Georgia State survives scare from Abilene Christian in 38-37 win

ATLANTA — Wil Lutz booted a 26-yard field goal with four seconds left to lift Georgia State to a 38-37 victory over Abilene Christian on Wednesday night in first Football Bowl Subdivision game of the college football season.

Lutz’s field goal capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive that took 2:37.

Quarterback Nick Arbuckle, a junior college transfer making his first start for Georgia State, completed 31 of 49 passes for 413 yards, tossing four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Krysten Hammon led the Panthers’ ground game, rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries.

The Panthers compiled 566 total yards, including 153 rushing yards. However, their porous defense allowed the visiting Wildcats to amass 498 yards of their own.

Abilene Christian’s Parker McKenzie put up a gem of his own and completed 30 of 40 passes for 403 yards, throwing four touchdowns and an interception. Herschel Sims led the Wildcats’ ground game, rushing for 37 yards on 14 carries.

Georgia State took a 21-16 lead into halftime. Abilene Christian, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision’s Southland Conference, responded with 14 points in the third quarter to jump to a 30-21 lead.