Box Score


PHOTO GALLERY | FINAL STATS

NASHVILLE - Something about lining up across from Tennessee State brings out the best in Jacksonville State's Jermaine Hough.

The junior cornerback had two interceptions as the eighth-ranked Gamecocks forced six turnovers to claim a 27-20 Ohio Valley Conference win over the No. 25 Tigers at rain-soaked Hale Stadium. It marked the second two-interception game of Hough's career, the other coming in 2012 against Tennessee State in Jacksonville.

DaMarcus James returned from injury and ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns as Jacksonville State improved to 5-1 overall, 3-0 in OVC play.

The Gamecocks led 27-6 with 3:32 left in the third quarter after Troymaine Pope's 19-yard touchdown run.

But the Tigers (4-3, 1-2) scored two touchdowns in the last 2:28 of the third to pull to within a touchdown entering the final quarter.

Tennessee State had one last chance after driving inside the JSU 30 with under a minute on the clock.

On third-and-14 with 15 seconds left, Tennessee State quarterback Michael German heaved a pass deep into the end zone that Hough snared to preserve the victory.

Hough also picked off German twice two years ago at Burgess-Snow Field.

"We felt like we left at least 21 points on the field," said Jacksonville State coach John Grass. "Our front seven played well and shut down their running game. I was very pleased with that."

The loss was Tennessee State's first at Hale Stadium since 1997.

Jacksonville State's opportunistic defense forced four first-half turnovers en route to a 13-3 lead. Hough and Debarrius Miller intercepted German while Folo Johnson and Terrence Pendleton recovered fumbles.

The Tigers received the opening kickoff and moved from their 22 to JSU's 30 before settling for Lane Clark's 46-yard field goal with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.

Starting at TSU's 48 following Pendleton's interception, the Gamecocks needed just two plays to get into the end zone. A pass interference penalty against the Tigers got Jacksonville State to the 16 and Eli Jenkins connected with Bo Brummel on a 16-yard TD pass on the next play.

Connor Rouleau's extra point try was blocked, leaving the Gamecocks ahead 6-3 at the 5:10 mark in the first.

Jacksonville State missed a chance to pad its lead on the next possession. Jenkins connected with Josh Barge for 48 yards to the TSU 18, then James carried eight yards to the 5. But two running plays netted one yard and James was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the 4.

The Gamecocks covered 61 yards in three plays to extend their lead to 13-3 with 9:08 to go in the second quarter.

Backup quarterback Max Shortell completed a 23-yard pass to J.D. Williams into TSU territory and a 14-yard James run sandwiched between two pass interference penalties against the Tigers moved the ball to the 2.

James finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, his 41^stin a Gamecock uniform. James moved into second place on JSU's all-time career rushing touchdown list behind David Gulledge (48).

The 61-yard, three-play scoring was Jacksonville State's seventh of the season of less than one minute.

Ben Endress led the Gamecocks with 12 tackles, including five solos. Devaunte Sigler also intercepted a German pass.

Jacksonville State has its second open date of the seasonnext Saturday. The Gamecocks will host Tennessee Tech at 3 p.m. onOct. 25.

POST-GAME NOTES
Captains: Markis Merrill, Jaylen Hill, Kyron Samuels, Dalton Screws
Jacksonville State won the coin toss and elected to defer
Bo Brummel's 16-yard TD catch from Eli Jenkins in the first quarter was his second of the year and his second in as many weeks. His first career TD catch came last week against UT Martin.
Terrence Pendleton's fumble recovery was the second of his career and his second in as many weeks. His first came last week against UT Martin.
JSU had three scoring drives of less than 2:01 today, which runs the season total to 16 drives this season. The Gamecocks also had two scoring drives of 1:00-or less and JSU now has seven scoring drives this season under 60 seconds.
The Gamecocks intercepted four passes in the game, the most by a JSU defense since picking off Austin Peay five times on Oct. 15, 2011.
Jermaine Hough had two interceptions in the game, the most by a Gamecock since he picked off TSU's German twice on Oct. 20, 2012 in Jacksonville. It was his second two-interception game, with all four picks coming on Michael German passes.
Jermaine Hough picked off this third interception of the season with 12:26 left in the second quarter and his fourth in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The Lovejoy, Ga., native now has eight career interceptions to lead the Gamecock defense.
DeBarriaus Miller's interception in the first quarter was the first of his career, which came with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
Devaunte Sigler's interception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
DaMarcus James' rushing touchdown with 9:08 left in the second quarter was his 41st rushing TD of his career to move him into second place on JSU's career rushing touchdown list. He finished the game with two rushing touchdowns and now has 42 career rushing touchdowns to trail David Gulledge's school record of 48. James also has now scored a rushing touchdown in 18-straight games against FCS opponents.
The Gamecock defense forced two fumbles in the first half of today's game. Through the first five games, JSU had recovered just one fumble.
Jax State finished with 403 yards of total offense, which marks the 78th time out of 90 OVC games.
TSU's 43 rushing yards are the fewest against a JSU defense since Murray State ran for 11 yards on Oct. 1, 2011.
The Gamecocks held Tennessee State to 43 rushing yards, and it marks the third opponent this year that JSU has limited an opponent to less than 100 rushing yards and the 32nd time holding an OVC opponent to 100-yards or less. It marks the 54th time since moving to Division I JSU has held an opponent to 100-yards or less.
JSU improves to 8-2 against Tennessee State and is a perfect 4-0 in Nashville
Jax State has 26 come-from-behind wins since the start of the 2010 season and has now rallied for four come-from-behind wins this season.
The Gamecocks are now 67-23 in OVC-only games
JSU is now 3-0 vs Tennessee schools this year and 87-76-7 all-time
Jax State is 2-0 this season against FCS ranked opponents and has four of their last five and six of their last nine vs teams ranked in the Top 25.
The Gamecocks have now won five straight games