Johnson Throws 4 TDs as Georgia Southern Wins

STATESBORO, Ga. — Max Johnson sliced up Marshall through the air and on the ground Saturday, throwing four touchdown passes and running for another score as Georgia Southern rolled 49-13 on Homecoming at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.

Southern moved to five wins and four losses, 4-1 inside Sun Belt play, and piled up as many points as it had in any game since putting 49 on UAB three seasons ago. A Homecoming crowd of 24,023 watched Southern score 35 unanswered points over five consecutive drives after the Herd had pulled within 14-7.

Johnson went 19-for-26 through the air for 271 yards, delivered all four scoring throws, and ran in from 16 yards for his first touchdown on the ground this season. That passing day lifted him to 2,190 yards for the year. Ware hauled in five balls for 94 yards and a pair of scores. Taylor also finished with 94 yards on four catches, the longest a 70-yard strike that made it 21-7 by the break.

Southern struck first on a 23-yard Johnson-to-Ware toss, then Chace Calicut returned an interception 24 yards for a score, the program’s first pick-six since 2024. Marshall answered on a 45-yard run by Jo’Shon Barbie, who finished with 83 yards on the ground to lead the visitors. The Herd later reached the Southern 5 before a fourth-and-1 stop ended the threat, and they never recovered the lost momentum.

Andre Greene Jr. caught a 1-yard touchdown and Ware added a 45-yard score in the third quarter. Ty Cummings also ran 16 yards for a touchdown. Tripp Bryant converted all seven extra points, a career high, and Josh Dallas piled up 91 punt-return yards, topping his previous best of 59. Chance Gamble added another interception as the Eagles limited Marshall to 2-of-8 passing in the third quarter.

Marshall dropped to 5-4 and 2-3 in the league despite 250 rushing yards, including a 66-yard fourth-quarter score by Khalil Wilkins. Herd coach Tony Gibson said the pick-six flipped the game and that the failed short-yardage try inside the 5 was another swing his team could not overcome. Southern finished with 454 total yards to Marshall’s 412.

The Eagles visit Georgia State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. Marshall hosts Appalachian State next Saturday night.

Filed under: Savannah GA Sports News