Box Score FINAL STATS | PHOTO GALLERY MURRAY, Ky. – The Jacksonville State football team opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a statement on Saturday, when the eighth ranked Gamecocks rolled to a 52-28 win at Murray State.
Looking to avenge an overtime loss to the Racers (1-3, 0-1 OVC) a year ago in which the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-0 OVC) dominated in every phase of the game, JSU left no doubt in the 2014 meeting in the series. The Gamecocks racked up 628 yards of total offense, surpassing the 600-yard mark for just sixth time in the school's Division I history and the second in as many weeks.
Many bests were set in the game, but sophomore quarterback
Eli Jenkins stole the show. The Birmingham product set career highs in rushing yards (149), pass completions (15-for-20) and passing yards (180), while running for three touchdowns to tie his career mark in that category. He tossed a touchdown pass, as well to lead a potent JSU offensive attack that seems to be getting better by the week.
Senior
DaMarcus James ran 26 times for 148 yards and three scores in the win, moving his name up a few more lists in the school's record book. Already JSU's Division I record holder for career touchdowns, the Demopolis, Ala., native ran that total to 40 to tie Boyce Callahan for second on the school's all-time list. His 15th 100-yard rushing game breaks former great Clay Green's Division I record for career games running past the century mark.
Seven Gamecocks caught at least one pass, a corps led by sophomore
Josh Barge's 92 yards on six catches.
On a night that seemed early like it would be an offensive slugfest, the Gamecock defense may have made the biggest adjustment of the game at the half. After allowing 289 yards to the Racers in the first half, the defense found its way into the backfield and held the potent MSU attack to just 14 yards in the third quarter and 71 in the entire second half.
Senior linebacker
Ben Endress led that defense with 10 stops and got into the backfield for a sack and another tackle for a loss. Corners
Jermaine Hough and
Jaylen Hill were tested often and buckled down in the second half to notch seven and six, tackles, respectively.
It started quickly, with Murray jumping to a 7-0 lead in just six plays, a score that was answered with an eight –play JSU drive that was capped by James' first touchdown run. The two exchanged scores again before a JSU stop finally set up Jenkins' first score and gave the Gamecocks their first lead at 21-14 late in the first quarter. They would never trail again.
The Racers drove to tie the score late in the half, setting up what could've been the biggest play of the night. Tied 28-28, senior
JD Williams took Carson Griffenkamp's kickoff 90 yards down to the Racer six and set up another James touchdown. That score took the wind out of Murray State's sail and it wouldn't score again, as the Gamecocks went on to score the final 24 points on their way to the win, their 10th in the last 11 meetings vs. the Racers. They also improve to 9-3 in OVC openers since joining the OVC inn 2003.
They continue OVC play on Saturday, when they return home to host UT Martin at 3 p.m. at Burgess-Snow Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
POST-GAME NOTES• Captains for Jacksonville State
Nick Johnson (OL),
Darrius Stephens (TE),
Michael Carlisle (LB), and
Andrew Dean (LS).
• Jacksonville State wins the toss and defers until the second half. Murray State will receive and defend the north endzone.
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Kyron Samuels recorded his first career start today and becomes the 15th Gamecock to make their first career start during the 2014 season.
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DaMarcus James scored three rushing touchdowns in the game to give him 40 during his career to tie Boyce Callan for second on JSU's career rushing touchdown list. David Gulledge (1987-90) holds the career record with 48 rushing touchdowns during his career.
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DaMarcus James finished with 148 rushing yards and now has 15 career 100-yard rushing games to set the school's Division I record. He was tied with Clay Green, who had 14 career 100-yard rushing games entering tonight's game vs Murray State.
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Eli Jenkins set new career highs in rushing and passing yards and pass completions in the game. The Birmingham native ran for a career-high 149 yards and threw for a career-best 180 against the Racers. He was 15-for-20 with a touchdown pass, while rushing for three TDs. The three rushing scores ties his career high.
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Eli Jenkins entered the game with one rushing TD on the season and had three vs the Racers. He now has 12 career rushing touchdowns for the Gamecocks.
• JSU had 237 yards of total offense in the first quarter, the most since having 204 in first half vs SEMO on Nov. 23, 2013.
• JSU had 367 yards of total offense in the first half, marking the most since getting 361 yards in the first half vs Samford in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Nov. 30, 2013.
• Jax State has now had 300-or more yards of total offense in 76 of 88 OVC games since joining the league in 2003.
• The Gamecocks finished with a pair of 100-yard rushers for the second straight week after
Eli Jenkins finished with 149 yards and
DaMarcus James finished with 148 yards.
• JSU finished with over 600 yards of total offense for the second straight week after the Gamecocks rolled up 630 yards last week versus West Alabama. It's the 21st time since joining the OVC that JSU has more than 500 yards of offense in a game and just the sixth time in Div. I history and the second-straight week it has gained 600 or more.
• Jacksonville State now has a 9-3 record in Ohio Valley Conference opening games since joining the league in 2003, and earned its first win in an OVC opener since the 2011 season.
• JSU now leads 10-2 in the all-time series against Murray State and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the two teams. JSU has now won five straight games at Murray in the series.
• Jax State is now 95-40-8 all-time versus teams in the Ohio Valley Conference and the Gamecocks are 65-23 against the league.
• JSU now has 25 come-from-behind wins since the start of the 2010 season after the Gamecocks rallied for today's win.
• Jax State is now 65-10 when scoring 30-or more points in a game since the 2000 season.
• The Gamecocks scored more than 50 points for the first time this season and first since a 55-14 win over Samford in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Nov. 30, 2013.
• With 35, the Gamecocks finished one first down shy of setting the school record for first downs, a mark they set last week with 36 against West Alabama.
