The Georgia Southern football team fell to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, 37-24, on Saturday in front of more than 19,000 attendees.

The game marked the first time that redshirt-junior quarterback Shai Werts has started since the team’s season opener at LSU. After a sluggish first half, GS picked up the momentum in the second half behind junior running back JD King and Werts, but it was not enough to stop the Louisiana rushing game.

Here’s a quick look at the loss:

Top performers

Redshirt-sophomore Logan Wright ran for 62 yards and finished with a touchdown, while GS junior quarterback Shai Werts ran for 93 yards.

Louisiana redshirt-junior running back Trey Ragas led both teams with 131 rushing yards with an average of almost nine yards a carry. He was responsible for two touchdowns and was the go-to for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Key Stat

Redshirt-senior kicker Tyler Bass hit a school-record and career-record 44 yard field goal in the second quarter. 

Key Play

In the third quarter, junior running back J.D King scored his first touchdown as an Eagle and successfully made a two point conversion. He finished the game with 59 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards a carry. This touchdown was the second of the night, but changed the tone of the offense that was not able to put up consistent numbers in the first half.

Notables

GS did not have a strong passing performance and went into the half with zero passing yards. The defense recovered two fumbles after punts, which carried the offense into more scoring attempts. Werts was sacked three times throughout the game but maintained mobile on his feet.

Redshirt-sophomore Kendrick Duncan Jr. and graduate safety Donald Rutledge Jr. both led the defense to with ten total tackles.

The team drops to a 1-3 record as they have a short week before going on the road to South Alabama on Thursday.

Amanda Arnold, The George-Anne Sports Editor, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu