Eagles one win from another Southern Conference crown

STATESBORO - Ninth-ranked Georgia Southern can gain a share of its sixth consecutive Southern Conference championship when the Eagles visit No. 4 Furman on Saturday. <br> <br> The Eagles (7-2, 6-1) beat the Paladins (6-2, 4-1) in the regular season last year, but then Furman eliminated Georgia Southern 24-17 in last year&#39;s semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs. <br> <br> ``We all know what&#39;s at stake,&#39;&#39; Southern defensive lineman Freddy Pesqueira said. ``It&#39;s a battle for the conference championship.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> It&#39;s the feature attraction of six games Saturday involving I-AA and Division II teams in Georgia. <br> <br> In other games, Valdosta State (9-0, 8-0) goes for at least a share of the Gulf South Conference when the Blazers entertain Arkansas Tech (4-5, 3-4; West Georgia (3-6, 1-6) visits North Alabama (3-6, 2-5) in another GSC game; and I-AA Morris Brown (1-8) is at winless Florida Atlantic (0-8). <br> <br> In Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Morehouse (6-3, 4-2) is at Albany State (5-4, 4-2) and Clark Atlanta (2-7) steps out of the league to visit I-AA Texas Southern (3-6). Fort Valley State and Savannah State have open dates. <br> <br> Georgia Southern has put together a six-game winning streak since being upset by Wofford at home the Eagles&#39; only conference loss. <br> <br> Wofford (7-2, 5-1) also remains in the conference race. It will take on Furman next week. <br> <br> Furman would have a perfect conference record except for a blunder in its game with Appalachian State. The Paladins scored with seven seconds left to take a 15-14 lead, but chose to go for a 2-point conversion. The pass was picked off and Appalachian returned it all the way to gain a 16-15 victory. <br> <br> ``We made a poor decision, but we&#39;ve put that behind us,&#39;&#39; Furman coach Bobby Lamb said. ``We&#39;re still in control of our destiny, and that&#39;s all you can ask for at this point in the season.&#39;&#39;