In their first-ever game in the Colonial Athletic Conference, the Georgia State Panthers received a rude awakening, falling 35-14 to Richmond on Saturday.
Despite a few brief sparks, including 119 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Donald Russell, the Panthers were ultimately undone by their own mistakes. Panthers head coach Bill Curry directed the team to attempt four fourth-down conversions and an onside kick late in the game, but he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that even the extra aggression didn't add up to enough.
"When you have a chance to make a first down on fourth-and-one, you have to do it every single time if you want to be a football team. We took some gambles today that were a little bit outside the norm. We made those plays because we were not here for a decent showing, we were here to win the game. There were some of the most encouraging things and some of the most discouraging things of the season."
The loss to the Spiders drops the Panthers to 0-4. Georgia State travels to William and Mary next Saturday.