DALLAS—Jax State quarterback Caden Creel was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in a 37-34 win on Saturday over Western Kentucky to clinch a spot in the 2025 Air National Guard Conference USA Football Championship.
 
The Fairhope native had a career-high 204 yards passing, completing 12 of 19 passes with a pair of touchdowns and added a team-best 143 yards rushing with another touchdown.
 
Creel found Pearson Baldwin for a two-yard touchdown pass with 6:18 left in the second quarter to get his team within four at 21-17, then connected with Deondre Johnson on a 22-yard pass with 15 seconds left in the quarter to answer a WKU touchdown on the previous drive.
 
His 70-yard touchdown run with 11:22 left in the third gave the Gamecocks the lead back at 31-28.
 
Jax State will host Kennesaw State on Friday at AmFirst Stadium at 6 p.m. for the conference title.