Koufie (5 TDs) carries Louisiana-Monroe past Ga. State
Nov 12, 2016
Louisiana-Monroe running back Thomas Koufie scored five touchdowns, leading the Warhawks to a 37-23 conference road win over Georgia State on Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Koufie finished with 201 yards on 31 carries, helping Louisiana-Monroe (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) survive a big game from Georgia State quarterback Conner Manning and the Panthers' passing attack.
Manning completed 19 of 30 passes for 422 yards with three touchdowns, including a 61-yarder to Jawan Nobles that gave the Panthers a 20-16 lead early in the third quarter.
But Louisiana-Monroe answered with 21 straight points--all coming on short Koufie touchdown runs -- to put away Georgia State (2-8, 1-5 Sun Belt).
Louisiana-Monroe recorded a safety off of an errant punt snap by Georgia State and went up 9-0 early in the second quarter on Koufie's first touchdown run of the game.
Manning got Georgia State on the board right before halftime with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Smith, who caught four passes for 123 yards and was one of three Panther receivers to go over 100 yards.
Robert Davis had five catches for 114 yards and Nobles finished with five receptions for 101 yards for Georgia State, which dropped its third straight game.
Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Caleb Evans completed 17 of 31 passes for 193 yards. The Warhawks rushed for 264 yards.