Literally, Arkansas State tried to hand Georgia Southern a win, but neither GSU nor Omar Bayless were having any of it.
Trailing 26-20 with eight seconds remaining and no timeouts in Wednesday night Fun Belt action, ASU was set up at the GSU eight-yard line with at least two shots at, with a successful point after, a game-winning touchdown. As it turned out, thanks to Bayless and quarterback Justice Hansen — he of the key fourth-and-16 pickup earlier in the drive — the Red Wolves needed just one shot.
The Red Wolves were able to stun the Eagles (3-2, 2-1) despite committing five turnovers, including lost fumbles on each of their first three possessions. The win, which included a comeback from a 23-10 deficit, extended one streak for the football program while snapping another.
Entering the Sun Belt matchup, ASU had lost five games in a row, tied with Georgia State, Miami of Ohio and Rice as the nation’s longest. It had been the program’s longest such streak since losing five in a row in 2003-04. They narrowly averted a six-game losing streak for the first time since 2001-02.
Conversely, the Red Wolves have now won 10 straight games in SBC play. ASU’s lost loss in a league matchup came in November of 2014 on the road against Texas State.