If the Eagles (3-3, 2-1 Southern Conference) want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005, that’s the main thing that is going to have to change.
“Looking back on our losses it was the turnovers that killed us,” said sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple. “I mean, hands down that’s why we’ve lost games. A lot of that falls on my turning the ball over way too many times. We’ve got to give the defense time to work, because they’ve been great all year for us.”
Of the six turnovers in Saturday’s 42-12 loss to North Carolina, the biggest came with the Eagles trailing 14-7 in the second quarter and linebacker Quan Sturdivant stripped the ball from sophomore running back Adam Urbano returning it 49 yards to put the Tar Heels up 21-7.
“We can’t do that,” Urbano said. “It’s just being careless I think. Other than that we played pretty well. We ran the ball on a pretty good defense, a pretty good run defense, so there’s a lot of positives coming out of that game.”
That play tainted what was otherwise a career night for Urbano, who carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 93 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown scamper.
“All season I’ve felt like we’ve been real close – one tackle away, one block away – to springing a big run,” said Urbano. “It felt pretty good to finally do that on Saturday.”
A victim of success
The early running success the Eagles experienced against UNC took the Tar Heels out of their zone pass defense. Georgia Southern knew it was coming eventually, but UNC adjusted early, and the man-to-man look helped cause the turnovers.
“Fortunately we ran them out of that zone,” said GSU coach Chris Hatcher. “Unfortunately, we ran them out of it a little bit too soon, because they went to the man coverage and there just wasn’t much we could do.”
Senior center Trey Dunmon, who returned from injury in Saturday’s game, took the turnovers as a learning experience.
“We understand that they’re a great defense and have great personnel over there, but I think a lot of times the past few games, we beat ourselves a lot,” Dunmon said. “We realized Saturday that if we stop beating ourselves, this offense will be a lot better.”
Backs to the wall
The Eagles realize that with Saturday’s loss, they need to win out if they want to make the playoffs. Having their backs against the wall may just be a good thing.
“You look at past games in past years and we’ve played better when our backs are against the wall anyway,” Chapple said. “This Chattanooga game (Saturday at Paulson Stadium is) big. They’re the most improved team I’ve seen on film up to this point from last year.”
The team knows it has no room for error.
“Every day’s gotta be do or die,” Urbano said. “That’s gotta be our mindset. We’ve got to come out every Saturday. It’s either win and keep going or lose and go home. That’s how it is from here on out.”
Part of that mindset has to do with forgetting about past mistakes and losses.
“Coach Hatcher always says there aren’t any history majors on this team, so we really don’t worry about the past,” said senior defensive end Harland Bower. “We’re worried about this week. Really we can’t worry about the future either. That’s what can throw you off, if you think about Furman and you think about App State. We’ve really got to put the horse blinders on and think about this week.”
Taking chances
Desperate times call for desperate measures. With no room for another Georgia Southern loss, the Eagles will look to start finding receivers down the field for some big plays in the last five games.
“When you get your backs against the wall, you’re going to have to take some shots,” Chapple said. “We’ve got the guys to do it, and I think we’ll run our offense a little bit more down the field and take some shots when they’re there to take them. Just be a little more consistent moving the ball down the field, and when those shots come, you’ve got to take them down the field.”
NOTES: Freshman wide receiver J.J. Wilcox has had a quick recovery to a foot injury suffered in the week-three win against Western Carolina and is expected to play Saturday against Chattanooga. … Defensive back K.R. Snipes is doubtful with a knee injury.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
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