Georgia Southern set for home opener

Georgia Southern returns to Statesboro on Saturday to take on Western Michigan in the Eagles’ first home game of the season.

Both teams are coming of opening- week losses. Georgia Southern lost 44-0 to West Virginia, while the Broncos dropped a 37-24 decision to Michigan State.

The Eagles are putting the West Virginia game in their rear-view mirror.

“My deal is whether you win or lose that game, it’s over and done with,” Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz said.

The Broncos are expecting an electric atmosphere for the game after the Eagles lost their opener. Western Michigan serves as Georgia Southern’s first non-conference FBS opponent ever at Paulson Stadium.

Georgia Southern is 25-6 in home openers.

“We are going down to a hostile environment, which we have to be ready for,” Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck said. “It is going to be hot. It is going to be electric. They are not happy. I know that.”

The Eagles once again will be without starting quarterback Kevin Ellison due to suspension. Backup Favian Upshaw struggled against West Virginia as he threw more interceptions (four) than completions (two).

The offense, as a whole struggled, to get anything going. The Eagles were outgained by more than 300 yards, with just 224 total yards of offense. After leading the NCAA in yards per carry a season ago, the Eagles were held to just 3.4 yards per carry. The offensive line also struggled to protect Upshaw.

The Eagles’ defense kept the team in the game in the first half as it held West Virginia to 16 points, but in the second half the secondary was exposed by the Mountaineers’ passing attack.

The Broncos threw the ball 50 times for 365 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State.

The Eagles will need Matt Breida to get going after he was held to 70 yards on 17 attempts against the Mountaineers.

“A tough team to prepare for because they do a lot of different things,” Fritz said. “(Head caoch P.J.) Fleck and his staff really have them headed in right direction.”

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Georgia Southern set for home opener ."