2017 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

The 2017 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, and competed in the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by coach Chad Lunsford following the mid-season firing of second-year head coach Tyson Summers.^[1][2] They finished the season 2–10, 2–6 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for tenth place.

2017 Georgia Southern Eagles football
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	2–10 (2–6 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Tyson Summers (2nd season; first 6 games) Chad Lunsford (interim; last 6 games)
Offensive coordinator	Bryan Cook (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread option
Defensive coordinator	Lorenzo Costantini (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Paulson Stadium
Seasons ← 2016 2018 →

2017 Sun Belt Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Troy +		7	–	1					11	–	2
Appalachian State +		7	–	1					9	–	4
Arkansas State		6	–	2					7	–	5
Georgia State		5	–	3					7	–	5
New Mexico State		4	–	4					7	–	6
Louisiana		4	–	4					5	–	7
Louisiana–Monroe		4	–	4					4	–	8
Idaho		3	–	5					4	–	8
South Alabama		3	–	5					4	–	8
Coastal Carolina *		2	–	6					3	–	9
Georgia Southern		2	–	6					2	–	10
Texas State		1	–	7					2	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

Following the season, interim head coach Chad Lunsford was promoted to head coach.^[3][4]

Schedule

Georgia Southern announced its 2017 football schedule on March 1, 2017. The 2016 schedule consisted of five home and seven away games in the regular season. The Eagles hosted Sun Belt opponents Arkansas State, New Mexico State, Georgia State, and South Alabama, and traveled to Troy, Appalachian State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Coastal Carolina.^[5]

The team played four non–conference games, one home game against New Hampshire from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), and traveled to three road games against Auburn from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Indiana from the Big Ten Conference (B1G) and UMass (Independent). Due to the then-impending impact of Hurricane Irma on southern Georgia, the home game against New Hampshire was relocated to Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.^[6]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	7:30 p.m.	at No. 12 Auburn*	Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	SECN	L 7–41	87,451
September 9	4:00 p.m.	No. 12 (FCS) New Hampshire*	Legion Field[6] Birmingham, AL	ESPN3	L 12–22	3,387
September 23	3:30 p.m.	at Indiana*	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	L 17–52	42,886
October 4	8:00 p.m.	Arkansas State	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA	ESPN2	L 25–43	13,781
October 14	6:00 p.m.	New Mexico State	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA	ESPN3	L 27–35	16,278
October 21	3:30 p.m.	at UMass*	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ELVN	L 20–55	10,690
October 28	3:30 p.m.	at Troy	Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	ESPN3	L 16–38	23,846
November 4	3:00 p.m.	Georgia State	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA (rivalry)	ESPN3	L 17–21	18,722
November 9	7:30 p.m.	at Appalachian State	Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, NC (rivalry)	ESPNU	L 6–27	23,110
November 18	3:00 p.m.	South Alabama	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA	ESPN3	W 52–0	12,250
November 25	5:00 p.m.	at Louisiana–Lafayette	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	ESPN3	W 34–24	12,993
December 2	1:00 p.m.	at Coastal Carolina	Brooks Stadium Conway, SC	ESPN3	L 17–28	15,951
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (FBS) or STATS Poll (FCS) released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[7]

Game summaries

At Auburn

See also: 2017 Auburn Tigers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	0	0	0	7
No. 12 Tigers	10	14	10	7	41

Game information

First Quarter AUB – Daniel Carlson 50 yd field goal, 12:01 (AUB 3–0) AUB – Kerryon Johnson 60 yd run (Daniel Carlson kick), 5:11 (AUB 10–0) GASO – Tomarcio Reese 22 yd fumble return (Tyler Bass kick), 0:36 (AUB 10–7) Second Quarter AUB – Jarrett Stidham 14 yd run (Daniel Carlson kick), 8:36 (AUB 17–7) AUB – Kam Martin 36 yd run (Daniel Carlson kick), 4:52 (AUB 24–7) Third Quarter AUB – Ryan Davis 19 yd pass from Jarrett Stidham (Daniel Carlson kick), 10:56 (AUB 31–7) AUB – Daniel Carlson 37 yd field goal, 5:20 (AUB 34–7) Fourth Quarter AUB – Will Hastings 19 yd pass from Jarrett Stidham (Daniel Carlson kick), 9:18 (AUB 41–7) Top Passers GASO − Shai Werts - 4–8, 8 yds, 1 INT AUB – Jarrett Stidham - 14–24, 185 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Top Rushers GASO – L.A. Ramsby - 11 carries, 33 yds AUB – Kerryon Johnson - 16 carries, 136 yds, 1 TD Top Receivers GASO – Obe Fortune - 1 reception, 7 yds AUB – Will Hastings - 4 receptions, 68 yds, 1 TD

