JACKSONVILLE-- Jacksonville State scored 24 second quarter points to erase a 12-10 deficit en route to a 45-18 win over Alabama A&M in front 16,654 at Paul Snow Stadium on Saturday.

The Gamecocks improved to 1-1 in front of the third largest crowd in Paul Snow Stadium history while Alabama A&M fell to 0-2 on the year. 

“I think we came out here with a great purpose and tried to say that we're a good football team that has some good ambitions,” JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe said. “I am proud of it. I still think we have a lot of work left to do, but I think we are good enough to have high expectations.”

Daniel Jackson got the scoring started on JSU's opening drive when he took an option pitch and rambled 37-yardS to give JSU a 7-0 lead.  

The Bulldogs responded with the next three scores to cut the deficit into a Bulldog lead.  Jeremy Licea made field goals of 26 and 38 yards and A&M took a 12-10 lead when Anthony Green scored on a one-yard run with 11:17 to go in the second quarter, just before JSU's big second quarter.

The 24-point second quarter was the most points in a quarter at home since August 30, 2001, when JSU scored 34 in the fourth quarter against Cumberland and the most in the second quarter since scoring 28 in the second quarter against UT Martin on October 9, 2004.  

Junior Ryan Perrilloux threw a pair of touchdowns passes to Eric Johns and ran for another to highlight the quarter. Perrilloux tossed a two-yard pass to Eric Johns to cap a 10-play, 77-yard drive with 7:45 left in the second quarter. 

The Gamecocks scored 14 points in the final 54 seconds to finish the half. Perrilloux raced in from 13-yards out to finish off a 10-play 80-yard drive. Rod Byrd recovered a pooch kick by Zach Walden to set up the Gamecocks at the A&M 23. Perrilloux's four-yard pass to Johns sent JSU into halftime with a 31-12 advantage.  

Perrilloux would give way to freshman Marques Ivory in the second half after completing 11-of-17 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns while rushing six times for 35 yards and a touchdown.

JSU's Frank Moore recovered an Alabama A&M fumble on a punt at the A&M 16 to set up the Gamecocks next score. It took JSU just four plays to cash in when Alphonso Freeney scored on a four-yard run to push the lead to 38-12 with 6:41 to go in the third. 

An Ivory to John Houston Whiddon 75 -yard pass play set up the Gamecocks final score of the contest. The pass play was the longest play since a Clay Green 81-yard run versus Tennessee Tech on October 27, 2005.

Ivory then tossed his first collegiate touchdown pass to cap the 94-yard drive at the 7:16 mark of the fourth quarter when he found Maurice Dupree for a four-yard score. 

Alabama A&M put the final points of the night on the board to end JSU's 35-0 run with 2:49 left in the contest. Ulysses Banks scored on a one-yard run to make the final score 45-18.

Jacksonville State has an open week this week before returning to the gridiron at Chattanooga on Saturday, August 20 at 6 p.m.

POSTGAME NOTES
- Captains for the Gamecocks: Senior defensive back Kenny Walker and senior offensive lineman Keith Gergel.

- Alabama A&M won the toss and deferred.

- The Gamecocks had one player make his first career JSU start in the game (John Houston Whiddon at Split End).

- Jacksonville State improves to 42-18-3 in home openers and 7-2 in home openers under Jack Crowe. The Gamecocks have won their last three home openers.

- The Gamecocks improve to 21-2-2 all-time against Alabama A&M and have now won the last three meetings. They are now 23-5-2 against members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and 138-85-10 against teams from the state of Alabama.

- JSU is now 226-92-8 (.706) in Paul Snow Stadium since the facility opened in 1946. In home games under Crowe, the Gamecocks are 27-15.

- Senior Tailback Daniel Jackson's 37-yard touchdown run on the Gamecocks' first possession was the first play from scrimmage of 20 yards or more this season. It was also the Florence, Ala., native's fourth career rushing touchdown.

- Senior tailback Daniel Jackson ran for a career-high 122 yards against the Bulldogs, the 29th highest total by a JSU player in the school's Division I history. 

- The 75-yard pass from Marques Ivory to John Houston Whiddon in the fourth quarter was the longest play from scrimmage since Clay Greens' 81-yard run vs. Tennessee Tech on Oct. 27, 2005. It was the longest passing play from scrimmage since an 84-yard toss from Maurice Mullins to Craig Agee against Southeast Missouri on Nov. 20, 2004.

- Senior Gavin Hallford's 20-yard field goal with 14:17 to play in the second quarter was the 66th field goal attempt of his career, passing Slade Stinnett for the JSU career record. He has now made 44 career field goals, adding to his school record in that category.

- Junior tight end Eric Johns' two-yard touchdown catch from Ryan Perrilloux with 7:45 to play in the second quarter was the first touchdown reception of his career. He would later catch a four-yard scoring pass from Perrilloux with 15 seconds to play in the second quarter.

- Under Jack Crowe, the Gamecocks improve to 30-4 overall and 18-2 at home when scoring 30 or more points in a game.

- Career Highs for the Gamecocks: Daniel Jackson - 122 rushing yds., Drec Lindley - 17 rushing yds., Jeffrey Cameron - 20 rec. yds., Eric Johns - 4 rec., 40 rec. yds. and 2 rec. TD, Anthony Jones - 39 rec. yds.

- Alphonoso Freeney's four-yard touchdown run with 6:41 to play in the third quarter was the first touchdown of the Dozier, Ala., native's career.

- The 16,654 fans in attendance marked the third-largest crowd to ever watch a game at Paul Snow Stadium. Alabama A&M has been in town for three of the top four attendance marks in the stadium's history.

BY THE NUMBERS

6 - Plays of 20 yards or longer by the Gamecocks after having zero in the season opener at Georgia Tech. 

31 - First half points by JSU, the most since leading Murray State 35-10 on Oct. 5, 2006, a span of 18 games.

24 - Points by the Gamecocks in the second quarter, the most in a quarter since Oct. 9, 2004 at UT Martin (28 in 2nd), a span of 41 games. 

35 - Unanswered points for the Gamecocks that turned a 12-9 deficit into a 45-12 advantage.

44 - Career field goals made by senior Gavin Hallford, adding to his school record in the category. 

45 - Points by the Gamecocks, the most by any team in the history of the series.

50 - Wins at JSU for head coach Jack Crowe, in his ninth season. 

66 - Career field goal attempts by senior Gavin Hallford, making him the school's career leader in that category.

87 - Consecutive games in which the Gamecocks have scored, a streak that dates back to Nov.18, 2000, when they were last shut out. 

91 - Number of players from the state of Alabama on both rosters in today's game, 49 on JSU's roster and 42 on AAMU's.
 

122 - Rushing yards by Daniel Jackson, a career high and the 29th-best performance in JSU's D-I history.

16,654 - Attendance for tonight's game, the third-largest crowd in Paul Snow Stadium history.