AJ Henderson – Georgia Southern Athletics
34
Jacksonville St.
JSU
1-2 , 1-0
41
Winner
Ga. Southern
GS
1-2 , 0-0
Jacksonville St.
JSU
1-2 , 1-0
34
41
Ga. Southern
GS
1-2 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
JSU
Jacksonville St.
GS
Ga. Southern
Game Recap: Football | 9/13/2025 10:49:00 PM
OJ Arnold rushes for a career-high 128 yards, nets game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter for Eagles’ first win
Next Game:
Maine
9/20/2025 | 7 PM
ESPN+
Georgia Southern Sports Network
Sep. 20 (Sat) / 7 PM
Maine
STATESBORO – OJ Arnold rushed for a career-high 128 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter, to give Georgia Southern football a 41-34 victory over visiting Jacksonville State on Saturday evening at Paulson Stadium.
The Eagles improved to 1-2 on the season with the victory in front of 24,585 fans, the fifth-largest crowd in Paulson Stadium history. Jacksonville State falls to 1-2 on the year. Georgia Southern returns to action on Saturday, September 20, hosting Maine at 7 p.m.
With the score tied at 34-all, the Eagles embarked on a six play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown run by Arnold. Georgia Southern’s defense forced a punt on the next Jacksonville State drive, then the Eagles ran the clock out to preserve the victory. Arnold had 80 of his 128 yards in the second half, including 26 on the game-ending drive.
Both teams combined for 31 points in an explosive first quarter. JC French IV had a two-yard touchdown run to open the scoring for the Eagles, while the Gamecocks answered with a Gavin Wimsatt 10-yard touchdown run. Dalen Cobb then took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the first Eagle kickoff return for at TD since DeAndre Buchannon had a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD at App State on November 25, 2023.
Arnold added a 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, French IV found Camden Brown for an 18-yard touchdown reception and Tripp Bryant nailed a 37-yarder for his first collegiate field goal to give the Eagles a 31-17 lead at the break, tying the most points scored by a Georgia Southern team under Coach Clay Helton (2023 vs. ULM).
Jacksonville State got the last score of the first half, then scored 10 straight points to open the second half to take a 34-31 lead. Bryant’s 43-yard field goal with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter tied the score, setting up Arnold’s heroics.
French IV finished the day 16-for-24 passing for 191 yards and a touchdown, while adding 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Cobb had six catches for 70 yards in addition to his 129 return yards. Brandon Tyson led the Eagles defensively with his second straight game notching 11 tackles.
Jacksonville State was led offensively by Wimsatt’s 178 yards of passing and a touchdown, as well as 56 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Cam Cook ran for 120 yards on 21 carries and Caleb Coombs caught six passes for 58 yards.