Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert and his Georgia Southern counterpart, Kevin Ellison, have been equal parts great and terrible this season, but by-in-large serviceable enough to guide their respective programs to seven-win campaigns.

But when it comes to Saturday’s Peach State matchup — the first-ever between the Bulldogs (7-3, 5-3 in the SEC) and Eagles (7-2, 5-1 in the Sun Belt) — the name of the game is all about stopping each other’s aggressive rushing attacks. And both programs have the tools to make the afternoon miserable for one another.

Led by legendary coach Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern is a disciplined team that knows how to win.

“They’re very dangerous, period,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said during his Monday press conference. “I’d prefer not to play them because they’re that good. I think it’s good that we do play them, when you look at the big picture.

“They’re a very dangerous team, and they’re fast. They’re athletic. They execute well. All their special teams are right on, how they play the game is very impressive. It will challenge our guys, I promise you. I don’t know what the fan base thinks about this game, as far as who should win, but I can promise you we’ll get tested in this game as much as any. We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s a lot of work, a lot of prep.”

That prep mostly includes trying to figure out a way to slow down Fritz’ triple-option offense, which ranks No. 1 in the FBS (378.9 YPG rushing) with an average of 44 more yards than No. 2 Navy.

What’s remarkable about the Eagles’ rushing attack is the team’s depth. Matt Brieda leads Georgia Southern with 1,242 yards (14 TDs), but is complimented with three teammates with at least 515 yards (Ellison) on the ground, including tailbacks L.A. Ramsby (586 yards, 9 TDs) and Wesley Fields (543 yards, 6 TDs).

What separates Georgia Southern’s triple option offense from the likes of Army, Navy and Georgia Tech is that Fritz and the Eagles like to operate out of the shotgun.

Georgia has the SEC’s eighth-best rush defense, a slightly-skewed stat when you consider the Bulldogs rank No. 37 in the nation against the run. The Bulldogs hold opponents to 139.6 YPG and give up an average of one rushing score per contest. Georgia’s run-stopping unit is led by Jordan Jenkins, who has tallied 4.0 sacks, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 11 quarterback hurries. His effort this season has landed the linebacker an invite to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., along with teammate WR Malcolm Mitchell.

While Mitchell (637 rec. yards, 4 TDs) deserves the nod, the Georgia offense revolves around the Bulldogs ability to run circles around its opponents. The unit has been felled by injuries this season, but still has managed to rank fourth in the SEC in rushing, ahead of Alabama. The most recent injury is to Keith Marshall, who is dealing with knee and ankle issues and didn’t play in the Bulldogs’ Week 11 win over Auburn, in which Georgia rushed for just 146 yards as a team. Marshall has been plagued by injuries his entire career in Athens and announced this week that he’ll forego his fifth year of eligibility next season and leave the program to pursue a professional career. With Richt’s blessing, Marshall, who’s finished his coursework, will be honored along with his teammates during Saturday’s Senior Day celebrations.

The burden of carrying the Bulldogs’ rushing game belongs to Sony Michel, who has rushed for 419 yards since taking over for injured starting tailback Nick Chubb in Week 6. Michel has taken a bit of a beating this season, but Richt has found some relief for his junior running back with the versatile Isaiah McKenzie. The sophomore wideout rushed for 26 yards and a touchdown against Auburn, adding an additional 15 receiving yards and 53 punt return yards.

Georgia Southern is adept at shutting down both the run and pass, albeit against a Sun Belt schedule. The Eagles only give up 206.2 YPG in the air (No. 44 in the nation) and are even stingier against the run, where their 137.7 YPG average is slightly better than Georgia’s.

Rushing YPG Offense Rushing YPG Allowed Rushing TDs Offense Rushing TDs Allowed
Georgia 202.4 yards 139.6 yards 18 10
Georgia Southern 378.9 yards 137.7 yards 39 7

GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES, A CLOSER LOOK:

Top returning player, offense: Matt Breida, Jr., RB – Matt Breida is on pace to finish with close to 1,700 yards this season, which would eclipse his team-high 1,485 from last year. In two seasons in Statesboro, Breida has found the end zone 31 times.

Top returning player, defense: Antwione Williams, Sr., LB – Antwione Williams leads the Eagles with 73 tackles, including seven tackles for loss.

Top returning player, special teams: Derek Keaton, Sr., WR/KR – Derek Keaton once again is tops on the Eagles in kick-return yards, scampering his way to 580 yards this season, already more than the 445 he tallied as a junior.