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STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern University is on the brink of a remarkable comeback, turning skeptics into believers as they eye a potential bowl game appearance. Following a challenging start to the season with a 2-4 record and a tough loss to Southern Miss, few envisioned the Eagles rallying. Yet, they have soared to victory in three of their last four games, now needing just one more win to secure their fourth consecutive bowl game berth.
The Eagles delivered a commanding performance against Coastal Carolina, emerging triumphant with a 45-40 win. Senior running back OJ Arnold was the star of the game, achieving a historic milestone for the school. Arnold rushed for an impressive 262 yards, scored two touchdowns on the ground, caught four passes for 53 yards and another touchdown, and even threw a 73-yard touchdown pass. This outstanding feat marks him as the first player in Georgia Southern history to score in three different ways—rushing, receiving, and passing—in a single game.
Head coach Clay Helton was full of praise for Arnold’s performance. “In my 35 years as a player and coach, I’ve never seen a more stellar game from a player in the running back position than what OJ Arnold accomplished,” he remarked, highlighting the exceptional nature of Arnold’s achievement.
Saturday’s upcoming game holds significant weight for Georgia Southern, as a victory would make them bowl eligible and complete an impressive turnaround from their early-season struggles after facing Southern Miss.
Senior wide receiver Marcus Sanders emphasized the team’s resilience and unity. “Trust each other,” he advised. “Stick to the process through the highs and lows. Stay even-keeled and keep moving in the right direction. That’s what’s leading us to victory. I believe that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”
Nov. 22 will be senior night for the Eagles. Twenty-five seniors will play their final game at Paulson Stadium. Coach Helton says these seniors are special because they are the first he recruited and they chose to be in Statesboro when transferring is commonplace.
“They chose to be Georgia Southern and be Eagles for life,” Helton said. “And I think there’s something to that, you know, to be able to graduate from here, to have an alumni network from here, to truly be true blue.”
This week’s opponent is Old Dominion. They are 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference. They are powered by Colton Jospeh. He is currently sixth in the conference in rushing and fourth in passing.
“A very dangerous Colton Joseph, a guy that you know is going to be up for MVP of the league this year,” Helton said.
The game between Georgia Southern and Old Dominion will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday.