JACKSONVILLE – Malik Feaster etched his name forever in Jacksonville State's record book and in the process turned his team's fortunes against one of its oldest rivals.
The junior cornerback scooped a North Alabama fumble in the end zone in the final minute of the first half and raced 100 yards the other way for a touchdown to lead the No. 10 Gamecocks to a 27-24 win over the Lions in the 49th renewal of the rivalry. Feaster's 100-yard fumble return was the longest in FCS history and broke a 59-year-old school record of 98 yards set by Eugene Grieg.
A Burgess-Snow Field crowd of 20,992 saw Jacksonville State improve to 2-1 with its 16th straight victory in a home opener.
After the kind of week we had, missing some key guys, to get a win any we can – I'm very pleased with that," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "We knew UNA was going to come in here ready to play and they did."
Jaylen Swain added another defensive score in the third quarter, picking off a pass by UNA's Blake Dever and rumbling 39 yards to the end zone. Alen Karajic's extra point pushed JSU's lead to 20-10 at the 6:58 mark of the third.
Jacksonville State last scored two defensive touchdowns in a game on Oct. 10, 2018, at Tennessee State. Yul Gowdy (15 yards) and Jalen Choice (54 yards) had interception returns for touchdowns against the Tigers in a 41-14 JSU win.
The Gamecocks needed every bit of help it could get from its defense.
Quarterback Zerrick Cooper, one of the heroes of the previous week's upset of Florida State, dressed out but did not play. Freshman Matthew Caldwell made his first start at quarterback and scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard scamper as the Gamecocks extended their lead to 27-17.
Caldwell completed 10-of-19 passes for 98 yards and ran for 27 more in his debut.
The Lions (0-3) led 10-6 and appeared poised to extend that lead by another touchdown when Feaster came up with his key fumble return. Marshall Clark knocked the ball loose from UNA running back Parker Driggers as he crossed the goal line and Feaster came up with it seven yards deep in the end zone.
"I ran and I scooped it and started running," Feaster said. "I didn't know who was behind me. I scanned across the field and I saw No. 16 (UNA's Takairee Kenebrew) running toward me at an angle and I just hoped somebody was going to pick him up because I was running out of gas."
Karajic tied a career-best with a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 39-yarder in the second quarter to trim the Lions' lead to 10-6.
UNA outgained the Gamecocks 437-309.
Josh Samuel had 107 rushing yards to lead JSU. Former Jacksonville High standout Ron Wiggins contributed 54 yards on seven carries and Georgia Southern transfer Matt LaRoche ran twice for 23 yards.
Markail Benton was the Gamecocks' top tackler with seven stops.
Former Gulf South and Ohio Valley Conference foe UT-Martin visits Burgess-Snow Field next Saturday at 3 p.m. for Preview Day. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 34-8, including a 37-20 decision at Martin, Tenn., on March 14.
JSU Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach John Grass
Opening Quotes:
"Coming off the win that we had last Saturday night, it's just good to get a win any way you can get one. For our guys to have the week that we had, I still see the lingering effects of last week. We're still beat up and I think that carried over to this game. I thought Matthew (Caldwell) did not feel like we played well, but we just gotta take a deep breath and know that we got through the game."
On Responding After a Big Win Over Florida State:
"We would have not won the game tonight if we had not gotten our head out of the clouds. I've talked about it since right after the game last week. Give credit to UNA they came in here to win but we would not have won if we did not prepare the way we did this week. I'm just proud of our guys and how we handled the week."
On a Starting a True Freshman Quarterback:
"The moment wasn't too big for him. I thought he operated really well in fall camp and pushed hard to win the backup job. He handled the moment and prepared well, I'm just really proud of the way he prepared and played tonight."
Malik Feaster, Cornerback, Junior
On His FCS Record-Setting Touchdown:
"I don't really know too much about how the ball got to the endzone because I was in press-man coverage. I remember though that I was guarding my man and when I turned around I see the ball going through the middle of the field and the back reach for the endzone, but I was overlapping. I saw Marshall Clark put his head on the football and it just popped out, so I scooped it and just started running."
On Getting a Good Win Despite Injuries:
"It felt good. We've always prepared for this, especially after last spring when we had three corners down. So we learned to step into the roles and be the next guy up. We don't go about it preparing a different way, we go into it with the same mindset that we did the last game. The job's still gonna get done."
Jaylen Swain, Defensive End, Freshman
On His Pick-Six Touchdown:
"It was the first time that coach had called that play tonight. I knew the quarterback wasn't going to see me drop. I thought he was going to scramble, so I ran with him but he threw the ball and I just had to get the touchdown."
On Practicing Without Two Starting Safeties:
"Everyone practiced and prepared the same. We just believed in the defensive backs that they were gonna get the job done and that's what we did tonight."
Matthew Caldwell, Quarterback, Freshman
On Learning About Starting and Preparing for His First Game:
"This Wednesday in practice I found out that I would start. I prepared like I was starting from Monday. It wasn't anything new to me, because I was prepared to start. No matter how practice went, I was gonna be prepared to start."
On His Performance In His First Start:
"It was shaky. I thought we didn't execute well on offense when we could have been up by three scores at the end of that game. A lot of that is on me, especially for not converting when we had to, so I take the blame for that. I thought we could have played a lot better, but it was a good win."
Jacksonville State Postgame Notes – North Alabama
September 18, 2021 • Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Ala.
• JSU Captains: Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marshall Clark and redshirt junior wide receiver Daymond Philyaw-Johnson
• JSU won the toss and chose to defer
• The Gamecocks now lead the all-time series against North Alabama 28-18-3. It's JSU's fifth straight win over their in-state rival and 11th in the last 12 meetings.
• Head coach John Grass earned his 70th win at the helm of the Gamecocks, the second-winningest active coach in the FCS with at least 50 games coached. Grassis now 70-22.
• Freshman kicker Alen Karajic tied his career long with a 46-yard field goal in JSU's first possession
• JSU's field goal on its first drive was the first time the Gamecocks have scored in their opening possession this season
• Junior cornerback Malik Feaster broke a school record and set an NCAA FCS record with his 100-yard fumble return just before halftime, surpassing the previous JSU mark of 98 yards held by Eugene Greip in 1962. The previous long across the FCS was 99 yards on three separate occasions.
• Freshman quarterback Matthew Caldwell made his first career start against North Alabama, finishing 10-of-19 for 98 yards
• Jacksonville, Ala. native, Ron Wiggins had his longest career carry in the first quarter with a 38-yard run to set up JSU's first score of the game. He finished with a career-best 54 yards on seven runs
.• Redshirt freshman Chris Hardie had his first career fumble recovery as JSU turned three UNA turnovers into 21 points
• Redshirt junior Josh Samuel led JSU on the ground with 107 yards for his first 100-yard game of the season and third of his career
