JSU overcomes Mercer, downpour to claim 15th straight home opener

Saturday, October 10

JACKSONVILLE

2 pm

Jacksonville State University

1-1

Mercer

0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Mercer	14	0	7	7	28
Jacksonville State	3	24	0	7	34

JSU overcomes Mercer, downpour to claim 15th straight home opener

10/10/2020 6:58:00 PM | Football

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – Neither the remnants of Hurricane Delta nor a 100-yard Mercer kickoff return to begin the game could spoil Jacksonville State's only appearance at Burgess-Snow Field during this abbreviated fall season.

Zerrick Cooper rushed for two touchdowns and the defense forced two key fourth-quarter turnovers as the Gamecocks (1-1) overcame inclement weather to defeat Mercer 34-28 in the first matchup between the programs. Jacksonville State has now won 15 consecutive home openers.

Safety Nicario Harper returned a Bears' fumble 64 yards for a touchdown with 5:03 remaining for what proved to be the decisive points. Kolbi Fuqua hit Mercer's Andrew May after a completed pass and knocked the ball loose, with Harper, a transfer from Southern Miss, scooping it up and running untouched down the sideline to give Jacksonville State a 34-21 lead.

Mercer (0-1) made it interesting by driving 74 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 34-28 with 51 seconds left. The Bears then attempted an onside kick, which JSU's Logan McVay fell on to preserve the win.

Cooper completed 12-of-18 passes for 139 yards to move past Ed Lett (1979-82) for second place in Jacksonville State's career passing yardage record book. He now has 7,191 career passing yards, trailing only Eli Jenkins (7,652).

"To get a win in a driving rainstorm, you'll take it any way you can get it," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "We could have played a lot better, but I thought we did what we had to do to win the game."

Cooper needs 146 scrimmage yards next week at North Alabama to move past former Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo (1999-202) for 10th place on the Ohio Valley Conference's career total offense list. He now has accumulated 7,914 career scrimmage yards.

Jacksonville State found itself in an early hole when Deondre Johnson returned the opening kickoff 100 yards to quiet the homecoming crowd at Burgess-Snow.

The Bears extended their lead to 14-3 midway through the first quarter with a 13-play drive capped off by Tyray Devezin's 3-yard TD run.

The Gamecock offense responded by scoring 24 points in the second quarter, their most in a quarter since the 2015 FCS semifinals against Sam Houston State.

Alen Karajic kicked his second field goal, this time from 43 yards after making a 38-yard kick earlier, on the first snap of the quarter to cut Mercer's lead to 14-6.

Pat Jackson's first career touchdown run and Karajic's extra point made it 14-13 with 8:27 left before halftime. Jackson ended the game as JSU's leading rusher with 62 yards on 11 carries.

Cooper had touchdown runs of one and nine yards in a span of 63 seconds as Jacksonville State built a 27-14 halftime lead. His second touchdown was set up when Markail Benton recovered a fumble at the Bears 27 and Jacksonville State needed just four plays to find the end zone.

Trae Barry caught four passes for 84 yards and moved past Butch Barker into second place in the record book for most career receiving yards by a JSU tight end.

Darius Joiner had a career-best 12 tackles to lead the defensive effort that limited Mercer to 287 yards. Fuqua contributed 10 tackles in addition to forcing a fumble.

The Gamecocks renew one of their oldest rivalries next Saturday when they visit Big South Conference member UNA (0-1). Kickoff at Braly Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN+.

Mercer's next game is at Army West Point on Oct. 24

Jacksonville State Postgame Notes – Mercer
October 10, 2020 • Burgess-Snow Field • Jacksonville, Ala.

