The Sports Xchange
Oct 22, 2016
Georgia Southern made two momentum-shifting plays on special teams, and quarterback Kevin Ellison threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help the visiting Eagles rally past New Mexico State for a 22-19 Sun Belt win on Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.
Chaz Thornton recovered a fumble on a New Mexico State kickoff return, setting Georgia Southern up at the Aggies' 15-yard line at the end of the third quarter. Three plays later, Ellison hooked up with Matt Brieda on a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 15-12 lead.
A blocked punt set up Georgia Southern's next scoring drive, Ellison threw a screen pass to Wesley Fields, who took it 42 yards for a touchdown, putting the Eagles ahead 22-12 with 10:21 to play.
Ellison completed 7 of 8 passes for 101 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 117 yards on 20 carries.
New Mexico State quarterback Tyler Rogers threw a 32-touchdown pass to Johnathan Boone to cut the Georgia Southern lead to three with 1:19 to play.
But the Eagles recovered an attempted onside kick and ran out the clock.
Joshua Moon had an interception to end a fourth-quarter scoring threat by the Aggies.
New Mexico State grabbed a 9-6 lead at halftime, scoring on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to Clark and a 41-yard field goal from Parker Davidson.
Georgia Southern kicker Younghoe Koo made all three of his field-goal attempts. Koo has made 13 consecutive kicks, a single-season school-record.