Eastern Kentucky improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the OVC, while the Gamecocks dropped to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the OVC.

“We never lost the fight and we didn't show up not ready to play,” said JSU head coach Jack Crowe following the game. “We just weren't seasoned enough to handle the turn of events as they happened and consistently went against us.”

Eastern Kentucky held a 31-21 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Gamecocks cut the lead to 31-28 after Brandon George scored on an eight-yard run and Gavin Hallford added the point after with 9:41 left. But, the Colonels answered to push the lead back to 10 points.

Holland capped a 60 yard, five-play drive by scoring on a one-yard run with 7:13 left to give EKU a 38-28 lead, but the Gamecocks answered late in the game.

Perrilloux scored on a four-yard run to cap a 10-play, 60 yard drive with 4:12 as Jax State sliced the lead to 38-35 with 4:12 left and then the JSU defense held on three plays to give the Gamecocks on last chance.

Perrilloux drove the Gamecocks down to the EKU 33 yard line with just under two minutes left in the game, but threw his fifth interception of the night to seal the Colonel win.

Jacksonville State struck early after Perrilloux connected on a 59-yard pass to Maurice Dupree with 11:04 left in the first quarter. Gavin Hallford's point after gave the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead.

Eastern Kentucky answered by taking the kickoff and going 77 yards to tie the game after Aaron Bradley scored on a four-yard run. Taylor Long's point after tied the game at 7-7 with 8:50 left in the first quarter.

The Colonels took the lead midway through the second quarter after C.J. Walker scored on a one-yard run and Long added the point after to give EKU a 14-7 lead with 10:10 left in the first half.

Jacksonville State tied the game later in the second quarter after T.J. Heath intercepted a EKU Pass and returned it inside the Colonels five yard line. Two players later, Calvin Middleton scored from one yard out and Hallford added the point after with 7:19 left to tie the game at 14-14.

Eastern Kentucky scored the final 10 points of the first half after Holland tossed an 11-yard pass to Stephen Sizemore with 5:17 left and then Long kicked a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the half as the Colonels took a 24-14 lead into the intermission.

Eastern Kentucky extended the lead in the second half after Walker scored on a 19-yard run with 11:20 left in the third quarter to give the Colonels a 31-14 advantage.

Jax State cut the lead to 31-21 after Perrilloux scored on an 11-yard quarterback draw late in the third quarter. Hallford's point after cut the lead to 10 points with 3:07 left in the third.

Perrilloux finished the game 21-for-41 for 304 yards and a touchdown, while Maurice Dupree had 161 yards on seven receptions and a touchdown to lead the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State returns to action next Saturday against Murray State for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Paul Snow Stadium.

JSU POST-GAME NOTES:

- Captains for the Gamecocks: Keith Gergel and Kenny Walker
- Jacksonville State won the toss and deferred until the second half.
- Jacksonville State wore red pants for the second time this season. The Gamecocks debut the pants at Eastern Illinois. It had been since the 1955 season since JSU wore red pants.
- Senior Maurice Dupree finished with a career-high 161 yards receiving on seven receptions and one touchdown. It was the first time a JSU receiver had at least 150 yards since Craig Agee had 156 yards on five catches against Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 20, 2004.
- Ryan Perrilloux finished with 304 yards through the air and it was the first time a JSU player topped 300 yards since Tim Gallahan had 304 yards versus Nicholls State on Sept. 25, 1999.
- Ryan Perrilloux connected on a 59-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Dupree on the Gameoccks' first possession of the game. It was the longest touchdown pass of the season for Perrilloux.
- The Gamecocks scored a touchdown on their opening possession for the second time this season. JSU also scored a TD on its opening drive against Alabama A&M.
- Calvin Middleton scored his first career touchdown with 7:19 left in the second quarter. He became the 10th different JSU player to score a touchdown this season.
- Sophomore T.J. Heath recorded his first interception of the season with 8:06 left in the second quarter. It was his third career interception and the first since Oct. 20, 2007 versus Tennessee Tech.
- Zach Walden booted a 53-yard punt during the first quarter of the game. It was the longest punt of the season for Walden and the second punt of longer than 50 yards.
- The 17 points scored by Eastern Kentucky in the second quarter was the most points scored against the Gamecocks in a quarter since Chattanooga scored 16 in the second quarter on Sept. 8, 2007.
- Ryan Perrilloux's four interceptions in the game is the most he has thrown in his career. He entered the game with just five interceptions this season.
- The four interceptions thrown by the Gamecocks today was the most since throwing four against McNeese State on Nov. 24, 2001, when the Cowboys had four vs JSU.
- The last time JSU was held to less than 100 yards rushing was vs Chattanooga on Sept. 8, 2007.  The Gamecocks finished with 44 carries for 63 yards versus the Mocs. JSU finished with 80 rushing yards.
- Ryan Perrilloux's five interceptions was the most since Ed Lett threw four interceptions against Troy State on Nov. 13, 1982.
- Today's loss snaps a four-game winning streak by the Gamecocks.
- Today's loss was the first time the Gamecocks have lost a game in Richmond against Eastern Kentucky.
- JSU is 4-31 under Crowe when trailing at the half
- The Gamecocks are now 3-3 vs Eastern Kentucky