JSU Captains: redshirt senior linebacker Umstead Sanders, senior tight end Trae Barry, redshirt senior punter Preston Knight, redshirt senior offensive lineman Nahum Horton, redshirt junior kicker Bryant Wallace, redshirt senior Zerrick Cooper, redshirt senior tight end Landon Rice and senior wide receiver Jared Scott.
JSU won the toss and elected to defer.
The Gamecocks are now 53-18-3 all-time in home openers at Burgess-Snow Field, and are 15-2 since joining the OVC in 2003, having won the last 15 in a row since their last home-opening loss to Furman in 2005.
JSU improves to 56-9 in regular season games against non-FBS opponents under John Grass.
The Gamecocks now lead the all-time series 1-0 against Mercer after the first-ever meeting with the Bears.
JSU is now 48-56-2 all-time against current member of the Southern Conference, adding Mercer to the list of seven different programs.
JSU's 24 points scored in the second quarter were the most points in a quarter by the Gamecocks since also putting up 24 against Sam Houston State on Dec. 19, 2015 in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs.
Mercer's 100-yard kickoff return by Deondre Johnson to open the game was the first kickoff return for a touchdown allowed by JSU since Sept. 14, 2019, when Eastern Washington had a 90-yard scoring return.
Zerrick Cooper's eight-yard completion to Logan McVay late in the second quarter moved the Jonesboro, Ga., native to second all-time on the school's career passing list with 7,153 yards. He ended the day with 139 passing yards to reach 7,191. He sits 461 yards behind JSU career leader Eli Jenkins.
With a 20-yard grab in the second quarter, Trae Barry passed Butch Barker for second all-time in receiving yards by a tight end in school history. He finished with a team-high 84 receiving yards and sits 246 yards behind JSU career leader Rusty Fuller (1980-83)
Junior running back Pat Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run just before halftime.
Freshman Jaylen Swain's second-quarter punt block that led to JSU's go-ahead score was JSU's first punt block since Ja'Cobie Lofton blocked an Eastern Washington punt on Sept. 14, 2019.
Redshirt junior Markail Benton recovered his first career fumble when Mercer fumbled a kickoff return with under a minute to play before halftime.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kolbi Fuqua forced a fumble midway through the fourth quarter, his second forced turnover in two games after an interception returned for a score the week prior at Florida State.
Redshirt safety Nicario Harper returned a fumble recovery 64 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for JSU's first fumble return for a score since Robert Gray did so against Samford on Nov. 30, 2013.
Redshirt sophomore Marshall Clark grabbed his first career interception late in the fourth quarter to help the Gamecocks seal the first win of 2020.
Redshirt junior safety Darius Joiner led the Gamecock defense with 12 tackles.
Freshman kicker Alen Karajic improved his career long field goal to 43 yards in the second quarter, after converting on a 38-yarder in the opening quarter.

Jacksonville State Postgame Quotes – Mercer
October 10, 2020 • Burgess-Snow Field • Jacksonville, Ala.

Head coach John Grass
Thoughts on the game
"It was not a clean game and we could have played a lot better. Overall, we did what we had to do to win the game. I thought our guys took care of the ball, which is a bright spot. Defensively, we played with about six or seven defensive starters. I knew it was going to take a series or two to catch up with that offense, and probably about the third or fourth series we caught up with it. Overall, defensively, I was pretty pleased. It's good to get out of it with a win."

On getting a win in the only home game of the fall
"I appreciate our crowd and the loyal fans that sat out in a messy day like they did today. I appreciate them coming and watching the guys. It is great to get a win at home in the only home game. I wish we had a few more at home this fall."

Thoughts on the strength of the running game
"I think our offensive line is a year more mature. They were just so young last year. Those guys are playing better right now than at any point in time last year. We struggled a little bit in the second half. We did not have a choice but to run it because it was raining so hard. Before watching the tape, one thing I would pull out would be picking up first downs in the second half. Not scoring much in the second half offensively, but also not picking up first downs and possessing the ball."

On the Zerrick Cooper and Trae Barry connection
"I think it is called a security blanket and a go-to guy. Trae Barry is definitely going to make big time catches in clutch situations. I think Coop knows that. We really missed Trae last year when he was out of the lineup. I think Coop does a good job of getting the ball to Trae, as well. When we threw it, we threw it effectively."

Darius Joiner, safety, redshirt junior
On early defensive adjustments
"We watched a lot of film on their offensive line. We didn't really change a lot. We just had to get set up better."

On winning the only home game of the fall
"I feel like everyone wanted to come out and put on a show for the fans since it was the only one this year. We've been wanting to play in Burgess-Snow Field for a long time."

Nicario Harper, safety, redshirt sophomore
On his fumble recovery touchdown
"It was third and long. I ran to the ball to help my teammate and I saw the ball pop out. The rain was coming down very hard so when I picked it up and fumbled it a little, but my teammates helped me find the end zone and secure the victory."

Zerrick Cooper, quarterback, redshirt senior
On the effect the rain had on the offensive game plan
"It didn't really affect us. I think we did a great job of running the ball. As far as throwing goes, I just took what the defense gave me and I'm just happy to have a win."

Trae Barry, tight end, senior
On offensive game plan adjustments
"We did have to be a little more run-dominant. That helped us open up the passing game with safeties coming down hard, but we still did a good job with our game plan. We passed it well and ran it well. It was all pretty good."

On moving into second all-time in tight end receiving yards at JSU
"It's pretty awesome. Of course, I want to move into number one, but that's not the main goal here. I'm looking forward to what these next two games hold."