Georgia Southern football fans have a lot to be happy with; the Eagles are soaring higher and higher in the 2015 campaign. When the Eagles made the 2,600 mile voyage to the land of the Vandals, they were coming off a nearly perfect home victory against a former SoCon Conference rival, The Citadel Bulldogs. The Eagles’ defense quickly denied the Bulldogs any opportunities in the passing game, forcing the Bulldogs to attempt to utilize their running game. The Eagles would win decisively, 48-13. Upon arrival in Moscow, Idaho this past Saturday, the Eagles’ defense was anxious to begin Sun Belt Conference play. Soon enough, the Vandals’ offense would succumb to the Eagles’ no-nonsense, smash-mouth defense. Competing like reigning Sun Belt Conference Champions through all four quarters, the Eagles’ defense held their heads high when the last whistle blew. This was another opponent checked off the list but most impressively, since entering the FBS last season, the Eagles have yet to lose in the Sun Belt Conference. 

When the Vandals’ offense took to the field this past Saturday, they were met with relentless determination from the Eagles’ defense. Eagles’ defensive end, Bernard Dawson, sacked quarterback, Matt Linehan, the first play of game because that’s what Eagles do. Three plays later, Eagles’ linebacker, Ironhead Gallon (yes, his name has been legally changed), blocked the punt to end the Vandals’ first offensive series. Between the first series of the game and the last two series of the game, there were a total of five broken up passes and one sack. The Eagles’ defense offered a “free defensive tutorial,” showcasing another tremendous performance. Included in the tutorial was the “bear-of-a-man,” 305-pound Eagles’ defensive lineman, Jay Ellison, who managed to intercept a pass in the second-to-last series of the game. To conclude the “free defensive tutorial,” Eagles’ cornerback, Caleb Williams, intercepted the last pass ending the Vandals’ final offensive series of the game.

The Vandals’ were limited to 3-of-12 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth downs. From the start of the game the Eagles’ defense made one thing clear – “The Vandals Plead No Contest.”

This upcoming Saturday, the Eagles’ will look to continue their historical journey as they travel to face their next opponent, the Warhawks of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Attempting to recover from this past Saturday’s battle wounds from their 34-0 shutout against the University of Alabama, the Eagles’ will show no mercy on the Warhawks. “Can you run? Can you catch? Or do both at the same time?” said Adam Hunsucker from The News Star, a Monroe based newspaper. Hunsucker goes on to say, “Assuming you still have some college eligibility left to burn, it might be a good idea to run by Malone Stadium and see head coach Todd Berry.”

In addition to a lack of players, the Warhawks are destined to make costly penalties. On average, the Warhawks commit 11 penalties-per-game, making them one of the most penalized teams in the FBS. Mentioning key players on the other team is usually a worthy idea, so here’s a portion of the Warhawks projected lineup: reshirt freshman QB Garrett Smith, who has five touchdowns to three interceptions this season, redshirt freshman RB Kaylon Watson who has just 50 rushing yards in 2015, WR Jared Mapps and WR Tre Perrier, who have a combined six receptions and Ajalen Holley, the team’s leading reciever with 20 receptions.

The best advice is to watch the Eagles’ defense reenact a National Geographic special where the Eagles take down their prey, in this case, Warhawks, with ease.