The Sports Xchange
Oct 22, 2016

Georgia State scored two defensive touchdowns and beat Tennessee-Martin 31-6 on homecoming Saturday despite missing its starting quarterback.

Freshman quarterback Aaron Winchester started in place of Conner Manning, who was reportedly injured in practice Thursday and was unable to play. Winchester's 7-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Smith helped Georgia State build a 10-3 halftime lead.

The Panthers (2-5) pulled away in the third quarter, with Marterious Allen and B.J. Clay scoring defensive touchdowns on back-to-back plays.

Linebacker Kaleb Ringer forced a fumble, which Allen scooped up and returned 23 yards for a touchdown to put Georgia State ahead 17-3 with 4:10 to play in the third quarter.

On Tennessee-Martin's next offensive play, Clay picked off Skyhawks quarterback Gunnar Holcombe and returned it for a score to keep the Panthers in command. It was the first time Georgia State has scored two defensive touchdowns in a game.

Clay added a second interception in the fourth quarter to thwart a Tennessee-Martin drive, and Trey Payne also had a pick for the Panthers.

Tennessee-Martin (4-4) of the FCS committed four turnovers in the game. Kicker Mitch Mersman's two field goals accounted for the Skyhawks' points.

The six points were the fewest allowed by Georgia State in a game in school history.

Winchester, in his first collegiate start, completed 8 of 16 passes for 119 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries.

Darius Stubbs scored on a 35-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Panthers.