Arbuckle has big day as Georgia State defeats Ball State

Nick Arbuckle passed for 412 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to back a strong performance by the Georgia State defense in the Panthers’ 31-19 win at Ball State Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.

With Georgia State clinging to a 24-19 lead in the final minutes, Batiste, the senior safety who began his career at Indiana State, pressured Ball State quarterback Riley Neal into an incompletion on third down from the BSU 26, forcing a punt. The Panthers took over on their own 30 with 3:26 to play. After a run on first down, Arbuckle found Harden on a short slant-and-go, and Harden raced down the right sideline and dove for the end zone but was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Arbuckle snuck over for the touchdown to put the Panthers ahead 31-19 with 2:13 on the clock.

The 19 points allowed by the GSU defense is the fewest under head coach Trent Miles, and Indiana native, and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who grew up in Muncie when his father, Rick Minter, was the defensive coordinator at Ball State. the last time the Panthers allowed fewer points was a 42-7 win at Rhode Island in 2012.

Georgia State is off next week before returning to Sun Belt Conference play Oct. 31 at Arkansas State.