Georgia State fell 38-17 to Wyoming in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl; Panthers still win with extraordinary senior class

In their third bowl game appearance in the last five years, Georgia State fell 38-17 to Wyoming in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl before 36,892 fans at Arizona Stadium Tuesday. The Panthers finished the season at 7-6.

Final from Tucson. pic.twitter.com/sPjlSqX6rB

— GSU Football (@GeorgiaStateFB) January 1, 2020

In his final game in a Georgia State uniform, and playing with a torn ACL in his right knee senior quarterback Dan Ellington finished with 2,447 yards passing with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He rushed for 668 yards and six touchdowns. He will be remembered alongside the two other great quarterbacks in the team’s 10-year history: Nick Arbuckle and Conner Manning.

Ellington said. “To the fans, I want to say thank you for believing in me. Thank you for cheering on a guy from Mississippi and having me as your family.”

Thank you, @GSUPanthers ! pic.twitter.com/ur2ohaylzC

— Danterius Ellington (@_CoachEllington) January 1, 2020

Senior Brandon Wright kicked a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter for the 32nd field goal of his career to break Wil Lutz’s Georgia State career record.

Dear Georgia State,

Thank you for everything!!! To the coaches, administrators, family, and friends met along the way; thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not the ending we wanted, but the journey will be cherished for forever. #PantherFamily 💙💙 #93✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/cmMeIZWRFR

— Brandon Wright (@earl_punts) January 1, 2020

Tra Barnett, who became Georgia State’s all-time leading rusher earlier this season, finished with 15 carries for 64 yards.

Georgia State saw 19 seniors play in their final game with many having played in two bowl games. Four seniors (Khai Anderson, Hunter Atkinson, Ed Curney and Brandon Wright) were part of all three GSU bowl teams.

“This is a disappointing loss,” Elliott continued. “As a coach or a player, you fight like hell every single day to prepare your football team to win. We didn’t make the plays to win today, but we’re going to work hard and get better.”