#19 Louisiana 34, Geogia State 31 (OT)
ATLANTA – Senior running back Elijah Mitchell's 12-yard touchdown run in overtime was all No. 19 Louisiana needed to escape Atlanta with a thrilling 34-31 victory over Georgia State on Saturday afternoon.
The win marked Louisiana's (2-0, 1-0 Sun Belt) first victory in an overtime game since Oct. 29, 2005, when it defeated Troy, 31-28, in Lafayette.
Mitchell helped power the Ragin' Cajuns' offense all day, posting his 11th career 100-yard performance with 164 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, including the game winner. Trey Ragas also helped propel the offense, toting the ball eight times for 44 yards and his second touchdown of the season.
Quarterback Levi Lewis finished the game 21-for-37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns with the help of two freshman wideouts. Dontae Fleming led all Louisiana receivers with four catches for 81 yards and Kyren Lacy added three catches for 57 yards and his first career touchdown.
Troy 47, Middle Tennessee 14
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A Will Choloh safety and a five-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Gunnar Watson to senior Khalil McClain with three seconds left in the first half powered the Troy Trojans football program to a commanding 19-point lead, enroute to a 47-14 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon at Floyd Stadium to capture the coveted Palladium Trophy.
In his first start as a Trojan, Watson impressed, completing 26-of-37 passes for 248 yards and his first career touchdown. Watson becomes the first Troy quarterback to win his first career start since Corey Robinson defeated Bowling Green back in 2010 (Sept. 4).
Troy (1-0) was extremely balanced on the afternoon, rushing for 240 yards on 55 carries. Redshirt senior BJ Smith was the Trojans leading rusher (10 rushes, 81 yards) in his much-anticipated return to action.
Seven different Trojans were credited with a touchdown led by McClain (6 receptions, 75 yards and 2 touchdowns) and Charles Strong (11 rushes, 54 yards and a touchdown).
The Trojans reached at least 400 yards of total offense for the ninth time in Chip Lindsey's tenure (13 games) as head coach, as 10 different Trojans recorded a reception.
On the opposite side of the ball, the new look Trojan defense impressed, forcing Asher O'Hara and the Blue Raiders (0-2) offensive attack into three interceptions and two turnovers on downs. O'Hara completed 16-of-23 for just 109 yards and zero touchdowns. The Blue Raiders recorded just 241 yards of total offense.
Texas State 38, ULM 17
MONROE, La. — Tyler Vitt threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in the first half to lead Texas State to an 38-17 victory over ULM in a Sun Belt Conference opener on Saturday night.
Vitt connected with Jeremiah Haydel on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and a 75-yard score at the end of the second to give Texas State (1-2, 1-0) a 31-14 halftime lead.
Vitt was 14-of-21 passing for 265 yards. He added 82 yards rushing that included an 8-yard touchdown. Haydel had six catches for 152 yards. Jarron Morris scored a touchdown on a 100-yard interception return with 35 seconds left.
On the Bobcat’s opening drive, Marcell Barbee made a 36-yard diving catch after the ball was deflected off a defender. Calvin Hill’s 4-yard TD run capped the 10-play, 85-yard drive.
#23 App State 7, Marshall 17
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — App State's impressive winning streak against Group of Five programs from outside the league ended Saturday, as Marshall pulled out a 17-7 home win in front of 12,050 fans.
After a highlight-reel touchdown grab by Jalen Virgil helped tie the game to conclude App State's first drive of the day, Marshall (2-0) kept the high-powered and 23rd-ranked Mountaineers (1-1) from scoring again, even though they advanced inside the Thundering Herd's 10-yard line on their first two fourth-quarter possessions.
App State had won its last seven games against Conference USA opponents since falling to Southern Miss in the Mountaineers' third-ever FBS game in 2014.
The loss snapped a 12-game winning streak against Group of Five conference teams from outside the Sun Belt. UMass, an FBS independent, defeated the Mountaineers in 2017.
App State returns to action next Saturday with a noon home game against Campbell.