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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Jacksonville State needed overtime to give John Grass his first win as its head coach.

Quarterback Eli Jenkins sprinted 13 yards for a touchdown to lift the ninth-ranked Gamecocks (1-1) to a 26-23 overtime victory over No. 13 Chattanooga before a crowd of 14,285 at Finley Stadium Saturday night. The win was Jacksonville State's sixth over the Moccasins in the last seven meetings.

At halftime, the Moccasins had more touchdowns (2) than first downs (0) after Dee Virgin intercepted Jenkins and returned it 55 yards to the end zone in the first quarter and Lucas Webb picked off a deflected pass by Max Shortell and ran 37 yards for another score in the second.
Chattanooga ran only 18 plays in the first half and failed to make a first down. The Gamecocks had 265 total yards at halftime, while UTC's offense netted minus-5.

"I got a little conservative calling plays after those two interceptions in the first half," Grass said. "We kept the ball on the ground the whole second half, didn't want to take any chances, and just let our defense win the football game.

"(The defense) played their butts off and put us in position to win the game."

Grass' first career victory as a college head coach didn't come easy.

The Gamecocks led 17-14 at halftime, then sputtered offensively during the second half. The game was tied 20-20 at the end of regulation, and UTC took its only lead on the first series in overtime as Henrique Ribeiro kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Mocs ahead 23-20.

But Jacksonville State didn't waste any time scoring on its overtime possession.

Two runs by DeMarcus James moved the Gamecocks to the UTC 13, and Jenkins finished off the winning drive by racing 13 yards up the middle on a called quarterback draw.

Chattanooga (0-2) was limited to 111 total yards, the fewest allowed by a Jacksonville State defense since moving to Division I. The previous low was 114 yards by Eastern Kentucky in 2006.

The Mocs' initial first down came with under 11 minutes left in the third quarter on a 9-yard run by Keon Williams.

Jenkins led JSU on a six-play, 67-yard scoring drive on its first possession. He completed passes of 10 yards to Markis Merrill and 28 yards to Josh Barge and Miles Jones finished things off with a 12-yard run over right tackle for a 7-0 lead.

James ran four yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to cap an 88-yard, 11-play Gamecocks drive. Connor Rouleau's extra point made it 14-7 with 10:06 left in the second.

Rouleau added a 42-yard field goal – his first as a collegian – later in the quarter for a 17-7 JSU lead. He would later add a 21-yard field goal early in the third.

Jacksonville State out-gained the Mocs 409-111 and had 22 first downs to UTC's 9. JSU dominated time of possession, 46:27 to 28:33.
Saturday night's crowd at Finley Stadium was the fifth-highest in UTC's history.

Jacksonville State has an open date next Saturday. The Gamecocks' home opener is Sept. 20 against former Gulf South Conference rival West Alabama.
 

POST-GAME NOTES
- Captains for the Gamecocks: QB Max Shortell, OL Nick Johnson, LB Ben Endress and DE Chris Landrum.
- Jacksonville State won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
- The Mocs' 111 yards of total offense is the fewest a JSU defense has ever allowed since moving to Division I in 1995. The previous low was 114 by Eastern Kentucky in 2006.
- Junior LB JaJuan Lee made his first career start for the Gamecocks, the only 1st-time starter for JSU in the game.
- Dating back to the start of the 2010 season, the Gamecocks have now won 10 games on their last possession.
- The Gamecocks are now 12-26 all-time against the Mocs and have won 6 of the last 7. 
- Junior Miles Jones' 12-yard touchdown run with 11:07 left in the 1st quarter was his first of the year and the third of his career. It was JSU's first rushing TD of the season.
- The Gamecocks scoring drive of 1:45 on their first possession was the 36th of 1:45 or less dating back to the start of the 2013 season.
- With his four-yard TD run in the second quarter, senior DaMarcus James now has 36 career rushing touchdowns, JSU's Div. I record and third in school history behind David Gulledge (48) and Boyce Callahan (40).
- With 6:11 left in the second quarter, redshirt freshman Connor Rouleau drilled his first career field goal attempt, a 42-yarder from the left hash.
- The Gamecocks are now 11-38 vs. ranked FCS foes since joining Division I-AA in 1995. They have won six of their last eight against ranked FCS teams.
- The Gamecocks are now 7-5 all-time in overtime games and have won seven of their last eight games to go past regulation.
- Eli Jenkins' game winning touchdown in overtime was his first rushing TD of the season and the ninth of his career.




BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Gamecocks making their first career start on Saturday (Junior LB JaJuan Lee).
3 - Tackles by Senior DE Chris Landrum in  the first half, all for a loss.
9 - JSU's ranking coming into the game, the highest ranking of a non-conference opponent to visit UTC at Finley Stadium.
10 - Wins by the Gamecocks on their final  possession since 2010.
20 - Offensive plays ran by UTC before its first 1st Down of the game, which came in the third quarter.
36 - Career rushing TDs by senior DaMarcus James after his one on Saturday, 3rd in JSU history.
42 - Yards on Connor Rouleau's first career field goal attempt in the second quarter, which he made.
111 - Total offense by UTC, the fewest against a JSU team since the Gamecocks moved to Division I in 1995.
270 - Difference in total offense in the first half, with JSU gaining 265 and holding UTC to -5.
14,235 - Attendance at Saturday's game, the 5th largest home crowd in UTC history.