CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — Georgia Southern used a balanced offense and a sturdy defensive effort to defeat Coastal Carolina 31-24 on Saturday at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision contest ended with the Eagles improving to 2-3 and the Chanticleers falling to 1-4. Georgia Southern scored seven points in the first quarter, 14 in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth. Coastal Carolina scored 10 in the first, seven in the second and seven in the third. The Eagles’ defense kept the Chanticleers off the scoreboard in the final quarter, allowing the visitors to secure the road win.

Max Johnson paced Georgia Southern at quarterback, completing 18 of 29 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns while rushing twice for 13 yards. The Athens, Georgia, native stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds. Johnson entered the game after completing 26 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Houston. River Helms was his top target, catching four passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Alex Taylor added six receptions for 77 yards and a score. Zay Hilliard caught an 18-yard touchdown pass, Andre Greene Jr. had three receptions for 32 yards, and Josh Dallas recorded one catch for nine yards. Jeremiah Ware added one reception for three yards and returned two kickoffs for 25 yards.

Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey completed 19 of 33 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 58 yards. The 6-foot, 170-pound Bailey kept the Chanticleers moving throughout the game. Robby Washington contributed in several phases, catching three passes for 34 yards, returning one kickoff for 18 yards and returning a punt 73 yards for a touchdown. Tristian Gardner caught three passes for 37 yards. Goldie Lawrence caught two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown, while Zeke Marshall had one reception for two yards. Nico Cavanillas Alti made a 51-yard field goal. Roland Podesta punted five times for 210 yards.

Weston Bryan gave the Eagles a rushing lift with eight carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, including a 67-yard scoring run. He also completed one of two passes for eight yards. David Mbadinga ran eight times for 55 yards and caught two passes for nine yards. Taeo Todd carried four times for five yards, caught one pass for four yards and returned one kickoff for nine yards. Tyrese Woodgett added two carries for six yards. Tripp Bryant made a 41-yard field goal and later missed from 44 yards. Blake Ford missed a 57-yard field goal attempt. Alex Smith punted four times for 175 yards, including a 48-yard punt, and made one tackle.

Georgia Southern’s defense produced several significant performances. Eli Anders had five tackles. O’Marion Brown made four. Anthony Bynum recorded five tackles and one sack. Diego Aviles finished with eight tackles. Brandon Tyson led the Eagles with 10 tackles. Jakyri Jones added nine tackles. Aaron Sears, Tracy Hill Jr. and Chace Calicut each finished with three tackles. Chance Gamble, Carlo Thompson, Kebba Secka, MJ Stroud and Noah Mangham each recorded two tackles. Stroud added a quarterback hurry. Ethan Johnson had one tackle and one sack, Uche Iloh had one tackle and one quarterback hurry, and Elijah Fears had one tackle and one sack. Nigel Eldridge Jr., Jeremiah Ticket, Festus Davies, Jamarian Samuel and Blake Ford each made one tackle.

Coastal Carolina’s defense was led by Marcellius Pulliam, who recorded 10 tackles and one quarterback hurry. Pulliam, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker, led the unit. Travis Roman made eight tackles. Jalen B. Lee, Ahmad Poole and Ja’Marion Wayne each had four tackles. Jesse Powell II, Ibrahim Diawara and Brandon Rose each finished with three tackles, and Diawara added a quarterback hurry.

The scoring opened in the first quarter when Bryant connected on a 41-yard field goal for Georgia Southern. The first-quarter field goal came with 10:09 remaining. Later in the opening period, Johnson found Hilliard for an 18-yard touchdown, and Bryant’s extra point followed. Hilliard’s touchdown came with 2:37 left. In the second quarter, Ford’s 57-yard field goal attempt was no good. Ford’s miss came at 14:48 of the second quarter. Coastal Carolina answered with Cavanillas Alti’s 51-yard field goal. Cavanillas Alti’s kick came with 8:38 remaining before halftime. Georgia Southern then went back ahead when Bryan broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown run, and Bryant added the extra point. Bryan’s run came with 7:14 left in the second. Just before halftime, Smith punted 48 yards to the Coastal Carolina 27, and Washington returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. Washington’s return came with 23 seconds remaining before halftime. Cavanillas Alti made the extra point. In the fourth quarter, Johnson connected with Helms for a 16-yard touchdown. Helms’ touchdown came at 14:14 of the fourth. Bryant later missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:45 remaining, but Georgia Southern’s defense held on for the win.

Georgia Southern had previously lost to Houston, Jacksonville State and Clemson before defeating Charleston Southern. Coastal Carolina had lost to Liberty, Delaware and West Virginia around a win over Fordham. The Eagles are set to host James Madison next, while the Chanticleers are scheduled to visit Marshall. Georgia Southern’s upcoming schedule includes James Madison at home, then a road trip to Old Dominion, followed by Appalachian State, Marshall, Georgia State, Troy and Louisiana Tech. Coastal Carolina will visit Marshall, host Appalachian State, visit Georgia State, host Old Dominion, host Arkansas State, visit Louisiana and visit James Madison.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Coastal Carolina 41, Georgia Southern 39. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Georgia Southern with a 53.3 percent probability to win. Coastal Carolina had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2.5. The total score of 55 went under the over/under line of 52.5.