Georgia Southern Downs Furman, 29-24
STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) -- Sean Holland kicked five field goals to tie a school record and Georgia Southern took advantage of Furman turnovers Saturday for a 29-24 victory.
Holland, who missed one field goal attempt, was successful on kicks of 37, 20, 38, 31 and 25 yards to equal Reed Haley's mark set against The Citadel in 1994.
The Southern Conference win assured Georgia Southern (6-4, 4-3) of a winning season and all but eliminated Furman (5-4, 3-3) from Division I-AA playoff contention.
"I told the kids in the locker room we're probably out of it playoff-wise," said Furman Coach Bobby Lamb whose team lost despite having 448 yards total offense, averaging 7.9 yards per play.
The Paladins fumbled the ball twice inside the Georgia Southern 20 in the second half, and it proved to be too much to overcome against the Eagles who turned in one of their more solid efforts of the season. Jermaine Austin, the leading rusher in the Southern Conference, had 136 yards on 25 carries despite not starting due to a knee injury suffered last week. Austin scored on a three-yard run in the second period as he pushed his league leading total to 1,325 on the season.
Furman's defense was giving up only 125 yards per game rushing and was leading the league in total defense and points allowed. Georgia Southern, however, proved to be too much as it had 298 yards rushing and finished with 379 yards total.
Quarterback Chaz Williams had 105 yards rushing for the Eagles and completed 5-of-8 passes for 81 yards. The Paladins got 127 yards from Hindley Brigham, 108 of them in the first quarter when he broke loose for an 80-yard scoring run after the Eagles had gone in front 3-0.
Georgia Southern led 20-17 at the half as the Eagles got second quarter scores from Kevin Anderson and Austin along with a second Holland field goal.
Furman quarterback Bo Moore had a one-yard touchdown run and Danny Marshall kicked a 22-yard field goal before Holland got his 20-yarder with 41 seconds left to put the Eagles on top for good.
Southern got a field goal off its opening drive of the second half and Holland put his team up 26-17 before Lamar Rembert scored on a 38-yard drive to keep Furman hopes alive with 8:16 to play. However, the Eagles took the ensuing kickoff and kept the ball for over five minutes before settling for Holland's final field goal.