Georgia Southern Eagles at No. 12 Auburn Tigers – Game summary

at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

• Date: September 2, 2017
• Game time: 7:39 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Temperature: 85° • Wind: NW4 • Weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 87,451
• Referee: Ken Williamson
• TV announcers (SEC Network): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

New Hampshire

See also: 2017 New Hampshire Wildcats football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 12 (FCS) Wildcats	15	7	0	0	22
Eagles	0	0	5	7	12

At Indiana

See also: 2017 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	7	10	0	17
Hoosiers	21	10	14	7	52

Game information

First Quarter (8:54) IU – Morgan Ellison 2-yard run, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 2:25; Indiana 7–0) (6:27) IU – J-Shun Harris 70-yard punt return, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 3 plays, 5 yards, 2:27; Indiana 14–0) (4:56) IU – Simmie Cobbs 0-yard fumble recovery, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 0:56; Indiana 21–0) Second Quarter (14:14) IU – Griffin Oakes 27-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 2:25; Indiana 24–0) (11:49) IU – Morgan Ellison 1-yard run, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 1:36; Indiana 31–0) (2:51) GASO – Ellis Richardson 23-yard pass from Shai Werts, Tyler Bass kick (Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 4:20; Indiana 31–7) Third Quarter (14:21) IU – Ian Thomas 71-yard pass from Richard Lagow, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:39; Indiana 38–7) (10:42) IU – Devonte Williams 42-yard pass from Peyton Ramsey, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:24; Indiana 45–7) (9:38) GASO – D'Ondre Glenn 63-yard pass from Shai Werts, Tyler Bass kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:04; Indiana 45–14) (3:46) GASO – Tyler Bass 32-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 38 yards, 4:40; Indiana 45–17) Fourth Quarter (2:19) IU – Andre Brown 22-yard fumble return, Griffin Oakes kick (Drive: 1 play, 4 yards, 0:10; Indiana 52–17)

Georgia Southern Eagles (0–2) vs Indiana Hoosiers (1–1) – Game summary

at Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, Indiana

• Date: September 23, 2017
• Game time: 3:40 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny, 90 °F (32 °C)
• Game attendance: 42,886
• Referee: Don Willard
• TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Jeremy Leman (analyst)
• Sources:

Statistics	GASO	IU
First downs	15	20
Total yards	375	467
Rushes/yards	54–242	47–282
Passing yards	133	185
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	7–16–0	11–22–0
Time of possession	34:11	25:49

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Southern	Passing	Shai Werts	6/14, 129 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	L. A. Ramsby	18 carries, 108 yards
	Receiving	D'Ondre Glenn	3 receptions, 98 yards, TD
Indiana	Passing	Richard Lagow	8/13, 130 yards, TD
	Rushing	Morgan Ellison	25 carries, 186 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ian Thomas	2 receptions, 79 yards, TD

Arkansas State

See also: 2017 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	3	19	14	7	43
Eagles	0	17	0	8	25

New Mexico State

See also: 2017 New Mexico State Aggies football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	14	7	0	14	35
Eagles	14	10	3	0	27

At UMass

See also: 2017 UMass Minutemen football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	10	3	0	20
Minutemen	28	20	0	7	55

Tyson Summers was fired as head coach the day after the game. Assistant head coach Chad Lunsford was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.

At Troy

See also: 2017 Troy Trojans football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	3	0	6	16
Trojans	14	14	3	7	38

Georgia State

See also: 2017 Georgia State Panthers football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	7	7	21
Eagles	7	3	7	0	17

At Appalachian State

See also: 2017 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	0	3	0	6
Mountaineers	0	10	3	14	27

South Alabama

See also: 2017 South Alabama Jaguars football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	0	0	0	0
Eagles	21	10	14	7	52

At Louisiana–Lafayette

See also: 2017 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	14	3	10	7	34
Ragin' Cajuns	0	7	3	14	24

At Coastal Carolina

See also: 2017 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	7	7	0	17
Chanticleers	7	7	14	0	28

References

1. "Georgia Southern fires head coach Tyson Summers". Savannah Morning News. October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. "Summers Relieved Of Georgia Southern Coaching Duties". Georgia Southern. October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
3. "Georgia Southern taking interim tag off Lunsford". SBNation.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
4. "Chad Lunsford promoted to full-time head coach at Georgia Southern". Underdog Dynasty. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
5. "2017 Georgia Southern football schedule released" (Press release). Georgia Southern University Department of Athletics. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
6. "Game Alert: Georgia Southern/New Hampshire Football Game Moved to Birmingham". Georgia Southern Athletics. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
7. "2017 Georgia Southern Eagles Football Schedule". Georgia Southern Athletics. Retrieved March 3, 2017.