Gamecocks Drop Heartbreaker at New Mexico State in CUSA Finale

Saturday, November 25

Las Cruces, N.M.

3 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

8-4 , 6-2

New Mexico State

10-3 , 7-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Jacksonville St.	0	3	0	14	17
New Mexico St.	14	3	0	3	20

Photo by: Brandon Phillips/JSU

11/25/2023 6:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Whether Jax State's 2023 football season will continue with a bowl trip won't be known until bids are officially awarded on Sunday, Dec. 3.

The Gamecocks concluded their final year of transition to FBS with a historic 8-4 record (6-2 in Conference USA) following a last-second 20-17 loss to New Mexico State in the regular-season finale at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Jax State can be selected to participate in a bowl game if there aren't enough eligible teams to fill the 82 spots available in the 41 bowl games at season's end.

New Mexico State won on the game's final play on a 42-yard field goal by Ethan Albertson after Jax State had staged a second-half comeback to tie it with 43 seconds to go in regulation.

"We had plenty of opportunities and the kids played hard," said Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez. "You've got to give them credit, too. They have a good football team and they've won a lot of games."

Jax State entered this year predicted to finish seventh in the conference, but instead beat every league opponent except the two who will meet in the CUSA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 1 – New Mexico State (10-3, 7-1), riding an eight-game winning streak, and No. 22 Liberty (12-0, 8-0).

Jax State is one of only eight teams since 1970 to win at least eight games in their first season playing an FBS schedule.

The Gamecocks forced four turnovers – two interceptions and two fumbles – and had their chance to force overtime after Alen Karajic kicked a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17. Jax State's defense now has recorded 25 turnovers through 12 games.

The momentum from the Aggies' stunning 21-point upset at Auburn a week before carried over as they scored touchdowns on their first two possessions to open a 14-0 lead after one quarter.

The teams swapped field goals during the second quarter as New Mexico State built a 17-3 halftime lead, running 48 plays to Jax State's 21 while controlling the football for more than 22 minutes.

The second half, however, was an entirely different tale.

Karajic kicked two of his three field goals after intermission and Malik Jackson scored on an 11-yard touchdown run followed by Zion Webb's two-point conversion.

Jax State's defense, meanwhile, limited the Aggies to only 154 total yards in the second half.

Zion Webb threw for 248 yards but was intercepted twice. Wide receiver Perry Carter finished with a career-high 134 yards on seven receptions.

The Aggies limited Jax State to only 95 yards with Jackson the top rusher with 43 yards on eight carries.

Jax State Postgame Notes – New Mexico State
November 25, 2023 • Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, N.M.

JSU Captains: Redshirt senior linebacker Quae Drake, redshirt senior wide receiver Perry Carter, redshirt senior safety Jeremiah Harris
Jax State won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half
Head coach Rich Rodriguez is now 17-6 in his second season at Jax State and 180-125-2 overall in 26 seasons
Rodriguez remains tied with Louisiana-Monroe's Terry Bowden for eighth among active FBS coaches with 180 career wins. Notably, New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill won his 175^th career game and is in 10^th place.
Today's game marked Jeremiah Harris' 57^th career appearance in a Jax State uniform. Harris ties Stevonte Tullis (2017-22) for the school record for career games played and can set a new mark if the Gamecocks are selected for a bowl game next month.
Harris' third-quarter interception of New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia was the fourth in a Jax State uniform. The 62-yard interception return was easily the longest of his career.
Alen Karajic's kicked three field goals, moving the junior from Chattanooga to within one of tying the Jax State record of 49, held by Gavin Hallford from 2004-08. Karajic kicked two FGs from 27 yards and also a 33-yarder.
Karajic's nine points scored against NMSU moves him into third place on Jax State's all-time career scoring list with 297 points. He passed David Gulledge (290) and Slade Stinnett (287) and is now three points behind DaMarcus James (300 from 2011-14).
Drake led the Gamecocks with 11 tackles, including eight solo stops. Kolbi Fuqua added 10 tackles. Harris and Geimere Latimer each had an interception.
Latimer became the 13^th different Jax State defensive player to intercept a pass this season, the most of any FBS team
The eight programs that won at least eight games in their first season playing an FBS schedule are Marshall (10 in 1997), Ball State (nine in 1975), Georgia Southern (nine in 2014), Jax State (eight in 2023), James Madison (eight in 2022), UTSA (eight in 2012), South Florida (eight in 2001) and Central Michigan (eight in 1975)