Georgia Southern did not win its season-opener on Saturday at Auburn, but it will be a game one Eagle won’t soon forget.

Former Colquitt County linebacker Tomarcio Reese picked up a fumble and ran it 22 yards for a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the first quarter to bring the Eagles to within three points at 10-7.

Reese, who played junior college football the last two years and was at Northwest Mississippi Community College last season, was playing his first game for Georgia Southern.

He finished with two solo and five assisted tackles.

Ty Phillips, Reese’s former Colquitt County teammate, started at defensive tackle and had one solo and one assisted tackle.

Former Packer tight end John Samuel Shenker is on the Auburn roster, but did not play.

Reese had an outstanding career at Colquitt County, at one time joining Bull Barge, now at South Alabama, and Quintin Hampton, now at Wagner College, in forming a potent Packers linebacking unit.

Georgia Southern will return to Paulson Stadium next Saturday for its home-opener against New Hampshire.

Speaking of former Packers:

# Barge, the South Alabama junior, had two solo tackles and an assist in the Jaguars 47-27 loss at Ole Miss on Saturday.

South Alabama will play host to Oklahoma State on Friday.

# Hampton, starting at inside linebacker, had five tackles, all behind the line of scrimmage and two credited as sacks, as Wagner won its season- opener 37-7 over St. Anselm.

The Seahawks will be at Saint Francis University on Saturday.

# Sihiem King carried the football eight times for 12 yards and had kickoff returns of 46 and 23 yards as Kentucky defeated Southern Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday.

The Wildcats will be home on Saturday to face Eastern Kentucky.

# Ty Lee had two pass receptions for seven yards and carried the ball five times for eight yards in Middle Tennessee State’s 28-6 season-opening loss to Vanderbilt.

The Blue Raiders will travel to Syracuse on Saturday.

# Quan Singletary had a big game starting at free safety for Clark Atlanta last Thursday, intercepting one pass, breaking up another and being credited with six tackles in the Panthers’ 32-29 victory over Mississippi College.

Two other ex-Packers started the game for Clark Atlanta: Trayvus Johnson at right offensive tackle and Nathan Lang at defensive tackle.

Lang had two tackles, including a sack.

The Panthers will be home to face Central State on Saturday.

# Two former Colquitt County teammates now playing at Arkansas made contributions to the Razorbacks’ 49-7 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday.

T.J. Smith started at defensive end and had two assisted tackles.

Dee Walker came off the bench to play linebacker and had one solo and two assisted tackles.

Arkansas will play at home on Saturday against TCU.

# Jamiyus Pittman got his much-anticipated senior season started in fine fashion, starting at defensive end for Central Florida in the Knights’ 61-17 win over Florida International. Pittman, who is included on the Outland Trophy Watch List of the nation’s top defensive linemen, was credited with an assisted tackle

The Knights will be at home in Orlando on Saturday to face Memphis.

# Todd Boyd started at wide receiver and caught two passes for 36 yards and Gabe Mobley started at center in Georgia State’s season-opening 17-10 loss at home to Tennessee State.

The Panthers will travel to Penn State on Sept. 16.

# Daniel Brinson started at center for LaGrange College, which dropped its opener 29-25 to Birmingham Southern.

The Panthers will play on Saturday at Berry.

# Landon Scott started at outside linebacker for Lenoir-Rhyne in the Lions season-opening 46-7 loss to West Alabama.

Ian Brinson also got some playing time on the offensive line.

# Alfred Brown, starting his junior season at Samford, was on the field for the Bulldogs in their 28-3 victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday.

Samford will play at home on Thursday against West Alabama.

# Freshman linebacker Willie DeBruce got to play his first collegiate football game in Hawaii, where Western Carolina dropped its opener to the Rainbows 41-18.

Western Carolina will be at home on Saturday to meet Davidson.

# Another freshman former Packer, Tirise Barge, was credited with a tackle while playing safety for Tulane in the Green Wave’s 44-14 season-opening victory over Grambling State.

# Alex Williams started on the defensive line and had one solo and two assisted tackles in Valdosta State’s 29-12 upset loss to Albany State last weekend.

Senior Sharmaine Washington also had some playing time for the Blazers, who will seek their first victory on Saturday against Fort Valley State in a game to be played in Waycross.

# In the first two games of the season, University of the Cumberland’s safety Jay Woods has had eight solo tackles and six assists, including a half-sack, and has pulled down an interception.

Ja’Kobe Shealey and Sheronsky Sloan also are playing for the Patriots, who will be home to meet Bethel University on Saturday.

# Freshman receiver Ty Powell appeared in Tusculum’s season-opening 34-33 loss at North Greenville.

Tory Ponder and Nelson Louis, Powell’s former Colquitt County teammates, also are listed on the Tusculum roster.