Until Saturday’s 26-21 win at Wofford, Adam Urbano had been the one bringing consistency to the Georgia Southern running game.

He still had 57 yards on 13 carries and a score, but the Eagles (3-2, 2-1 Southern Conference) found an explosive compliment to Urbano’s hard-nosed style with the finesse of Darreion Robinson, who had a career day with 78 yards on 13 carries including a 24-yard touchdown run that put the Eagles up 17-14 in the third quarter.

The big play has been something lacking from GSU’s offense for most of the season.

“We just try to go out and get four yards,” said Robinson, “and if the big play comes with it, we’ll try to go on and make it happen.”

The running game has become increasingly important for the young Eagles, who take on North Carolina (3-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“I think the running game will be real important this week,” said Robinson. “We’re playing the ACC, North Carolina, and everybody knows about them. We can’t just go out there and just throw the ball like 60 or 70 times. We’re going to have to mix it up and take the pressure off.”

Another day at the office

Ever since wide receiver Jamere Valentine caught two touchdowns in the season-opening win against Albany, he’s quietly gone about his business, catching 26 passes for a team-leading 265 yards through five games. He’s also leading the team in touchdowns with four.

The true freshman, who played running back until his junior year at Myrtle Beach High School, was also given a chance to show off his running abilities against Wofford when he took a reverse 41 yards down the sideline on the game’s opening drive.

“I was a running back before I became a wide receiver, and it brings back a lot of memories, you know, making moves with the ball in your hands,” said Valentine. “It’s always fun.”

More SoCon honors for Mora

With career-long field goals of 50 and 48 yards Saturday against Wofford, sophomore kicker Adrian Mora won his second Southern Conference player of the week honor.

The wind may have helped out, just a little bit.

“There was a little bit of wind, but if no one asks, I’m not going to tell anybody,” Mora joked. “I’m just trying to help the team win. We won by six, those (field goals) were six points, and it just felt good because I have confidence in myself and coach has confidence in me to make them.”

Another passing mark

Sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple completed his first 17-consecutive passes against Wofford, good for second most in SoCon history behind former Appalachian State quarterback Richie Williams, who completed 28 in a row against Furman in 2004.

In coach Chris Hatcher’s offense, that’s what’s supposed to happen.

“Consistency-wise, that’s how I want to play every week,” Chapple said. “Every time I step out on the field I want to be perfect. We weren’t throwing anything deep, and that’s the thing about this offense. When you’ve got guys who can make plays, anything can happen.”

Fresh faces

Freshman center Blake DeBartola and sophomore tackle Brandavious Mann got their first starts on the offensive line due to some injuries, and impressed offensive line coach Shawn Bostick.

They weren’t the only ones seeing the field for the first time.

“It happened so fast and I don’t even know if anybody noticed, but Jonathan Loving’s shoe came off and I threw Chris Grey in there,” Bostick said. “He went out there for the first time this season, played four snaps and did a great job.”

Right place at the right time

So far, senior cornerback Darrell Pasco has two interceptions, a fumble recovery returned 84 yards for a touchdown and a blocked PAT run back for two points.

No, he can’t see into the future.

“I can’t really explain it,” Pasco said about his good fortune. “My friends kind of tease me about it. I just do the best I can, hustle to the ball and do anything I can to make a big play.”

A new outlook

In the first two years of Hatcher’s tenure, the coaching staff has gone to great lengths to remind the Eagles how good the competition is, and it had worked up until this season, as the Eagles were 7-1 on the road against FCS competition.

Last week, the young team decided just to focus on itself.

“This team, all we did was talk about how good the opponent was and building them up,” Hatcher said. “Last week, we didn’t even talk about Wofford. We just talked about going out going up there and playing to our abilities. We played a little looser, and when you’re having fun, good things seem to happen to you.”

Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.