NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana defeated Troy in a battle between teams responsible for the last eight West Division titles, James Madison improved to 7-0 overall and Louisiana Tech secured a rivalry game victory over ULM to headline Sun Belt Conference football action during the season’s seventh week.

Georgia Southern (3-4, 2-1 SBC) out-gained Old Dominion (2-5, 1-3 SBC), 399-272, to secure a 23-15 East Division road victory on Thursday night. Eagles’ fifth-year backup quarterback Turner Helton completed 23-of-30 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, as Georgia Southern scored 23-consecutive points on three field goals bookended by a pair of touchdowns by fifth-year running back Terrance Gibbs after a first-quarter touchdown by the Monarchs. Fourth-year linebacker Anthony Bynum led the defense with eight tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble.

Old Dominion second-year backup quarterback Ryan Huff completed 9-of-14 passes for 121 yards including a 71-yard touchdown heave to fourth-year wide receiver TJ Johnson.

On Friday evening, App State (4-2, 1-1 SBC) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to upend Coastal Carolina (2-5, 1-2 SBC) for an East Division road victory. Second-year running back Jaquari Lewis rushed 13 times for 85 yards and four touchdowns, as the Mountaineers compiled 516 yards of total offense in the contest. Trailing 24-14 to begin the third quarter, the Mountaineers scored 21 unanswered points to retake a lead they would not surrender on a pair of touchdown runs by Lewis and a 31-yard touchdown pass from third-year quarterback Henry Hasselbeck to second-year wide receiver Sam Pickett III.

The Chanticleers were led by second-year quarterback Deuce Bailey who completed 16-of-31 passes for 298 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, as he added 38 rushing yards on five attempts. 

James Madison racked up 515 total yards and scored five first-half touchdowns and recovered an onside kick early in the second quarter to pull away from Georgia State (4-2, 1-1 SBC). Fourth-year quarterback Camden Coleman completed 13-of-19 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, as third-year quarterback JC Evans went 4-of-5 through the air for 80 yards and one score while adding two more touchdowns on the ground. Fifth-year running back George Pettaway rushed 14 times for 119 yards and one touchdown, as the Dukes averaged 6.1 yards per carry and ran for 250 yards on the day. 

Georgia State was led by fifth-year quarterback Cameran Brown who recorded 134 yards on 13-of-25 passing with one touchdown and added 71 rushing yards.

Louisiana (5-2, 2-1 SBC) had four different players rush for at least 50 yards and three running backs scored one touchdown apiece as the Ragin’ Cajuns rolled to a 33-6 West Division home win over Troy (3-3, 1-1 SBC). The Cajuns earned 243 of their 351 total yards on the ground, as their defense held the Trojans to just 267 total yards and 12 first downs on the night. 

Troy fifth-year safety Jordan Perry led all players with a career-high 13 tackles and one pass breakup, as fifth-year quarterback Tucker Kilcrease accounted for the Trojans’ lone score with a 23-yard touchdown run.

Arkansas State (3-4, 1-2 SBC) held Southern Miss (1-4, 0-1 SBC) to just 81 rushing yards and forced a pair of interceptions to win a West Division road game over the Golden Eagles. Third-year quarterback Trey Owens completed 17-of-25 passes for 170 yards and added 25 yards on the ground, as the Red Wolves jumped out to a 13-0 lead on a second-quarter touchdown by fifth-year running back Kenyon Clay.

Southern Miss fifth-year quarterback Landry Lyddy threw for 208 yards and one touchdown, while fourth-year running back Steven Robinson rushed 21 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Golden Eagles’ defense registered 10 tackles for loss on the night.

Louisiana Tech (4-2, 2-0 SBC) scored all of the game’s points in the second half to defeat rival ULM (0-6, 0-2 SBC), 24-0, and earn its first shutout victory on the road since 2008. Fourth-year quarterback Blake Baker converted 15-of-21 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, as third-year wide receiver Marcus Calwise Jr. reeled in eight catches for 119 yards. Third-year tight end Brayden Bockler caught both touchdown passes from Baker, as the Bulldogs rallied after a scoreless first half.

ULM was led by fifth-year defensive lineman Kevontay Wells’ eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack and one pass breakup.

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Georgia Southern 23, Old Dominion 15

App State 35, Coastal Carolina 32

James Madison 49, Georgia State 22

Louisiana 33, Troy 6

Arkansas State 23, Southern Miss 13

Louisiana Tech 24, ULM 0