STATESBORO, Ga.- Savannah State opened their 2010 football season with a 48-3 loss to Georgia Southern in Paulson Stadium before a crowd of 20,430.

SSU was held to 172 total yards of offense while the Eagles used their triple option to roll up 540 yards.

Georgia Southern scored on their first five possessions to race to a 27-0 halftime lead.

Savannah State opened the game with a six play, 39 yard drive that ended at the GSU 41.

GSU led 10-0 after the first quarter and added 17 points in the second period.

On their first play of the third quarter, GSU's Robert Brown ran for a 13- yard gain but fumbled and it was recovered by Savannah State's Xavier Lewis.

SSU took over at the Georgia Southern 44 and put together a 7 play, 30 yard drive that ended with a 31 yard field goal by Derek Williams.

The field goal cut GSU's lead to 27-3 with 12:25 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles added a touchdown with just over 10 minutes left in the third period to extend their advantage to 34-3 and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 48-3 lead.

Savannah State (0-1) drove to the GSU 27 late in the game but Williams' 43 yard field goal attempt with 3:19 remaining hit the uprights.

SSU, who had 92 yards rushing and 80 passing were led by Justin Babb who ran for 70 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards. Brian Lackey caught three passes for a team-high 37 yards. A.J. DeFilippis completed 7 of 19 passes for 71 yards but was sacked three times.

J. Vince Cochran had 13 tackles for SSU while Darren Hunter added 12.

Robert Brown ran for 122 yards and a touchdown for GSU (1-0) while Jaybo Shaw threw for 109 yards and ran for 62 and a touchdown.

Brent Russell and Kyle Oehlbeck each had five tackles for the Eagles.