Georgia State Stadium - Athens, GA
The Georgia State Panthers started 2017 by winning one of their first three games. The fourth game -- against Memphis -- was cancelled. GSU then went on to win five of their next six games.
To date, the Panthers are in a similar situation, having started out 1-2. With the two losses coming against North Carolina State (41-7) and Memphis (55-22), it’s hard to judge just what GSU’s capabilities might be, especially on it home field.
WMU opened with a 55-42 loss at home against Syracuse, fell to Michigan 49-3 and rebounded for a 68-0 thrashing of Delaware State. Georgia State is the final non-conference date before WMU opens MAC play the following week at Miami.
GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS (1-2)
➤➤ This is the first meeting between the two schools.
➤➤ Georgia State Stadium was converted to football after formerly serving as (Turner Field) home field for the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
➤➤ GSU opened the campaign with a 24-20 win over Kennesaw State. Quarterback Dan Ellington it Diondre Champaigne with an 8-yard TD pass with just 41 seconds left. It was the culmination of a nine-play drive with no time outs and under two minutes remaining.
➤➤ Penny Hart is a key target for the Panthers. He ranks first in the nation among active FBS receivers in career receiving yards per game (80.5 ypg). He was the Sun Belt’s leading receiver in each of his two full seasons (2015 and 2017). He registered 71 receptions for 1,099 yards and eight tOuchdowns as a freshman in 2015 before missing most of 2016 due to injury.
➤➤ Georgia State has an experienced offensive line - combining for 96 career starts. Depth, however, can be an issue as the other eight offensive linemen are all true freshman or redshirt freshmen.
➤➤ Senior linebacker Michael Shaw is GSU’s career leader in tackles for loss (25.5), while ranking third in career sacks.
➤➤ Junior Dan Ellington has completed 50 of 82 pass attempts (61%) good for 488 yards and three touchdowns with one pick. He has also rushed a team-high 32 times for 112 yards with one TD.
➤➤ Freshman Destin Coates (5-11, 198) has 20 carries for 120 yards and a score.
➤➤ Kicker Brandon Wright has been good on all four extra points but only one of three field goals (35 yards).
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS (1-2)
➤➤ WMU is fourth among MAC teams in scoring with an average of 37.7 ppg. The defense has allowed 34.7 ppg.
➤➤ The Broncos are third in total offense (452 ypg) and second in rushing (202.0 ypg).
➤➤ LeVante Bellamy tops the MAC with an average of 89.3 rushing yards per game. His average of 9.2 ypc is over two yards better than the next player.
➤➤ Quarterback Jon Wassink has completed 58 of 100 passes (58%), He owns five passing TDs and three interceptions. Wassink is seventh in pass efficiency.
➤➤ Three Broncos have at least 10 receptions: D’Wayne Eskridge (10 catches, 260 yards, 2 TDs); Jayden Reed (12 catches, 159 yards, 1 TD) and Drake Harris (11 catches, 85 yards).
Junior tight end Giovanni Ricci has scored touchdowns on two of his six receptions.
➤➤ The Broncos have allowed 252.3 yards per game (5.6 ypc) on the ground, 11th among MAC teams.
Although they are second in pass defense (125.7 ypg), the Broncos are 11th in pass defense efficiency.
➤➤ WMU’s punt return team has been as strength as the Broncos are averaging 31.2 yards per return and twice reached the end zone on nine returns.
➤➤ Western is the only MAC team that does not yet have an interception.
➤➤ WMU has converted three of five field goal attempts.