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Eagles soaring after season

The Georgia Southern Eagles can breath easy for one week knowing they momentarily share the Southern Conference title with Furman and have essentially locked up a spot in the playoffs.

Now they must see what postseason opponent awaits them.

After losing to SoCon rival Furman Nov. 6, the Eagles lost their hold on the No. 2-ranking in the Sports Network Top 25 poll.

Georgia Southern dropped down to sixth, but has moved up two spots after whipping Division I-A Florida International, 53-32.

It was the Eagles' final game, and the only way they can take the SoCon title outright is if Furman loses to Chattanooga. The crown would provide Georgia Southern with a higher seed and an automatic berth in the playoffs, but Eagles head coach Mike Sewak knows it is out of his hands now.

"We have no control over it," Sewak said. " But Furman has done a good job, and I like that school."

The Eagles will now concentrate on whomever falls into their post-season path. Knowing Georgia Southern's style of play, the teams that do stray into the Eagles' path face the risk of being flattened by a remarkable running game.

Although it would be fitting for a team named after a bird to attack through the air, Georgia Southern has just stuck with what works - being a running team in a running conference.

Of the 74 touchdowns scored by the Eagles in the 2004 season, 53 have come off the rush. Georgia Southern averages 49.2 points per game, and it is an easy bet most of those have come from a football being safely nestled in a tailback's arms - or the quarterback's. Senior Chaz Williams is the SoCon version of Michael Vick.

Williams has 13 passing touchdowns and 23 rushing touchdowns. He averages 52.5 yards a game and has gained 645 yards on the season. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds.

Simply put, Williams can run, and he can run fast. But he can also throw the ball fairly well.

Williams provided 1,115 of the Eagles' 1,358 total passing yards and can be thanked for 13 touchdowns.

SIU's junior quarterback, Joel Sambursky, is known more for his passing game than his ability to run. He only rushed for 268 yards, but passed for 2,061 in the Salukis' 2004 regular season.

So it would be interesting to see the Salukis face Georgia Southern in the post-season. The Eagles have been out-passed by their opponents 151.5 to 123.5 yards per game, and the Salukis will likely capitalize on what those statistics imply.

Williams' running prowess will be put to the test against a Saluki defense that allowed little more than 11 points per game, along with a pittance of four rushing touchdowns in the 2004 season.

But as Sewak said, the only statistic that matters is winning. He said he wouldn't change his game plan in an effort to counteract SIU's defense, and expected the Salukis will not change anything in theirs.

SIU head coach Jerry Kill hasn't put much thought into whom the Salukis might face in the post-season. He has other things on his mind.

"I don't follow anybody except Southern Illinois," Kill said. "I'm just too busy getting them better."

While Kill concentrates on improving the Salukis, the Eagles will enjoy a week to recuperate before playoff fever takes hold. It is a much-appreciated break for Sewak's team, and he said 11 straight weeks have taken quite a toll on his football team.

"Everyone is banged up, but everyone should be banged up at the end of the season," Sewak said. "If you're in a good conference you have to expect it."