1998 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1998 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Southern Conference SoCon 2 14–1 8–0 Paul Johnson 2nd Mike Sewak 2nd Triple option Rusty Russell 2nd 4–3 Paulson Stadium SoCon champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game L 43–55 vs. UMass The 1998 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented the Georgia Southern University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Paul Johnson, the Eagles compiled and overall record of 14–1 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the SoCon title. Georgia Southern advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Colgate in the first round, Connecticut in the quarterfinals, and Western Illinois in the semifinals before falling to UMass in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. Schedule 1998 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network Eastern September 5 w y 6 1998 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 31–17 13,233 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-ga-southern-bre/176240888/ Asheville Citizen-Times Ga. Southern breaks away from Elon September 6, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com September 12 w y 6 Jacksonville State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 51–32 10,803 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-eagles-rally-late-t/176241054/ The Macon Telegraph Eagles rally late, top Jacksonville September 13, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com September 19 1:00 pm w 3 Wofford Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 45–10 8,649 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-eagles-fly-the/176241176/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Eagles fly the friendly skies September 20, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 12:00 pm w y 3 Chattanooga Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN 42–25 6,574 https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-peterson-leads-gsu-pa/176241259/ Johnson City Press Peterson leads GSU past Mocs September 27, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 1:00 pm w 3 VMI Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 63–7 9,687 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-georgia-southern-r/176241371/ Winston-Salem Journal Georgia Southern rolls to victory against VMI October 4, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 2 Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC 28–21 9,671 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-late-score-saves/176241469/ The Charlotte Observer Late score saves No. 2 Ga. South. October 11, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 w 2 Appalachian State 3 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 37–24 20,353 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89776853/ga-southern-rolls-on/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Ga. Southern rolls on October 18, 1998 November 29, 2021 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 1 The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC 51–34 14,222 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-gsu-charges-past-citadel/176241586/ Sun-News GSU charges past Citadel October 25, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 w 1 East Tennessee State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 47–26 15,189 https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-top-ranked-eagles-d/176241757/ Kingsport Times-News Top-ranked Eagles dismiss Buccaneers November 1, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 1 Furman Paladin Stadium Greenville, SC 45–17 10,201 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110031108/furman-gets-pounded-by-ga-southern/ The State Furman gets pounded by Ga, Southern November 8, 1998 September 22, 2022 Newspapers.com November 14 1:00 pm w y 1 South Florida 19 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 28–23 14,161 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-bulls-scare-no-1-e/176241861/ The Bradenton Herald Bulls scare No. 1 Eagles before losing, 28–23 November 15, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com November 28 w y 1 Colgate Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 49–28 7,676 Eagles Speed Up, Roll Earnest Reese November 29, 1998 E9 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Atlanta, Ga. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59562992/1998-colgate-southern/ December 5 w y 1 Connecticut 8 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 52–30 9,762 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-the-huskies-get-steamrolled/176241994/ The Day The Huskies get steamrolled December 6, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com December 12 w y 1 Western Illinois 4 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 42–14 11,140 Reese Earnest Eagles win 42–14, arrive at I-AA final https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88123613/ October 31, 2021 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution December 13, 1998 D23 Newspapers.com December 19 2:00 pm l y y 1 UMass 12 Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game 43–55 17,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-umass-caps-magical-season/176242127/ The Tennessean UMass caps magical season December 20, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com 1998 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/1998 Georgia Southern University July 11, 2025 2024 Football Media Guide https://gseagles.com/documents/2024/7/16/2024GSFB_Guide.pdf Georgia Southern University 127 July 11, 2025 Rankings 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings The Sports Network 0 13 6 6 3 (1) 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (8) 2 (9) 1 (88) 1 (93) 1 (95) 1 (95) 1 (97) 1 (84) 2 Game summaries Vs. No. 12 UMass (Division I-AA Championship Game) 1998 UMass Minutemen football team 1998 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game Georgia Southern Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse 1998 Division I-AA Championship GameNo. 1 Georgia Southern Eagles vs. No. 12 UMass Minutemen – Game summary December 19 2:00 p.m. EST No. 1 Eagles 7 14 12 10 No. 12 Minutemen 21 17 0 17 Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, Tennessee 17,501 John W. Keys ESPN First quarter MASS – Marcel Shipp 25-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 12:56. Minutemen 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:04. MASS – Kole Ayi 9-yard fumble return (Jason Cherry kick), 8:29. Minutemen 14–0. GASO – Greg Hill 40-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 7:25. Minutemen 14–7. Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 1:08. MASS – Adrian Zullo 7-yard pass from Jamie Holston (Jason Cherry kick), 5:04. Minutemen 21–7. Drive: 1 play, 7 yards, 0:07. Second quarter MASS – Jason Cherry 22-yard field goal, 14:46. Minutemen 24–7. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 3:34. GASO – Corey Joyner 6-yard pass from Greg Hill (Chris Chambers kick), 10:54. Minutemen 24–14. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 2:11. MASS – Todd Bankhead 1-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 7:17. Minutemen 31–14. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 3:37. MASS – Marcel Shipp 4-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 4:09. Minutemen 38–14. Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards, 1:35. GASO – Adrian Peterson 1-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 2:01. Minutemen 38–21. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:08. Third quarter GASO – Adrian Peterson 5-yard run (kick failed), 8:54. Minutemen 38–27. Drive: 13 plays, 78 yards, 6:06. GASO – Greg Hill 2-yard run (run failed), 0:41. Minutemen 38–33. Drive: 14 plays, 98 yards, 6:07. Fourth quarter MASS – Kevin Quinlan 2-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 13:42. Minutemen 45–33. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 1:59. MASS – Marcel Shipp 2-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 11:51. Minutemen 52–33. Drive: 5 plays, 42 yards, 1:35. GASO – Chris Chambers 38-yard field goal, 8:39. Minutemen 52–36. Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 3:12. MASS – Jason Cherry 25-yard field goal, 2:21. Minutemen 55–36. Drive: 7 plays, 13 yards, 3:04. GASO – J. R. Revere 29-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 1:04. Minutemen 55–43. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 1:17. Statistics GASOMASS First downs 26 23 Plays–yards 86–595 77–462 Rushes–yards 65–457 51–303 Passing yards 138 159 Passing: comp–att–int 10–21–1 18–26–0 Turnovers 7 2 Time of possession 30:48 29:12 Team Category Player Statistics Georgia Southern Passing Greg Hill 8/16, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Greg Hill 29 rushes, 228 yards, 2 TD Receiving Corey Joyner 6 receptions, 94 yards, TD UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 17/25, 152 yards Rushing Marcel Shipp 35 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jimmy Moore 6 receptions, 63 yards References Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons Georgia Southern Eagles football Category:Long stubs with short prose Georgia Southern