburn. Georgia State led until the final minute but the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-down pass with 45 seconds left and went on to win 34-24.

WHAT'S THE RUSH: After holding South Carolina to just 79 yards rushing on 32 carries, the Georgia State defense has held four straight opponents under 100 yards. Those four foes have averaged 52 yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry.

> Over the last three games of 2021, the Panthers allowed a total of 128 yards rushing. GSU set a school record by holding Arkansas State to minus-3 yards, and then held Troy to 57 yards and Ball State to 74 yards.

BACKFIELD DUO: Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (third) and Jamyest Williams (seventh) both rank among the top seven career rushers in GSU history.

> Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,445) and Williams (1,188) have combined for 2,633 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

TAR HEEL LINEAGE: First-year receivers coach Quinshad Davis is a 2016 graduate of North Carolina, where he was a standout receiver.

> Davis earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and finished his career as the Tar Heels' all-time leader in receptions (205) and touchdown catches (25).

> After a brief professional career, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UNC, working with the wide receivers for two seasons (2018-19).

PICK 'EM: Senior cornerback Quavian White and junior safety Antavious Lane share the current Georgia State career record with nine interceptions. Only five active FBS players have more.

NO ROOM TO RUN: Over the last two-plus seasons, Georgia State has held opponents to an average of 136.8 rushing yards per game.

> The Panthers allowed 136.7 yards per game in 2020, followed by 141.4 ypg in 2021, the second and third-best season averages in program history.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Tra Barnett: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#13 Dan Ellington: QB; 6' 3"; Senior

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

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Freshman

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

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

Players Mentioned

#5 Tra Barnett
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#13 Dan Ellington
: 6' 3"; Senior
: QB

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

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: S

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

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