Football

Georgia Southern coach Chad Lunsford guided by faith in leading team to 7-1 record

By Jason Romano Oct 29, 2018
Georgia Southern head coach Chad Lunsford hugs offensive lineman Curtis Rainey, right, during the final moments of their game against Appalachian State on Oct. 25, 2018, in Statesboro, Ga. Georgia Southern won 34-14. (AP Photo/John Amis)

The Eagles are flying high.

Not that team from Philadelphia, but rather another Eagles football team. The one in Statesboro, Ga.

Georgia Southern notched its biggest win of the season Thursday night, beating No. 25 Appalachian State, 34-14, in front of a fired-up crowd at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. The Eagles won their fifth straight game, and it marked their first win ever against a top-25 team.

Fans stormed the field after the win, which head coach Chad Lunsford says showed how his club as come together.

“This says a lot about this team,” Lunsford said. “I can’t give enough praise to this football team. … There is no doubt in my mind that this is such a tight-knit team. They are so tight, it’s not offense, it’s not defense, it’s not special teams, they are just a great group of guys and a brotherhood and they won this for the brotherhood tonight.”

In his second season as the head coach of Georgia Southern, after four years as an assistant coach with the team, Lunsford’s drive to compete is fueled by his faith in Christ. In his Twitter bio, he lists himself as a “Christian” and mentions the verse Isaiah 41:10:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The 41-year-old consistently shares scripture verses from the Bible each day as encouragement:

Georgia Southern and Coach Lunsford will be back in action on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET as they look to keep their undefeated Sun Belt conference record in tact against Louisiana-Monroe on ESPN3.

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