JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State extended the longest consecutive conference win streak in the FCS to 18 in its Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee Tech.

The No. 3 Gamecocks (4-1) forced five turnovers and Josh Clemons ran for a game-high 110 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-21 victory in front of a sun-drenched crowd of 16,092 at Burgess-Snow Field.

Back-to-back OVC champion Jacksonville State rolled up 446 total yards despite the absence of Eli Jenkins (stinger) in the second half and Roc Thomas (concussion) for most of the afternoon. Tennessee Tech dropped to 2-4, 2-2 in the OVC.

Jacksonville's State offense sputtered at times but still had more than enough firepower to beat the Golden Eagles for the fifth straight time. Clemons had touchdown runs of seven, 26 and nine yards while Marlon Bridges, Delwyn Torbert and Jaylen Hill came up with interceptions, and Selwyn Torbert and Randy Robinson recovered Tennessee Tech fumbles to lead the salty defensive performance.

Tennessee Tech was limited to only 229 total yards, 137 below its season average.

"Defensively we couldn't have played much better outside of one drive that was aided by two penalties," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "Their quarterback didn't have a long time to throw the ball. We were able to get to him quickly and that prevented their receivers from making double moves against us."

Grass also addressed the injuries to his starting quarterback and running back afterward.

"I think Eli is fine," Grass said. "He just got a little stinger. Roc has a concussion.

"We got to play a bunch of folks, which was really good."

Jenkins threw for 125 yards before leaving the game and moved past Montressa Kirby (1995-98) into second place on the Gamecocks' career passing yards list at 6,620. He trails Ed Lett by 525 yards with six regular season games remaining.

Jacksonville State led 33-7 at halftime and was never seriously threatened in the final 30 minutes.

Cade Stinnett staked JSU to a 3-0 early in the first quarter with a 38-yard field goal. The Gamecocks upped the lead to 10-0 on their next possession, moving 69 yards in eight plays with Clemons finishing the drive with a seven-yard TD.

Clemons' 26-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left in the first extended JSU's advantage to 17-0.

A one-yard run by Jenkins, Clemons' third touchdown of the half, and a 39-yard Stinnett field goal increased Jacksonville State's lead to 33-7 at the break.

Bryant Horn performed admirably in relief of Jenkins after halftime, completing both of his pass attempts, including a 31-yard touchdown to Shaq Davidson with 2:27 left in the third quarter.

"He can just make plays," Grass said of the redshirt sophomore quarterback. "He's got a good arm and knowledge of the game. I thought he played really well."

The Gamecocks will host Austin Peay next Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Jacksonville State Postgame Notes – Tennessee Tech
October 8, 2016 • Burgess-Snow Field • Jacksonville, Ala.

