JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State will be glad to see the calendar flip from October to November.

The Gamecocks fell behind new ASUN foe Central Arkansas early and couldn't mount a rally, dropping a 38-14 decision on a rainy afternoon at Burgess-Snow Field. Jacksonville State drops to 3-5 overall, 1-2 in the AQ7 and needs to win the final three games to extend its FCS-best streak of 18 consecutive seasons with a record of .500 or better..

"Disappointing. Frustrated. Offensively, yardage-wise, one of our better days (398 total yards)," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "But you're not going to win games like that turning the ball over three times.

"It was very, very frustrating for sure."

Jacksonville State was 1-3 in October and outscored 135-55 in those four games.

The Bears (4-4, 3-2) converted two first-half JSU turnovers into 14 points and led 21-7 at intermission.

Central Arkansas set the tone by receiving the opening kickoff and driving 75 yards in 10 plays for the game's first score.

Breylin Smith threw a 13-yard pass to tight end Sam Camargo and Hayden Ray added the extra point to give UCA a lead it never relinquished.

The lead became 14-0 moments later when Zerrick Cooper's pass slipped through the hands of Ahmad Edwards and was intercepted by Cameron Godfrey, who returned it 23 yards to the JSU 12. Smith scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper and Ray's second PAT gave Central Arkansas a two-touchdown lead just six minutes into the game.

Jacksonville State pulled to within 14-7 on Cooper's nine-yard TD pass to Edwards with 5:26 left in the second quarter.

It was the 88th touchdown (68 passing, 20 rushing) the senior quarterback has been responsible for in his storied JSU career. He's now one shy of tying Eli Jenkins' school record of 89 from 2013-16.

The Gamecocks had driven near midfield as the clock wound down in the second quarter when disaster struck.

Cooper, under an intense pass rush, was intercepted by Bears linebacker Trenton Dunn, who raced 51 yards with the pick-six to give Central Arkansas with a 21-7 lead with 1:15 to go in the half.

Jacksonville State responded by starting the third quarter with a 75-yard scoring drive. Josh Samuel had a season-long 48-yard run into UCA territory and scored on a three-yard touchdown run with 10:30 left in the third. Alen Karajic's extra point drew JSU to within 21-14.

The Bears, however, pulled away with 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to hand JSU its second straight loss.

Central Arkansas got another interception return for a touchdown when Christian Cain picked off Cooper in the fourth quarter and ran it back 87 yards to extend their lead 38-14.

Prior to Saturday, the last Jacksonville State opponent to score on an interception return was Southeastern Louisiana in the 2019 season opener.

Cooper finished 22-for-40 for 248 yards with the touchdown and three interceptions. Samuel's 113 yards on 12 carries was a season-high for a Gamecock back.

All-America safety Nicario Harper led the defense with eight tackles, including five solo stops. Yul Gowdy and Markail Benton each recorded seven.

Jacksonville State plays its final home game of the '21 season next Saturday against Abilene Christian. Kickoff at Burgess-Snow Field is at 1 p.m. and the AQ7 matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Jacksonville State Postgame Notes – Central Arkansas
October 30, 2021 • Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Ala.

•            JSU Captains: Redshirt junior lineman Zack Cangelosi and junior cornerback Malik Feaster.

•            JSU won the toss and elected to defer for the seventh straight week.

•            The Gamecocks fell to Central Arkansas in the first meeting between the two schools. The two will play annually as members of the new ASUN Conference.      

•            Head coach John Grass is now 71-26 during his eighth season at the Gamecocks' helm.

•            Redshirt senior Zerrick Cooper accounted for his 88th career touchdown on a nine-yard scoring pass to Ahmad Edwards in the second quarter, moving him within one of Eli Jenkins' school-record of 89 career scores as a Gamecock.

•            Cooper also tossed three interceptions, matching the most he's thrown since Austin Peay on Sept. 28, 2019.

•            Running back Josh Samuel's 48-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter was the longest rushing play of the season by JSU, topping his 42-yard run against Kennesaw State.

•            With a season-high 113 yards on 12 carries, Samuel recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game against UCA.

•            Freshman receiver Ahmad Edwards hauled in his team-high eighth touchdown of the season with a nine-yard catch from Cooper in the second quarter.

•            Redshirt sophomore Nicario Harper led the Gamecock defense with eight tackles.

•            A 51-yard interception return for the Bears in the second quarter was the first Gamecock interception returned for a touchdown since the opening game of the 2019 season at Southeastern Louisiana.

•            JSU falls to a 3-5 mark for the first time since 2000.  
 

Jacksonville State Football vs Central Arkansas Post-Game Quotes

Head Coach John Grass

Opening Quotes:

"We're just disappointed and frustrated. I thought once we adjusted our defense after that first drive, we played pretty well. Offensively, yardage-wise, this was one of our better games but you're not going to win games like that by turning the ball over three times. We're also playing without about two or three players a week now too. The game should have been down to the wire though. Whether we win it or not, I don't know but it should have been down to the wire. The defense played well enough to win and offensively, if we don't turn the ball over, I think we're in the game."

On the Team's Effort During Practice and Games:

"I've been really proud of the way we're preparing. I think anyone who comes to practice and watches us would say the same. This team has been through a lot with injuries, and they just continue to battle through it. We come in every week prepared and we were prepared today. There's no way it shouldn't have been a one-score game at the end for sure though."

On Keeping the Team Motivated Going Forward:

"It's simple, I'm not a quitter and this team is not a bunch of quitters. They're going to finish the season and they're going to finish it right. We're going to challenge each other and get back out there to find a win."

Josh Samuel, Running Back, Redshirt Junior

On Offensive Efforts:

"We practice every week and we go hard every week. The results just don't match with what goes on during the week. We're all going to be upset but we just have to keep moving and go back to work on Monday"

Yul Gowdy, Cornerback, Redshirt Junior

On Moving Forward in the Season:

"We've just got to finish and finish strong."