By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Grainger didn’t just come back home when Georgia State played the Chanticleers, he made history.

When Georgia State went to the Grand Strand to play at Coastal Carolina, quarterback Darren Grainger went right back to where he, just a few short years prior, starred at Conway High School. It was a return trip for Grainger, a local product who eventually settled with the Panthers, by way of Furman. It was a retracing of steps for Grainger, a chance to reflect and remember. He added to his legacy along the way.

Grainger didn’t just come back home when Georgia State played the Chanticleers, he made history.

The redshirt junior promptly completely 18-of-24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, adding 29 rushing yards, as the Panthers earned their first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked foe and snapped Coastal Carolina’s 12-game home winning streak. Grainger was productive and proficient, calm and collected, as Georgia State rallied from a fourth quarter deficit. In a dramatic game, the Panthers scored twice over the game’s final five minutes, with Grainger going 5-of-5 for 52 yards, adding an eight-yard run, on the go-ahead drive.

Fittingly, Grainger was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

For a player who had to have been thinking about the mere possibility of playing college football in Conway for quite some time, Saturday, with a performance for the home crowd and a result for the record books, was a dream. It was a scene that might as well of come with a slate board and a script.

“Let’s all put ourselves in his position. Here’s a young man that comes into his hometown of Conway, South Carolina against Coastal Carolina, the hometown university there, playing in a big contest at quarterback. He’s got family, he’s got friends, he’s probably got some people up there people he didn’t even know he had that was pulling for him,” Elliott shared. “And then goes out and becomes the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week.”

It an emotional afternoon, one Grainger got to share with many close to him, his Georgia State teammates included.

“He gets a game ball from our football team in the win and just does a fantastic job in executing all night long in the throw game, his run game, smart decisions, not turning the football over,” Elliott added. “It was just really gratifying to see.”

When the outcome on the line, Grainger was promptly and precisely on point. Georgia State was trailing 34-28 with less than five minutes remaining. The Panthers faced a deciding 4th-and-goal, just two yards away from a potential go-ahead touchdown. Coastal Carolina had previously retaken the lead and, at Brooks Stadium, seemingly had all of the momentum at home. Grainger, however, was at home as well. There was a meaningful energy from the crowd for him, too.

With the pressure mounting, Grainger had another chance to make a play; it was a situation he had been working towards for years. Not far from where he surely practiced throwing touchdown passes as a kid, Grainger, with with a win in the balance, did just that.

“I keep telling him all the time and I told his family after the game, I said y’all will never forget this contest, you will never forget this win and him taking the stage here in his hometown with y’all in attendance,” Elliott beamed.

The conversion, Grainger to Terrance Dixon, gave Georgia State the lead. It was an advantage the Panthers would not give back. It was an opportunity Grainger and his teammates made the most of.

“He did a marvelous job delivering that pass, but our two wideouts out there really did a great job: Sam Pinckney and Terrance out there on the outside. Great route combination that we had called by our offensive coordinator Brad Glenn. Darren put it right where he needed to put it,” Elliott continued. “The execution was flawless, the protection was great and the catch was even better.”

Every game has a back-drop and this one, with Grainger leading the Panthers, now just one win away from bowl eligibility, to a triumph over nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina, was back-home.

“It was a very special night,” Elliott concluded.

Grainger returned to Conway. He left with a milestone and memories.