Box Score

GAME STATS  |  PHOTO GALLERY

JACKSONVILLE – A 22-year hiatus in the series did nothing to change Jacksonville State's continued dominance of West Alabama.

The eighth-ranked Gamecocks (2-1) tuned up for its Ohio Valley Conference opener next week with a 45-34 win over the Tigers before a Band Day crowd of 18,912 at Burgess-Snow Field. Backup quarterback Max Shortell tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Josh Barge as Jacksonville State beat its former Gulf South Conference rival for the eighth straight time.

"Offensively we had some chances to put the game away," said Jacksonville State coach John Grass. "It could have been 31-0 or 38-0 at the half. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. But you can't play that game. They were down there a couple of times and didn't score and our defense did a good job of bowing our back."

Barge also caught a 14-yard scoring pass from third-team quarterback Christian LeMay, becoming the third player in JSU history with three touchdown receptions in a game.

"He is consistent and gets the job done," said Grass. "He's not the biggest guy, but he runs great routes."

Starter Eli Jenkins contributed an 88-yard TD pass to Markis Merrill in the first quarter, the first time ever the Gamecocks had three quarterbacks toss touchdown passes in a game.

Jacksonville State rolled up 630 total yards, 22 yards shy of its all-time single-game yardage record.

West Alabama fell to 2-1. Saturday's matchup was the first between the in-state schools since Jacksonville State's final season as a Division II member in 1992.

West Alabama stunned the home crowd with a three-play, 67-yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff. Kyle Caldwell finished it off with the first of his four touchdown passes, a 5-yarder to Tyshaan Alston at the 13:36 mark in the first quarter.

Jenkins connected with Merrill for the 88-yard touchdown to draw the Gamecocks even at 7-7 with 8:43 left in the opening quarter. Barge's first TD catch, a 32-yarder from Shortell, capped off a three-play, 85-yard drive and gave JSU its first lead with 1:12 to go in the first.

Connor Rouleau added a 38-yard field goal and a 3-yard touchdown from DeMarcus James – who ran 18 times for 67 yards – as the Gamecocks opened a 24-7 lead late in the second quarter. The Tigers, however, answered with a quick 72-yard scoring drive to pull to within 24-14 at halftime.

Barge snagged a 13-yard touchdown pass from Shortell and a 14-yard strike from LeMay in the third quarter as the Gamecocks built a 38-14 lead.

Barge had six receptions for 100 yards. Troymaine Pope pounded out 121 yards on 10 carries, while Miles Jones also eclipsed the century mark with 108 on 20 rushes.

West Alabama's Caldwell threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns in the loss. His only interception, which Jermaine Hough returned 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, marked the first turnover forced by the Gamecocks' defense this season.

Hough's interception with 10:27 remaining gave the Gamecocks their largest lead, 45-14.

West Alabama scored three touchdowns in the final 10 minutes against JSU's defensive reserves.

Jacksonville State jumps into OVC action next Saturday when they visit Murray State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

POST-GAME NOTES
- Captains for the Gamecocks: CB Jermaine Hough, WR Josh Barge, OL Adam Wright,DL Davaunte Sigler.
- Jacksonville State won the opening toss and deferred to the second half.
-Saturday's game was the first time in JSU history three quarterbacks (Eli Jenkins, Max Shortell, Christian LeMay) threw for a touchdown pass.
- Coming into the game, Josh Barge had two touchdown receptions on the season. He finished the game with a career-high three touchdown receptions, tying him with Joey Hamilton (1999) for second-most in school history. It was also his fifth 100-yard receiving game on the career and first season.
- With the 45-34 victory, head coach John Grass became the eighth Gamecock head coach to win his home-opener.
- Since 2003, JSU is now 10-2 in home-openers and has now won nine straight.
- JSU's offense posted 630 total yards of offense, which ranks third in the program's history.  The last time the Gamecocks finished with 600-plus yards was last season against Murray State (Sept. 28, 2013).
- Jermaine Hough's 34-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the first turnover forced by the Gamecock defense this season. It was his fifth career interception and the first since last season's game against UT-Martin.
- After Saturday's win, Jax State has now won eight straight against West Alabama and 17 of the last 20 meetings between the two teams. The Gamecocks hold an overall record of 33-12-1 in the series.
- JSU's blocked field goal to end the first half was the first blocked field goal for the Gamecocks since Oct. 12, 2013 vs Tennessee State.  
- DaMarcus James finished with 67 yards and now trails Reginald Goodloe by just 29 yards for fourth all-time in JSU's career rushing list.
- Eli Jenkins' 88-yard touchdown pass to Markis Merril in the first quarter was the longest touchdown reception since JSU joined the OVC in 2003. It also was the third longest touchdown reception in school history.
- Christian LeMay's third quarter touchdown pass to Barge was the first of his career.
- JSU had 20 plays of 10-yards or longer in today's game against West Alabama.


BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Wins by John Grass at Burgess-Snow Field 
2 - Troymaine Pope and Miles Jones tallied up more than 100 yards rushing for JSU.
3 - Wide receiver Josh Barge set a new career high with 3 receiving touchdowns.
37 - DaMarcus James' 3-yard touchdown run during the second quarter was the 37th of his career. Moving him three behind second place (Boyce Callahan 40).
39 - Gamecocks now have 39 scoring drives consisting of 1:45 of game time under John Grass' offense
88 - Jax State ran 88 total offensive plays during Saturday's game against West Alabama.
18,912 - Announced attendance to see the Gamecocks' home-opener of the 2014 season.



HEAD COACH JOHN GRASS
Opening Remarks:
"We played a good Division II football team today. I've said that all week. It's hard to tell how good they really are after two games, but we knew they had players and good players. I feel like our guys came out to play and took care of business. It could've been a lot different  game. They had some opportunities they didn't make, while we didn't make them either. We laid the ball on the ground, and that's not what we want to do nor is it what we are known for doing. It was good to see us make some explosive plays on offense. I think we had the third-most offensive yards in school history, while playing three quarterbacks effectively. I take my hat off to (West Alabama). They had no quit in them, and that staff is doing a great job. They will be a contender in the Gulf South Conference."

On Josh Barge's performance:
"He's become a dependable, go-to guy. He led us in receiving last year and did a good job there. He's grown up and is making plays. He's not going to wow you with speed or anything like that, but he gets the job done. He has great ball skills and is fearless. When the ball is in the air, he goes up and gets the ball.  I think our quarterbacks are comfortable throwing to him and its showing."

 On Troymaine Pope's performance:
"I think Troymaine Pope probably had the best game of his career today. He may have had more stats in a game before, but I know the best run of his career came today. He may be the fastest guy on our team with Telvin Brown out. I think you're going to see a lot of good things from him as the season continues. He had his best practice this week, and he was determined. We kind of challenged him, and he came to play this week.

JSU PLAYER QUOTES
Ben Endress, Sr., LB
On getting a win at home:
"First off, the atmosphere was great and I think it was close to 20,000 and they were in there the whole time loud, and we really appreciate that. It's also great to get that first win at home."
On UWA offensive attack:
"They were a great offense and you saw that they had a lot of speed, they were super fast. We had a good gameplan for them.  We just didn't do some of our assignments sometimes and gave up a big play."

Troymaine Pope, Jr., RB
One UWA defense and getting yards after contact:
"I can break tackles but sometimes my coaches get on to me for that.  They want to just get downhill and run with a lot of speed and power.

Josh Barge, R-So., WR
On his big game
"It's a blessing. For the quarterbacks to have faith in me, I caught two from Max (Shortell) on two great balls that I got to make plays on. As long as I'm out there I can go try and make plays. Going against our defense every day, I feel like we have one of the best defenses in the OVC, so that really helps me every day in practice."
On first home game of season
"It was awsome coming out to that atmosphere and it's great to know you have that many people there supporting you."

Allen Carson, R-Jr., DL
Rebounding as a defense from early UWA score
"It was just a bust, we had a few busts, but my main focus is to just get those guys back together and come together as a team and get everybody back on the same page.  Our main goal was to just keep hitting them and keep hitting them as a defense and eventually they'll give up."

Max Shortell, Sr., QB
On his performance
"I could've done a couple things better, but that happens."
On if the team is ready to enter OVC play
"I think we're there.  These three games have allowed us to do what we do well. It just kind of helps us nail down what we do best.  We want to be able to run the ball and throw the ball a little more."