• Captains for Jacksonville State: OL Dylan Cline, QB Eli Jenkins, SAF Siran Neal and DE EJ Moss
• Jacksonville State lost the toss and received the opening kickoff. The Gamecocks have lost four of the five tosses of 2016.
• On the second defensive play of the game for Jacksonville State, redshirt-junior Darius Jackson brought down Tennessee Tech's Michael Birdsong for a sack. With the sack, Jackson became the Gamecocks' all-time leader in sacks. The previous mark was 16.0 held by Chris Landrum, Sr., and Warren Blair.
• Cade Stinnett's 39-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter was the longest of his career. His previous long was 38 yards, which came earlier in the game.
• With his two first quarter rushing touchdowns, it marked the first time Josh Clemons scored multiple rushing touchdowns in a collegiate game.
• By recovering Tennessee Tech's muffed punt early in the second quarter, it marked the first time in his career Selwyn Torbert recovered a fumble.
• On a 42-yard pass completion to Krenwick Sanders late in the second quarter, quarterback Eli Jenkins passed Michael Proctor (1986-89; Murray State) for third on the Ohio Valley Conference career total offense list.
• Jacksonville State is now 14-6 all-time against Tennessee Tech and is 7-2 at home in the series.
• The Gamecocks are 11-3 all-time in OVC openers and 3-0 in such games under John Grass.
• Dating back to the 2013 season, Jacksonville State has now won 18 straight games against OVC opponents.
• Jacksonville State is 30-0 against non-FBS opponents during the regular season when Eli Jenkins starts at quarterback.
• By throwing for 125 yards during the first half, Eli Jenkins passed Montressa Kirby (1995-98) for second on Jacksonville State's all-time career passing yards list.
• With the win, JSU moves its all-time record against OVC teams to 81-23.
• Since 2000, Jacksonville State is now 81-10 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. The Gamecocks have won their last 24 games with at least 30 points on the scoreboard.
• Since joining the OVC in 2003, Jacksonville State is 49-3 at Burgess-Snow Field when putting up 30-plus points.
• Jacksonville State has had 15 scoring drives of 2:00 or less in 2016.
• Since JSU Stadium opened in 1946, Jacksonville State is 268-99-8 at home. The Gamecocks are now 42-7 in their last 49 games at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium and 36-5 in their last 41 regular-season home games.
• By holding Tennessee Tech to 62 rushing yards, it marked the 66th time Jacksonville State held an opponent to 100-yards or less since moving to Division I in 1995. It also marked the fourth time in 2016 the Gamecocks accomplished the feat.
• With a 17-yard reception on Jacksonville State's first offensive play of the second half, Josh Barge extended his school-record of consecutive games played with a catch streak to 43. The mark is one shy of the OVC all-time record and two back of the NCAA FCS record.
• Bryant Horn's pass completion to Luke Smith, midway through the third quarter, was the first pass attempt by a JSU quarterback, other than Eli Jenkins, on the season.
• Bryant Horn's 31-yard touchdown completion to Shaq Davidson with 2:27 left in the third quarter was the Alexander City native's first passing touchdown of his Jacksonville State career.
• By finishing with 110 rushing yards, Josh Clemons exceeded the 100 rushing yard mark for the first time in his career.
• In the closing seconds of the game, Delwyn Torbert recorded his first career interception. 

Jacksonville State Postgame Quotes – Tennessee Tech
October 8, 2016 • Burgess-Snow Field • Jacksonville, Ala.

Head Coach John Grass
Thoughts on the game
"It was a good win. Tennessee Tech is much improved. We knew they were going to play hard for four quarters. I thought our guys really came out and played well in the first half. Defensively, we couldn't have played much better — outside of one drive, which was aided by two penalties. We moved the ball really well and got down into the end zone and just played really well in the first half. In the second half, we just have to find a way to keep the energy there. We have to create energy. In a few weeks, we'll be on the road and we have to create energy on our own. We have to correct that and not have any let downs."
On Bryant Horn's performance
"I think people saw in a game what we've seen in practice. Kendrick Doss hasn't been able to beat him out, and it's been neck-and-neck at times. He can just make plays. He can make plays with his legs. He's got a good arm and a great knowledge of the game. I thought he played really well."
On Josh Clemons' performance
"Josh Clemons did great. Josh has always been a really good football player. He's been banged up for the last two years, so it's good to see him healthy again and running the football. He's a powerful runner when he's able to get in the inside. He's got speed and all the tools. If he stays healthy, he can put up these kinds of numbers all season."
On the defense
"Michael Birdsong didn't have a long time to throw the ball. We were able to get to him quickly, and that prevented their receivers from making double moves against us. A lot of people are going to give us seven-man protect and double move our corners, because we play a lot of man. We know, going into each game, that we are going to get that, so our defensive line has to get to the quarterback."

Josh Clemons, running back, R-Sr.
On his performance
"Obviously I feel it, but I'll feel it a lot more tomorrow. It just felt good to be out there and help the team in any way I could."

Bryant Horn, quarterback, R-So.
On coming into the game on short notice
"It was exciting. Coach Grass came up to me and said, 'We are about to take some shots,' so I was like, 'I better get it done or I might not be out there much longer,' but it worked out. Hopefully I'll be able to get more opportunities in the future."

Darius Jackson, defensive end, R-Jr.
On getting the Jacksonville State sack record
"I knew I was one away from the sack record. I was just waiting to get it. I knew they were going to throw the ball a lot, so I took my chance to get the sack."

Eli Jenkins, quarterback, R-Sr.
On pass play where Krenwick Sanders caught a pass while falling down
"I blame Coach Grass and Coach Ogle on that one. We were pounding the ball so much, and having so much success, my arm got tired and drifted and stuff. I went from this side of the field, then looked to see if Josh Barge was open, then I came back. By the time I came back, Sanders was already down the field, so I just tried to get it out of my hand. It just came out crazy."