By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Week one, for any team, is always key. Georgia State wants to set the tone for a banner year right away.

Expectations are high at Georgia State. With a depth chart returning almost completely intact and clear momentum in place after winning four of five, including a LendingTree Bowl triumph over Western Kentucky, to finish last season, the Panthers are in position to make a move. Georgia State isn’t just ready for a continuation, but contention as well. A schedule featuring Army, North Carolina and Auburn in the first month, then a high-profile Sun Belt slate, will come with many opportunities. Starting with this Saturday, the Panthers are ready.

There is an energy around the program and its potential.

“Here we are in game week and the intensity, that excitement, the enthusiasm surrounds your team once again and the build-up to that first ball game is special,” nodded Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott. “So we’re looking forward to this opportunity to go out this Saturday at 12:00 and play a great Army opponent.”

The matchup with the Black Knights will be a fun and a familiar one alike as the Panthers played Army back in 2019, winning a dramatic contest 28-21. Over the past four years, the Black Knights have gone 35-16, with former Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken leading the program to national prominence. Army received multiple votes in the pre-season rankings, including 13 in the Coaches Poll. In what will be a season-long theme, a considerable challenge awaits Georgia State in week one, one the Panthers are well-prepared for.

“I think Army is a well-coached football team. Of course, they have had really successful seasons here in the last three or four years. So we all know what type of football team is going to come down. They’ve got great discipline, the tradition is unbelievable and we’re excited to play a great quality opponent,” Elliott added.

The 2019 meeting was a memorable one. In a back-and-forth contest, the Black Knights led 21-20 entering the fourth quarter. Dan Ellington then threw what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown pass to Aubry Payne with 7:41 left, also converting the 2-point conversion with a throw to Roger Carter. Quavian White essentially sealed the victory with a late 4th down interception as Army neared the Georgia State redzone. A corresponding first down run from Tra Barnett put the exclamation point on an impressive performance.

In the wet and the cold, two good teams played a hard-fought, close game. That night was part of a 6-2 start for Georgia State and a springboard for a young program finding ways to win. Though the circumstances are different, the upcoming rematch will be a similar test.

“I just remember two talented football teams. We were going at it neck-and-neck. There was a couple turnovers in that game,” Elliott recalled. “But what I really remember the most, just a great effort on both team’s part. Everybody played their heart out. It was a break or a mistake here or there that made the difference in that ball game and I expect this ball game to be the exact same way.”

Having won three consecutive outings going back to the finish to last season, Georgia State is positioned for more of the same. There is a lot of optimism and excitement in Atlanta. The Panthers enter the season with great talent and experience. Quarterback Quad Brown scored 24 total touchdowns a year ago and running back Destin Coates, receiver Sam Pinckney, offensive lineman Shamarious Gilmore and kicker Noel Ruiz are pre-season first team All-Sun Belt honorees. Tight end Roger Carter and four defenders, Hardrick Willis, Dontae Wilson, Antavious Lane and Quavian White, all earned second-team honors.

Georgia State, having already defeated an SEC opponent and become a postseason regular the past few years, is an all-around winning program to watch.

“I think we’re in good shape,” Elliott continued. “This is going into our fifth season here at Georgia State and I think the program is right on track where we thought it would be. This was not going to be an overnight fix and we’ve done it the right way, a good job in recruiting and coaching these individuals. Not only do we have a talented football team, we got a lot of great young men that work their tails off, that value the importance of education. I feel like we’ve really built it the right way. I’m proud of that aspect.”

This season awaits as an important one for the Panthers. Week one, for any team, is always key. Georgia State wants to set the tone for a banner year right away. Three of the Panthers’ four losses last season came by a total of 14 points. Georgia State still finished 6-4 and was close to eight wins or even nine. If the 2019 pairing was any indication, Saturday’s game with Army will be a compelling one. A win would come with considerable traction entering an early stretch that will include North Carolina, Auburn and Appalachian State.

Elliott believes the foundation built in recent years will be the stage for success this fall.

“We’ve had a couple of really good seasons. We’ve been to bowl games three of the last four years. We had our last bowl win against Western Kentucky this past season, during the Covid year. I think our program is now ready to go compete and play for a conference championship. I think we’re close,” he concluded. “I talk to these guys now about winning a Sun Belt championship and really pushing the envelope to being the top team. I think we have the vision and the skill set to go out and try to achieve that this year.”

As Georgia State chases history, the start of the season could prove to be a step in that direction.