NEW ORLEANS — James Madison improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, while four others—Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana and South Alabama—won their conference openers in Week 5 play. Louisiana Tech proved victorious over Army in the Sun Belt’s lone non-conference clash on the week. 
 
Fifth-year quarterback Cameran Brown threw for a career-high 284 yards and a Georgia State single-game program record six touchdowns in a 42-10 Panther victory over Old Dominion, snapping a nine-game losing streak against Sun Belt opposition. Brown completed 14-of-20 passes, including a pair of touchdown connections with senior wide receiver Rodshaun Dorsey—his third-straight multi-touchdown game. Sophomore wide receiver Derrick Avery Jr. led the aerial assault with two catches for 91 yards, while freshman running back Qwantavius Wiggins led the ground game with 87 yards on 15 carries. With five tackles, three tackles for loss, a Georgia State single-game program record three sacks and two forced fumbles, senior linebacker Xavier Esqillion headlined the Panther defense that held Old Dominion to just 142 yards of total offense. 
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Koa Naotala forced a fumble—that was recovered for a Monarch takeaway—to go along with seven tackles and a tackle for loss in the losing effort. Redshirt junior running back and return specialist Devin Roche scored Old Dominion’s lone touchdown on a program-record 78-yard punt return. 
 
James Madison trailed for the first time this season, after Marshall manufactured a 14-play, 89-yard opening scoring drive, but it was nearly all Dukes from there. James Madison used 28 unanswered second-quarter points to run away with an eventual 45-17 win in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,034 at Bridgeforth Stadium. The win was the first-ever in Harrisonburg over the Thundering Herd and the 11th-straight over Sun Belt opposition. Fourth-year quarterback Camden Coleman threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, with fourth-year wideout Corey Scott catching five passes for a game-high 104 yards and two touchdowns. Fifth-year running back George Pettaway also found the end zone twice, as part of a 206-yard rushing day. Two interceptions from second-year defensive back DJ Kelly highlighted the Dukes defensive effort. 
 
Redshirt sophomore Khalil Wilkins amassed 99 all-purpose yards for Marshall in defeat. 
 
Seventh-year quarterback Max Johnson threw for three touchdowns and second-year quarterback Weston Bryan ran for a 67-yard score as Georgia Southern secured its fourth-straight win over Coastal Carolina, 31-24. Bryan rushed for a game-high 88 yards, while sixth-year tight end River Helms (89 yards, 1 touchdown) and third-year wideout Alex Taylor (77 yards, 1 touchdown) led the air attack. The Eagles defense posted a pair of key takeaways via fumble recoveries, including one on a forced fumble by fifth-year linebacker Brandon Tyson who led the team with nine tackles. 
 
Redshirt junior wide receiver and return man Robby Washington registered a 73-yard punt return touchdown just before halftime and led the Chanticleers with 125 all-purpose yards on the day. 
 
Hometown products junior quarterback Jared Hollins and senior wide receiver Anthony Eager propelled South Alabama to a fifth-straight win over ULM, 52-35. Hollins completed 14-of-19 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns, with Eager catching four passes for 168 yards and two scores. Junior defensive back Damyrion Darby had a hand in two Jaguars takeaways with an interception and a forced fumble—that was returned 21 yards for a South Alabama touchdown—on the day. 

Fourth-year quarterback Aiden Armenta accounted for 3-of-4 Warhawk touchdowns in the losing effort, throwing for a career-high 355 yards and two scores and rushing for another. 
 
Louisiana Tech held on for its first-ever win over Army, 31-29, in the lone non-conference clash on the Sun Belt slate. Second-year running back Dylone Brooks scored two touchdowns of 70-or-more yards—rushing for a 72-yard score and adding a 74-yard receiving touchdown on a double pass trick play—as part of a 200-yard all-purpose day. Brooks led the Bulldogs in both rushing (119) and receiving (81) yards. Third-year defensive back Jordan McRae tallied the game’s lone takeaway on an interception, while third-year linebacker Jadon Mayfield led the team with 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. 
 
For the 27th time in 55 all-time matchups, the Louisiana and Arkansas State game concluded as a one-score bout. The Ragin’ Cajuns used a 37-yard field goal from redshirt senior kicker Tony Sterner as time expired to prevail in the back-and-forth battle for their eighth win over the Red Wolves in the past nine meetings. Sterner went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts alongside rushing touchdowns from redshirt junior quarterback Lunch Winfield and redshirt freshman running back JJ Garner in the win. With 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, redshirt junior linebacker Micah Johnson helmed the Louisiana defense. 
 
Fourth-year wide receiver and return man Chauncy Cobb amassed 181 all-purpose yards for Arkansas State in defeat. 
 
SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 5 RESULTS
Georgia State def. Old Dominion, 42-10
James Madison def. Marshall, 45-17
Georgia Southern def. Coastal Carolina, 31-24 
South Alabama def. ULM, 52-35
Louisiana Tech def. Army, 31-29
Louisiana def. Arkansas State, 23-20