Georgia Southern has no more room for error

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Posted 2:37PM on Thursday, October 17, 2002

Georgia Southern has no more room for error if the Eagles are to have any chance of securing at least a share of their sixth consecutive Southern Conference title. One of the toughest tests comes Saturday when fourth-ranked Applachian State, the current conference leader at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference, visits Paulson Stadium in Statesboro. Southern 4-2, 3 (1)- has reeled off three conference victories in a row since being upset at home by Wofford 14-7. Two of the state's Division II teams will try to remain unbeaten in their conference races on Saturday. Valdosta State 6-0, 4 (0)- sits atop the Gulf South Conference standings heading into a difficult league game at Central Arkansas 5-1, 3 (1)-. Fort Valley State 5-2, 5 (0)- is heavily favored to dispose of Benedict at home in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game. The state's two Division I-AA teams other than Georgia Southern will face each other on a neutral field in Augusta when Morris Brown 1 (5)- takes on Savannah State 0 (6)-. West Georgia 3-3, 1 (3)- visits West Alabama 3-3, 1 (3)- in a Gulf South game and other SIAC action has Morehouse 4-2, 2 (1)- taking on Tuskegee 5-1, 3 (1)- at Columbus, and Albany State 3-3, 2 (1)- at Kentucky State 1-5, 0 (3)-. Clark Atlanta has an open date. Georgia Southern averaged only 13 points in its losses to Delaware and Wofford, but since then the Eagles have averaged 43.6 points in victories over Tennessee-Chattanooga, VMI and Western Carolina. Coach Mike Sewak said the reason for success is better timing. "Our timing has gotten much better on blocks, which has allowed us to get better in all three phases of the option," Sewak said. "We've been able to make the right cut at the right time behind our blocks," he said.