Bobcats Aim For Home Win Against Undefeated Sun Belt Opponent

The Bobcats are preparing for Saturday’s matchup against Georgia Southern, just one game shy of bowl eligibility, and Coach Denis Franchione recognizes the real number of significance: one.

“One more point on offense, one less point on defense,” Franchione said in his Tuesday media luncheon.

According to Franchione, the Bobcats have their hands full this week. The team has won four of its last five games by less than 10 points. Franchione prefers an “ugly win” to a “pretty loss.”

Lawrence White, senior tight end, believes the only similarity between Saturday’s game and past matchups is the mentality the team enters with.

“We’re going to come out the same way we do every week: focused and ready to do what we have to do,” Williams said. “Each game is different, each offensive scheme is different—we match up differently every week.”

Georgia Southern currently leads the FBS in rushing yards, averaging 404.2 per game.   

Franchione recognizes the challenge Georgia State will bring to the Bobcats’ defensive efforts. He notes teams have been somewhat successful at containing the Eagles’ run-based offense.

“Nobody has really slowed them down,” Franchione said. “The only people to keep them under 300 yards were NC State and Georgia Tech, two power-five conference teams.”

Georgia Southern ranks first in the conference with its ability to contain the run, allowing teams just 143.8 rushing yards per game.

“It’s not like they’re a one-pony show,” Franchione said. “They’re solid on both sides of the ball.”

White looks forward to the opportunity to win at home. Franchione says knocking off a conference leader would be a “huge feather” in the Bobcats’ hat, especially in front of fans.

Next, the Bobcats will take on two more teams in the top five of Sun Belt conference standings: South Alabama and Arkansas State. Franchione says the team has been making steps in the right direction after winning only two conference games last season.

White, however, is only interested in the Bobcats’ next step as a team.

“It’s kind of hard to look ahead to seven or six wins,” White said. “We just have to focus on one game at a time.

Mariah Medina is an Assistant Sports Editor with the University Star where this story originally published. It is reprinted here through a news partnership between the University Star and the San Marcos Corridor News | @CorridorNews