Gamecock offense struggles in loss at Western Kentucky - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Saturday, November 14

Bowling Green, Ky.

2:30 p.m.

Jax State

7-3 , 5-1

Western Kentucky

4-6 , 3-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Jax State	10	14	0	0	24
Western Kentucky	14	7	0	13	34

11/14/2026 6:20:00 PM | Football

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Despite having its winning streak halted Saturday afternoon at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, Jax State remains in firm control of its own destiny as it chases a third consecutive trip to the Conference USA Championship Game.

The Gamecocks lost for the first time in two months when the Hilltoppers scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass with two seconds remaining to take the lead, then picked up a fumble off a lateral in the end zone as time ran out for a 34-24 win to keep their bowl hopes alive.

Jax State (7-3, 5-1) was shutout in the second half and netted only 48 rushing yards on 24 carries. The Gamecocks also had two turnovers.

"We did not execute. That was all on us," said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "We didn't deserve to win that football game. We didn't do the things that it took to win that football game. "We never controlled the tempo of the game. We created some turnovers, which you need to do on the road, but when you don't do the process right, you deserve the results."

Liberty's 28-23 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday means the Gamecocks own a two-game lead over the Blue Raiders and Delaware for a berth in the CUSA Championship Game on Dec. 4.

The Hilltoppers (4-6, 3-3) forced a three-and-out on the game's opening series and wasted little time taking the lead with a 66-yard, seven-play scoring drive following Conor Donaghy's punt.

Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. completed all four of his passes and Ajay Allen swept in for a six-yard TD run at the 10:19 mark in the first quarter.

Caleb Nix's third interception of the season set up the Gamecocks' first threat, a milestone kick from fifth-year senior Garrison Rippa.

Rippa became Jax State's all-time leader in field goals made with the 50^th of his career, a 50-yard kick into a breeze that trimmed the Hilltoppers' lead to 7-3 with 7:17 remaining in the opening quarter.

Jax State's defense – which entered the afternoon as one of just two NCAA programs without a fumble recovery in 2026 – finally capitalized on an opponent's mistake to take its first lead.

On the first play after Rippa's record-breaking field goal, Marquis Hood forced a fumble by Allen, and outside linebacker Jacob Cruz scooped up the loose ball and raced eight yards for a touchdown with 7:06 remaining. Rippa's extra point put Jax State in front 10-7.

The Gamecocks were limited to 10 yards and held without a first down through the first 15 minutes.

The teams continued to trade punches throughout a frenetic second quarter.

Jax State carried a 24-21 lead to the locker room at halftime following a pair of Caden Creel touchdown passes in the second quarter.

Creel connected with Jamill Williams on a nine-yard jet sweep pass for a touchdown, giving the Gamecocks a 17-14 advantage with 12:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, Creel hit Deondre Johnson for a 63-yard gain to set up another scoring drive. Tight end Luke Gilbert capped the possession with a seven-yard touchdown reception, and Rippa added the extra point to put Jax State ahead 24-21 with 2:37 remaining before halftime.

Western Kentucky had a chance to even the score before the break, but its 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired came up short, allowing the Gamecocks to carry their three-point advantage into the locker room.

The Hilltoppers outgained Jax State 192-139 through the first 30 minutes.

A scoreless third period saw two Jax State drives end in WKU territory, including a fake punt attempt that was stopped on the Hilltoppers' 9.

Missouri State (4-6, 3-3) makes its first visit as a CUSA member to AmFirst Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN+. It will be Marching Southerners Reunion and Senior Day.

Jax State Postgame Notes – Western Kentucky
November 14, 2026 • Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium (10,112) • Bowling Green, Ky.

JSU Captains: Long snapper Dixon Musgrove, safety Caleb Nix, wide receiver Jamill Williams.
WKU won the opening coin toss and deferred its option to the second half.
Garrison Rippa needs 16 points in Jax State's remaining games this season to move past Gavin Hallford (2004-08) as the school's all-time leading scorer. Hallford kicked 49 field goals and 156 PATs for his 303 career points.
Rippa's 50^th career field goal in the first quarter moved him past Hallford and Alen Karajic (2020-23), who previously shared the school record with 49.
Jax State's defense surrendered 14 points in the first quarter after allowing only 20 total points in the opening quarter through the first nine games.
Jamill Williams' nine-yard TD reception in the second quarter was his seventh of the year and his second in as many weeks.
Jax State's NCAA-best streak of 67 consecutive games with a rushing touchdown came to an. The streak began following a loss at Kennesaw State on Oct. 2, 2021, and was 23 games longer than the next-longest active streak among FBS and FCS programs, held by FCS Montana State at 44 straight games.
Jax State entered Week 11 as one of only two four-year programs (along with NCAA Division II Northern Michigan) without a fumble recovery in 2026. That streak came to a halt with Jacob Cruz's scoop-and-score in the first quarter. The Gamecocks added a second Cruz fumble recovery in the third quarter.
Cruz is the first Jax State defender since Stevonte Tullis on Aug. 27, 2022, vs. Stephen F. Austin with two fumble recoveries in a game.
Jax State was just 3-of-12 (25%) on third-down conversions.
Only 10 programs have gone through the regular-season CUSA schedule unbeaten since the league was founded in 1996. Liberty stands at 6-0 in league play with two games remaining.
Jax State is 4-6 all-time against the Hilltoppers. Saturday's loss was the Gamecocks' fifth in five trips to Houchens industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
The Gamecocks are 26-6 against CUSA opponents since joining the conference in 2023. Western Kentucky became the first league opponent to ever beat the Gamecocks twice.
Jax State head coach Charles Kelly and Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton were colleagues at Tennessee in 2018. Kelly coached safeties and special teams and Helton served as the Vols' offensive coordinator.
The Gamecocks are 7-3 for the second year in a row.