Georgia Southern defeats Coastal Carolina in triple-OT, 30-27

Whew, where to start with this one.

I guess the best place to begin are the overtime periods, considering not much happened for the first four quarters of this game, as both teams were deadlocked at 10-10 when the final whistle for the fourth frame sounded.

Coastal Carolina converted a 4th-and-goal from the 1 to start the first overtime, as quarterback Bryce Carpenter punched in a short carry to give the Chanticleers a 17-10 lead.

After three plays in which it looked like the Eagles were going to lose, a key 4th-and-5 at the end of the first overtime period saw Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts toss up a fade to receiver Mark Michaud, with the team needing a touchdown to tie the game at 17 and keep the hope of winning alive.

Michaud boxed out the defender like a power forward going up for a rebound, hauling in the key score and sending the contest into a 2nd overtime period tied at 17.

On the first play of 2OT, Werts and Michaud ran the exact same play, with Michaud once again bodying his defender out of position and skying for his second receiving touchdown of the contest, and giving Southern an advantage of 24-17.

Coastal got possession back and tied the game once again on an 8-yard touchdown run by Chanticleer running back CJ Marable, sending this one into a third overtime period, and the Eagles’ second multiple-overtime game in consecutive contests.

Georgia Southern was able to get a stop on Coastal on the first series of triple-OT to force a field goal by Coastal, 27-24, and a key run by J.D. King on 3rd-and-2 allowed the Eagles to get to the three-yard line. The game-winning drive was capped off by a Wesley Kennedy touchdown to set the final score, 30-27.

For the first four quarters, not much offensive production happened due to conservative play calling by both teams and a steady downpour that lasted until the second overtime period began.

Wesley Kennedy was the reason Georgia Southern won this game from a rushing perspective, leading the Eagles in yardage at 121 yards and the game-winning score from three yards out to move the team to 3-3 and 2-1 in conference play.

GS offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse will get away with this one due to the team putting up 30, but the second half game plan was stagnant through much of the second half as both teams were deadlocked at a 10-10 tie heading into OT.

Bryce Carpenter did everything he could to keep the Chanticleers competitive in this one, throwing for 96 yards and a score, while also leading the team in rushing with 61 yards and another touchdown.

The final really came down to the connection between Werts and Michaud, as the two connected for key scores through the air, allowing Southern to come away with the win.

I also cannot end this recap without talking about the ridiculous penalty on both teams that saw multiple players ejected for dancing. Yes, you read that right.

The Sun Belt referees need to shed their overwhelming sense of importance from here on out. Nobody is paying to see zebras lay down the law on a bunch of 20 year olds.

Georgia Southern will look to get over the .500 mark for the first time this year as they take on New Mexico State at home next week, while Coastal Carolina will next face off with Troy on Nov. 2.