Georgia Southern gears up for quick game against The Citadel

Georgia Southern hosts The Citadel on Saturday, and it marks the Eagles’ third straight non-conference game and gives them another chance to gain some momentum heading into their Sun Belt Conference schedule.

The Eagles are coming off a 43-17 win over Western Michigan, finishing with more than 400 rushing yards in the win. And the running game will be the focal point of both teams as each rely on their ability to move the ball on ground.

“I told some people this week the game starts at 6, and it will be over by 8:30,” Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz said. “It is going to be a quick ballgame.”

The Bulldogs’ triple-option attack is similar to the offense that Georgia Southern ran before Fritz took over the program. The Citadel leads the FCS in rushing yards per game at 438.0.

The Eagles do get an offensive weapon back this week as Kevin Ellison returns from his suspension.

“He is very poised in the pocket. He throws it well, but he runs it very, very well. He is a legitimate threat in the run game,” Citadel head coach Mike Houston said. “Very experienced, so he is not going to make a lot of mistakes.”

Ellison is joined in the backfield by Matt Breida, who is coming off a huge game against the Broncos.

The two teams have met 23 times, and the Eagles lead the series 18-5, although the past few games have been closes calls for the Eagles, including a loss in 2012. This will be the first meeting between the former Southern Conference rivals since Georgia Southern moved up to the FBS division.

“Since 2006, every game that has been played between Georgia Southern and the Citadel has been by a touchdown score or less in who won the game,” Fritz said. “It’s only been one game where it more than that spread.”

Houston recognizes that even though they are only a year removed from the Southern Conference, the Eagles are at a different level now.

“They do not look like a Southern Conference team,” Houston said. “They are bigger and stronger than before.”

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Georgia Southern gears up for quick game against The Citadel ."