STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) — The last two weeks have been anything but normal for Georgia Southern.
Hurricane Helene ripped through southeast Georgia, which made their open date anything but normal. Now, they have to continue preparations for a conference game against the Marshall at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12.
“Everything that had gone on with Hurricane Helene been able to see not only the devastation in our own community,” Head Coach Clay Helton said, “but driving up by I-16 and seeing, you know, all the troubles that were happening from our community all the way up to Dublin.”
Coach Helton said he took time to watch some college football during his open date, which included five of the top 11 teams ranked in the AP poll. The highlight was Alabama, the No. 1 team in the nation, falling to Vanderbilt on the road.
“We got to be a football fan and I was glad not to be a football coach,” Helton said. “Just last Saturday with everything, all the craziness that went on and in college football last week.”
As Helton and the Eagles turn their attention to this week’s opponent, Marshall. The Thundering Herd is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the East division of the conference, which is tied for first place with Georgia Southern.
They are coming off a 52-37 win over Appalachian State.
“Braylon Braxton is a great example of not only being efficient in the pass game but he’s doing quarterback-driven runs and he’s creating with his legs when things aren’t there,” Helton said. “You don’t see a lot of turnovers by this team. Two in five games.”
The turnover battle will be huge this Saturday. Marshall is plus four on this season in turnover margin. Georgia Southern is plus two.
Helton said he thinks the winner of the turnover battle will win this game.
“That’s an important aspect of a football game,” Helton said. “Getting off field and giving it back to a high-powered offense.”
Georgia Southern is expecting an electric atmosphere on Saturday night, where fans in attendance are encouraged to wear white. Players like Mar Stampley are excited for a night game in Statesboro.
“It’s just going to be a crazy environment,” Stampley said. “Probably one of the best in Paulson Stadium. I want everybody in Statesboro, every Georgia Southern fan to be there. It’s going to be a one-of-a-kind experience. A ‘white out’ at 8 p.m. under the lights on a nationally televised [game]. It’s just going to be an amazing experience. I just can’t wait for you all to see the show.”
