Panthers Rally from 18-Point Deficit to Edge UTSA 28-24 in Week 6 NDL Classic
Coach CeeGee’s Georgia State Panthers (7-2, 4-1 Sun Belt) pulled off a jaw-dropping comeback in their Week 6 NDL Block 3 matchup, erasing an 18-point deficit to defeat the UT San Antonio Roadrunners (24 points) 28-24 at home.
Trailing 24-6 with just 35 seconds left in the third quarter, the Panthers ignited a furious rally, showcasing resilience and offensive firepower to keep their Sun Belt East title hopes burning bright, sitting third behind Old Dominion (7-1) and James Madison (4-2).
UTSA struck like lightning in the first quarter, with Brandon High Jr. bursting for a 74-yard touchdown run, followed by Mekhi Anderson’s 87-yard punt return TD, putting Georgia State in a 14-0 hole.
A 48-yard Chase Allen field goal at the end of the second quarter, countered only by a 2-yard Dorian Fleming TD catch from Christian Veilleux, sent the Panthers into halftime down 17-6 after Liam Rickman doinked the PAT of the left goalpost.
High’s 80-yard TD run in the third pushed UTSA’s lead to 24-6, leaving Georgia State reeling.
The comeback began late in the third when Veilleux found Austin McGee for a 15-yard TD, trimming the score to 24-13.
In the fourth, McGee struck again with another 15-yard TD catch, followed by a successful two-point conversion, making it 24-21 with 5:32 left.
With 2 seconds remaining, Veilleux capped the miracle with a 1-yard QB sneak TD, giving Georgia State a 28-24 lead they held as time expired.
Veilleux was electric, completing 27-of-33 passes for 445 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT, with McGee delivering a monster performance (11 catches, 248 yards, 2 TDs). “Austin and Christian kept us alive,” CeeGee said. “That’s the heart we need.”
Fleming added 5 catches for 104 yards and a TD, but the run game faltered, managing just 77 yards on 21 carries (3.7 YPC), led by Freddie Brock’s 55 yards. The Panthers’ 522 total yards overwhelmed UTSA’s defense.
Georgia State’s defense struggled early, allowing 211 rushing yards, with High (165 yards, 2 TDs) gashing them on just 5 carries. UTSA’s Owen McCown (16/21, 162 yards) was efficient, and the Roadrunners’ defense forced a fumble (recovered by Denver Harris) and an interception, capitalizing on Georgia State’s mistakes.
However, the Panthers tightened up in the fourth, with Jeremiah Johnson (9 tackles) and Kenyatta Watson II (8 tackles) leading a stand that held UTSA scoreless to secure the win. “We bent but didn’t break,” CeeGee noted. “The defense stepped up when it counted.”
“This comeback shows what we’re capable of, but we can’t keep digging holes like that,” Coach CeeGee said. “We’ve got to start faster and execute for 60 minutes.”
With Blocks 1-6 open and a 7-2 record, Georgia State prepares for James Madison in Week 11, aiming to capitalize on this momentum.
In a game where freshman HB Brandon High exploded on to the NDL scene with a combined 222 yard and 2 TD performance on just 10 touches, the UTSA defense implodes in the 4th quarter, and coach Mort shows he doesn't understand numbers.
"He's really flashed in practice," coach Mort said, "and we knew it was time to get him involved. But we never expected his first career carry to go 74 yards for a TD!"
High would later add an 80 yard TD run to his highlight reel, a play the Roadrunners expected to break the spirit of the Georgia State staff, as UTSA took a 24-6 lead late in the 3rd. But the offense would begin to sputter. A GSU touchdown brought the score to 24-13, but a three-and-out gave the GSU renewed life, dropping dimes on deep shot after deep shot.
Another GSU score and 2pt conversion brought the competition to 24-21, but UTSA brought renewed energy to the field, knocking out chunk plays and marching down the field inside the GSU redzone. But questionable playcalling left the Roadrunners just short on 4th and 1. Thinking it was 4th and 2, and the rules limiting 4th down attempts to 1 yard, the Roadrunners lined up for a FG, and inexplicably missed it.
"End of the day, I'm responsible, so I don't want yall to think I'm throwing my graduate assistant under the bus for screwing up and telling me it was 4th and 2," Mort told reporters. "But, yes, we literally threw him under the team bus as we left Center Park Stadium. It's Atlanta, so I don't think they'll be too worried about another murder. We think it was justified anyway."
The Panthers would then go on a 92 yard drive, culminating in a 4th down QB sneak for a TD and win, converting two 4th downs in the process, including a 48 yard slot fade on 4th and 2, putting the Panthers at the 46 yard line. A 2 yard loss on the first play added pressure, and a 1 yard game on 2nd down left the Panthers looking at 3rd and goal from the 5. A quick pass to the HB left the ball at the 1 yard line, and the Panthers took the risk and played for the win instead of OT.
"We'll be better," Mort said. "I'm learning more about this team. I put them in bad positions, but they played their tails off. We've got a lot of games to play in a short period of time, but these boys are ready."
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