Nix Punt Return Completes Comeback over Georgia Southern

Saturday, September 19

JACKSONVILLE

6 p.m.

Jax State

2-2 , 0-0

Georgia Southern

1-2 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Ga. Southern	3	21	3	0	27
Jacksonville St.	0	10	7	14	31

Photo by: Emily Kish / Jax State

9/19/2026 10:42:00 PM | Football

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE—Despite a rough start, Jax State scored 14 fourth-quarter points to rally from 17 points down for a 31-27 win over Georgia Southern at AmFirst Stadium to improve to 2-2 on the season.

The 17-point deficit is the largest the Gamecocks have overcome at home, matching the 2019 contest against Eastern Washington.

"I'm very proud of the resiliency that they showed," said coach Charles Kelly of his team. "This is a 60-minute game and we always talk about not looking at the scoreboard and most guys think that means when you get ahead but also when you get behind."

The Gamecocks were outgained 157-12 through the first 20 minutes and did not have a first down until a pass interference call against the Eagles (1-2) that came on the first play after Georgia Southern took a 17-0 lead. That started a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Jalen Likely 13-yard touchdown reception from Caden Creel with 7:09 left in the second quarter.

Creel finished the night 17-of-24 passing for 194 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns.

A three-and-out by the Jax State defense set up a seven-play, 75-yard drive when Garrison Rippa connected on a 35-yard field goal to make it a one-score game. Georgia Southern answered on the next drive with Weston Bryant's third touchdown run of the night with 32 seconds left to take a 24-10 lead to the intermission.

Jax State came out of the locker room with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up the first 7:15 of the second half and ended with Deondre Johnson's first touchdown reception of the season from 18 yards out to get back within a score again.

After Georgia Southern came back with a 43-yard field goal on the next drive, Lucas Farrington scored his first touchdown on a 26-yard run at the 11:17 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a 27-24 game.

Farrington was the team's leading rusher with 44 yards.

The Gamecock defense forced the Eagles into a 3^rd-and-10 at their own 38 and the pass went right through the hands of Walker O'Steen who led the team with 13 tackles, finishing one shy of his career high to bring up fourth down.

That's when Caleb Nix waited under a 37-yard punt at his own 25-yard line surrounded by white and navy jerseys and took off toward the visiting sideline, in all racing 75 yards for the go-ahead score with 8:16 to play.

It was the fourth career touchdown for Nix who returned a fumble and an interception last year for scores, and had an interception return for a touchdown against EKU in the home opener.

The Eagles drove 62 yards over the next 6:24 and were in position to regain the lead with 1:52 left until freshman Tristan Lyles intercepted a pass at his own 15-yard line to seal the victory.

Jax State will open Conference USA play next Saturday at AmFirst Stadium against Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m.

Jax State Postgame Notes – Georgia Southern
September 19, 2026 • AmFirst Stadium (24,000) • Jacksonville, Ala.

Jax State Captains: Defensive lineman Jawuan Campbell, wide receiver Deondre Johnson, linebacker Walker O'Steen
Jax State won the coin toss and deferred. Jax State has won three of the four coin tosses this year.
The victory represents the first victory over Georgia Southern in program history. This was the sixth meeting all-time between the two.
The Gamecocks hosted Georgia Southern for only the second time in program history. The two last met in Jacksonville during the 1999 season.
Jax State has faced a total of nine teams from the state of Georgia all-time, including FBS programs Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Georgia Tech.
Jax State has met several programs from the Sun Belt, including Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia Southern, Southern Miss, and Troy. The Gamecocks are scheduled to meet South Alabama out of the SBC in 2027 (home) and 2031 (road).
The Gamecocks' roster holds 28 players from the state of Georgia.
Darius Cannon's 38-yard reception in the second quarter is his longest reception of his Jax State career. Cannon had a 65-yard reception against South Dakota State while playing for Murray State in 2025.
Jalen Likely's touchdown to put Jax State on the board in the second quarter was the first receiving touchdown of his career.
Garrison Rippa became the third player in program history to make 40 field goals with his kick in the second quarter. He joins Gavin Hallford and Alen Karajic, both of whom finished their careers with 49.
Deondre Johnson scored his first touchdown of 2026 in the third quarter on an 18-yard endzone fade.
Lucas Farrington scored his first collegiate touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard rush.
Caleb Nix gave the Gamecocks its first lead of the day in the fourth quarter with a 75-yard punt return. It was Jax State's first punt return touchdown since 2016, when Josh Barge scored a 75-yard punt return TD against Liberty.
Walker O'Steen finished with 13 total tackles, one shy of matching a career-high. He set that high last year against Kennesaw State (Nov. 15).
After snapping the streak last week, Jax State forced a turnover with a late interception by true freshman Tristan Lyles.