Southern set to begin playoff bid in FCS tournament

STATESBORO -- After a first-round bye, the Georgia Southern Football team plays host to Old Dominion in the second-round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday in Statesboro. Kickoff between two of the top-scoring offenses in the nation at Paulson Stadium is set for 1 p.m. and the game can be seen live on ESPN3.

Both teams are similar in the numbers but get there in different ways. Both score over 35 points a game behind an average of over 420 yards of offense and both allow 25 or less points on defense. They diverge from there with the Eagles running wild to the tune of 318.7 yards per game on the ground, while the Monarchs have not missed a beat after Georgia native Taylor Heinicke taking over the reigns of their spread offensive system, which averages 264 passing yards a game, midway through the year.

Georgia Southern (9-2, 7-1) is coming off a bye week after a 45-21 loss to #3 Alabama in their final regular season game. The break was much needed one for a team that posted a hard fought effort against the Crimson Tide. The nation's second-ranked rushing offense and seventh ranked scoring offense, averages over 35 points a game and over 400 yards of offense.

Old Dominion (10-2, 6-2), winners of seven of their last eight games, hits the road after a 35-18 win over cross-town foe Norfolk State at home in the first round. Led by former Maine offensive coordinator, Bobby Wilder, the Monarchs are in the playoffs in just their third season since restarting the program after a 69-year absence. The CAA's top-scoring offense features a balanced attack out of its spread offense, which averages 165.2 yards on the ground and 264.0 through the air.

Tickets for the game are set at the same regular-season price of $25 for both reserved seats and general admission grass tickets. One change for the playoffs though, students will have to purchase a ticket for $5 and will need to present their Eagle I.D. when buying the ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS. Students will need to come in person to the ticket office or to the University Store.