Welcome everyone to another edition of Around the Sun Belt! Not exactly a big weekend filled with upsets, but still some entertaining games in week nine.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
Heading into Saturday, it seemed that Appalachian State would easily take down Massachusetts on the road. However, the Mountaineers came up short in an overtime matchup 30-27.
Appalachian State will return to Sun Belt action this weekend when they travel to Monroe to take on the Warhawks with kickoff set for 2 pm.
Arkansas State Red Wolves:
Arkansas State was given an early scare last weekend against New Mexico State, but the Red Wolves dominated the second half with 30 points to take down the Aggies 37-21.
Arkansas State will have next weekend off before making a trip to South Alabama on November 11th. Kickoff is to be determined.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers:
The Chanticleers were upset at home last weekend with a 27-7 loss to Texas State to drop to 0-5 in Sun Belt play. Coastal Carolina’s lone score was off of a 50-yard fumble recovery late in the first quarter.
The Chanticleers will travel to Fayetteville to take on SEC opponent Arkansas with kickoff set for 3 pm.
Georgia State Panthers:
Georgia State looked great in a Thursday night matchup against South Alabama with a 21-13 victory. The defense came up big with a pair of interceptions against Dallas Davis.
Georgia State will make the short trip to Statesboro to take on the lowly Eagles of Georgia Southern with kickoff set for 2 pm.
Georgia Southern Eagles:
The Eagles may have gotten rid of the problem child in Tyson Summers, but they continued to struggle on Saturday with a 38-18 loss to the Troy Trojans.
Georgie Southern will host in-state rivals Georgia State on Saturday with kickoff set for 2 pm.
Idaho Vandals:
Idaho’s offense exploded in the Kibbie Dome with a 28-point first half and held on to take down UL Monroe 31-23. Matt Linehan’s 360 yards through the air and three touchdowns was enough for him to earn Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors on Saturday.
The Vandals will return to action in Troy, Alabama to take on the Trojans on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 8:15 pm.
New Mexico State Aggies:
New Mexico State looked good early on with a 14-7 lead at the half against Arkansas State. However, the Red Wolves dominated the second half with 21 points in the fourth quarter to hand the Aggies a 37-21 loss.
New Mexico State will travel over to San Marcos, Texas to take on the Bobcats of Texas State. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.
South Alabama Jaguars:
South Alabama came up short despite Dallas Davis connecting with Jamarius Way on a 75-yard pass in the final 2:11 in a 21-13 loss to Georgia State
The Jaguars will return to Mobile to host the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns with kickoff set for 3 pm.
Texas State Bobcats:
The Bobcats lengthy losing streak in Sun Belt Conference play was snapped on Saturday with 13 unanswered points to take down Coastal Carolina 27-7. Texas State’s offense exploded thanks to 269 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
The Bobcats will return to San Marcos to take on New Mexico State on Saturday with kickoff set for 2 pm.
Troy Trojans:
The Troy Trojans made quick work of Georgia Southern in a 38-18 win. The Trojans offensive performance on Saturday was heavy on the run game with 241 net yards on the ground.
Troy will return to action on Saturday when they host the Idaho Vandals on a Thursday night matchup with kickoff set for 8:15 pm.
UL Monroe Warhawks:
The Warhawks continue to fall back down towards the middle of the pack with a 31-23 loss on the road to Idaho. UL Monroe did get 16 unanswered points in the second half, but were unable to continue the rally.
UL Monroe will return to Monroe this Saturday when they take on Appalachian State with kickoff set for 2 pm.
-Clint Domingue