The energy inside Paulson Stadium matched the intensity on the field during the home opener against Jacksonville State on Sept. 13. The student section stood for nearly entire quarters during big stretches. Playful trash talk filled the rows, and at one point, a beach ball bounced from section to section, keeping spirits high.

O.J. Arnold’s late touchdown run lifted Georgia Southern to a 41-34 victory over Jacksonville State, giving the Eagles a big home win after two tough road losses.

Georgia Southern’s offense set the tone on the ground, rushing 42 times for 219 yards. Arnold led the way with 128 yards on 16 carries, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown run with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter. Freshman Weston Franklin helped run out the clock in the final moments to secure the victory.

Head coach Clay Helton praised his offensive line for controlling the game when it mattered most.

“We said there would be a time that everybody in the park knew we were going to run the football, and we would not come off the field,” Helton said. “Those kids did that, and I’m proud of them.”

Quarterback JC French kept the offense balanced, spreading the ball through the air while leaning on the backs. Wide receiver Dalen Cobb said the quarterback’s leadership was key in keeping the team on track.

“JC’s a great leader,” Cobb said. “He kept us balanced with the run and the pass, and that’s what we like to see.”

Defensively, Georgia Southern didn’t break. After giving up big plays early, the Eagles locked in during the fourth quarter, forcing key stops when it mattered most. Safety Jacari Brown said the defense relied on trust and teamwork to make those plays.

“It was very important, and that’s something we really emphasized,” Brown said. “I know the offense has my back, so we’ve got each other’s back, and that’s good.”

French finished the day 16-for-24 passing for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score. Cobb had six receptions for 70 yards and 129 kickoff return yards. Arnold accounted for 80 of his 128 rushing yards in the second half, including 26 on the game-winning drive. Defensively, Brandon Tyson led the Eagles with 11 tackles, marking his second straight game with double-digit stops.

Jacksonville State was led by Gavin Wimsatt, who threw for 178 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 56 yards and two scores. Running back Cam Cook added 120 yards on 21 carries, and receiver Caleb Coombs caught six passes for 58 yards.

Helton closed by highlighting the role of the fans in the team’s comeback:

“From the hills being filled to the energy that was coming down, I can’t thank Eagle Nation enough,” he said. “They lifted us up in the middle of the fight.”

The win moves Georgia Southern to 1-2 on the season. The Eagles will look to carry this momentum into next week’s home matchup against Maine.