Dominant defensive effort keeps Jax State perfect in CUSA - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Wednesday, October 28

Las Cruces, N.M.

7 p.m.

Jax State

6-2 , 4-0

NM State

3-5 , 2-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Jacksonville St.	0	7	10	7	24
New Mexico St.	0	0	0	0	0

Photo by: Emily Kish / Jax State

10/28/2026 10:31:00 PM | Football

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Jax State enters the final month of the Conference USA campaign firmly entrenched atop the standings and having secured bowl-eligibility for a fourth straight year.

The Gamecocks (6-2, 4-0 CUSA) reeled off their fifth-straight win Wednesday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium as Caden Creel ran for the second-highest total ever by a CUSA quarterback in a dominant 24-0 shutout of host New Mexico State. It marked the first time Jax State blanked an opponent on the road since 2006.

Creel became the first quarterback in Jax State history to rush for more than 200 yards, finishing with 211 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. He concluded his record-setting performance with a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Gilbert to seal the victory.

Jax State rushed for a season-best 324 yards against CUSA's top rushing defense that entered the night surrendering under 52 yards per game.

"I give a lot of credit to our defensive players and our defensive coaches," said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "That was a team that you have to control the ball on offense and be able to move the ball and we did that. I think Coach Brian Williams did a great job."

The Gamecocks dodged an early NMSU scoring threat after the Aggies picked off Creel and strung together a 17-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up more than six minutes. But a 31-yard field goal try sailed wide left and Jax State capitalized on the miss, moving 80 yards in 12 plays for the game's first points.

Creel's three-yard TD rush finished off the Gamecocks' second possession of the game with 12:33 remaining in the second quarter. Garrison Rippa tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Another Jax State trip into the red zone came up empty when Creel was stopped short on a fourth-and-2 from the NMSU 19. Jalen Likely fueled the drive with three carries for 38 yards, but the Gamecocks' offense stalled and they came away empty-handed.

Jax State outgained New Mexico State (3-5, 2-2 CUSA) 200-113 in the first half and carried the seven-point lead to the locker room at intermission.

Rippa nailed a 49-yard field goal early in the third quarter for a 10-0 Jax State lead with 10:08 remaining. His 48^th career field capped a seven-play drive after the Gamecocks defense forced a Aggies punt to open the second half.

Creel made amends for his second interception of the evening after Marc Woods intercepted a New Mexico State pass at the Aggies 15 late in the third quarter.

Creel broke loose for the second-longest rush from scrimmage in school history, an 84-yard jaunt before getting knocked out of bounds at NMSU's 1. Likely plunged in on the next play and Rippa's PAT stretched the lead to 17-0 with 2:31 to go in the third quarter.

Caleb Nix led the staunch defensive effort by tying his season high with nine tackles. Defensive end Tae Floyd contributed a career-best five stops.

Jax State returns to action on Saturday, November 7, when it hosts Sam Houston (1-7, 0-4 CUSA) for Homecoming. Kickoff at AmFirst Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.

Jax State Postgame Notes – New Mexico State
October 28, 2026 • Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, N.M.

JSU Captains: Safety Caleb Nix, offensive lineman Jeremiah Orr, linebacker Walter Reddick
At 1,216 miles, this is the longest road trip for the Gamecocks this season. It's also the Aggies' third-closest rivalry, behind Sam Houston (769 miles) and Missouri State (956).
Jax State has rushed for a touchdown in an NCAA-best 66 consecutive games following Caden Creel's three-yard quarterback keeper in the second quarter. That's 26 games more than the next-longest active streak across all Division I programs (FCS Montana State at 40).
Creel's 84-yard run in the third quarter was the second-longest ever by a Gamecock. Justice Owens had an 87-yard carry at Liberty on Sept. 24, 2016.
Creel's rushing total was second only to UAB's David Isabelle (214 yards in 2010) for the most rushing yardage ever by a CUSA quarterback.
New Mexico State won the opening coin toss and deferred its option to the second half. The Gamecocks had won the toss in four of their first seven games.
Garrison Rippa's second-quarter extra point moved him past Connor Rouleau (2013-2016) into fifth place on Jax State's career PAT kicks attempted list with his 129^th.
Wednesday marked the first time this season against an FBS opponent that Jax State's defense did not allow a touchdown in the last 1:41 of the first half.
New Mexico State – which entered the night only allowing a CUSA-low 51.3 ypg rushing – gave up 138 yards to the Gamecocks on the ground in the first half.
Sophomore tight end Luke Gilbert recorded a career-best five receptions.
Jax State's 14-1 'Weekday CUSA' mark is the best in the league over the last four years. The Gamecocks are riding a 12-game weekday win streak, dating back to Oct. 10, 2023.
The Gamecocks are 25-5 against CUSA foes since joining the conference in 2023. Jax State has never lost back-to-back games to a league opponent.
Carter Lewis kicked his first extra point after Gilbert's 29-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.
This was the second straight Wednesday night game between Jax State and NMSU.
Jax State is 6-2 for the first time since 2023.
Since 2022, Jax State is 14-1 and has averaged 32.2 ppg following a break of 10 days or longer. The Gamecocks' average margin of victory in those 14 wins is 14.4 points.
Garrison Rippa's third-quarter field goal gives him 48 for his career, moving him to within one of the school mark of 49 owned by Gavin Hallford (2004-08) and Alen Karajic (2020-23).
Jax State becomes the 30th FBS team to have already achieved bowl eligibility, including CUSA member Liberty (6-1), which travels to FIU on Saturday.