STATESBORO -- Sophomore Adrian Mora kicked a 44-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining to give Georgia Southern a 29-26 win over Albany (N.Y) on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Albany tied the game 26-26 with 6:41 to play on a 33-yard field goal by Herb Glass. However, the Great Dane defense could not get the Eagles off the field as Georgia Southern controlled the ball for the next six minutes.
It was a career-long field goal for Mora who said he knew the kick was good the moment it left his foot.
"My leg is stronger and my range has improved from last year," Mora said. "It was a solid kick. I was not nervous. I have a lot of confidence in myself."
Georgia Southern sophomore Lee Chapple completed 30 of 43 passes for 259 yards with two touchdowns. Chapple completed his last 15 passes including eight on the game winning drive.
Adam Urbano led Georgia Southern with 53 yards rushing, and eight catches for 48 yards.
Andrew Smith led the Great Danes with 99 yards, including a 39-yard scoring run in the third quarter. David McCarty, the leading rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision last year, had 63 yards on 24 attempts. Freshman Jamere Valentine caught touchdown passes of 39 and 26 yards.
The Great Danes led 16-12 at the half after spotting Georgia Southern a 3-0 lead on Mora's 24-yard field goal in the first quarter.
McCarty scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and Glass added a 48-yard field goal. The Eagles tied it when Laron Scott returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
Albany responded with a 65-yard drive capped by McCarty's 2-yard run. Georgia Southern blocked the extra point and Darrell Pasco returned it 91 yards for a two-point conversion.
Thursday
May 8th, 2025
2:40PM
