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  • Georgia Southern Dominates App State To Win The 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl, 29-10

Georgia Southern Dominates App State To Win The 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl, 29-10

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Football

(BCSNN | UPI) — Georgia Southern leaned on its ground game, its defense, and its discipline - the three pillars that have defined its best seasons - and the result was a convincing 29–10 win over App State in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Monday afternoon at Protective Stadium.

OJ Arnold powered the Eagles with 153 rushing yards, surpassing 1,000 yards on the season and becoming the program’s first 1,000‑yard rusher since Wesley Fields in 2018. His performance earned him Bowl MVP honors as Georgia Southern (7–6) secured its second straight winning season and its fourth consecutive bowl appearance - a first in program history.

The Eagles set the tone immediately, marching 66 yards in 11 plays on the opening drive and scoring on Terrance Gibbs’ first career touchdown. Tripp Bryant added a pair of first‑half field goals, including a 36‑yarder into a stiff wind as time expired, giving Southern a 13–3 halftime lead.

Georgia Southern opened the second half the same way it opened the game - with a touchdown drive. Weston Bryan punched in a 3‑yard score to extend the lead, and moments later JC French IV connected with Marcus Sanders Jr. for a 32‑yard touchdown to make it 26–7. Bryant added a late 27‑yard field goal to seal the win.

While the offense controlled the tempo, the defense delivered one of its best performances of the season. The Eagles forced four turnovers - two interceptions by Dorrian Smith, tying the program’s bowl record, and one each from Tracy Hill Jr. and Devin Collier. Georgia Southern out‑rushed App State 242–187 and finished a perfect 5‑for‑5 in the red zone.

Smith’s two‑interception outing matched Justin Birdsong’s program bowl record set in the 2020 New Orleans Bowl.

Georgia Southern’s defense consistently disrupted the Mountaineers, limiting explosive plays and capitalizing on mistakes. App State managed just 10 points and never found rhythm after falling behind early.

The win capped a resilient season for the Eagles, who battled through injuries and inconsistency but finished strong, securing back‑to‑back winning seasons for the first time since 2018–19.