Creel’s career night lifts Gamecocks past EKU in home opener

Saturday, September 5

JACKSONVILLE

6 p.m.

Jax State

1-1 , 0-0

Eastern Kentucky

0-2 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Eastern Ky.	0	7	0	0	7
Jacksonville St.	14	21	7	7	49

9/5/2026 11:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – Caden Creel found a new favorite target, safety Caleb Nix found the end zone yet again, and Jax State found its footing with a dominant performance in its home opener Saturday night, whipping Eastern Kentucky 49-7 at AmFirst Stadium.

Jamill Williams, who caught two passes in the season opener at North Dakota State, became the first Jax State receiver since 2012 with four touchdown catches in a game. He snagged throws of 13, 55 and 30 yards from Creel as Jax State scored on its first four possessions to build a 35-7 halftime lead before a Band Day crowd of 19,677.

Creel became the first Jax State quarterback with five touchdown passes since 2012 after a 24-yard strike to Luke Gilbert midway through the third quarter and later a 4-yard shovel pass to Williams.

Williams is only the second receiver in school history to catch four TDs in a game. Alan Bonner holds the record with five touchdown catches at UT Martin on November 3, 2012.

Creel finished 21-of-28 for 327 yards and five TDs, setting career highs for completions, yardage and touchdowns in a single game for he senior quarterback from Fairhope.

"On both sides of the ball the name of the game is execution," said second-year Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "I was proud of our guys tonight with the way they performed."

The Gamecocks needed just one series to get on the scoreboard.

Jax State converted a fourth-and-six from the Eastern Kentucky 48 to keep the drive alive, then took advantage of three Colonels penalties to move deep into EKU territory.

Creel capped the 11-play drive by finding Williams for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:27 left in the first quarter, giving Jax State a 7-0 lead. It was Williams' first touchdown reception as a Gamecock.

The Creel & Jamill Show produced two more touchdowns as the Gamecocks (1-1) extended their lead to 21-0 with 12:24 remaining in the second quarter.

A two-play, 74-yard Jax State drive culminated with Creel connecting with Williams for a 55-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. They teamed up again for a 30-yard touchdown connection to finish off a 91-yard scoring drive at the 12:24 mark in the second quarter.

A 30-minute lightning delay proved to be the only interruption to Jax State's offensive rhythm in the first half.

On the first play after action resumed, Nix stepped in front of an EKU pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown that boosted the Gamecocks' lead to 28-0. It was the Phenix City native's third career defensive touchdown and first this season.

Jalen Likely's first career rushing TD – a 45-yard jaunt with 5:28 to go in the second quarter – capped an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Garrison Rippa's fifth extra point stretched Jax State's lead to 35-7.

Ten different Gamecocks caught passes from Creel and 11 in total recorded at least one reception.

Jax State outgained the Colonels (0-2) 526-285.

The Gamecocks hit the road for the second time next Saturday for a 2024 Cure Bowl rematch at Ohio University, which fell at Nebraska 49-21 in its season opener. This will be Jax State's first visit to 24,000-seat Peden Stadium, which is designated as an Ohio Historical Site.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Jax State Postgame Notes – Eastern Kentucky
September 5, 2026 • Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium (19,677) • Jacksonville, Ala.

JSU Captains: Cornerback Tre'Quon Fegans, cornerback Jonavan Carr, center Lucas Mrachkovskly
Jax State improved to 12-8 all-time against Eastern Kentucky and is now 7-4 in the series at home
Jax State won the opening coin toss for the second straight week and deferred its option to the second half
Creel's 13-yard TD pass to Williams at the 6:27 mark in the first quarter halted the Gamecocks' longest scoreless streak (57:49) since 2021, when they were shut out in the season opener vs. UAB and didn't score until nearly four minutes had elapsed in the second quarter against Florida State the following week.
Williams' 144 receiving yards were most by a Gamecock since Cam Vaughn had 183 yards on nine receptions in the 2024 Cure Bowl against Ohio
Williams' four TDs tied for the second-most in Conference USA history and were the most by a receiver since Jaelon Darden of North Texas on December 11, 2021
Punter Conor Donaghy, the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week, didn't make an appearance until the fourth quarter. His lone punt traveled 52 yards.
Safety Ty Sims' interception in the first quarter extended Jax State's streak with a takeaway to 19 consecutive games, dating back to November 30, 2024, the longest active mark among FBS teams
Jax State defensive line coach Xavier Garcia played for Eastern Kentucky in 2016 and had two tackles in a 24-7 loss to the Gamecocks
Jax State has averaged 39.6 ppg in its 12 series wins over EKU
Over the past two decades, Jax State is 11-2 in its second game of the year after losing its season opener
The Gamecocks are 5-1 all-time in games played on September 5. Two of those wins (1992 vs. Alabama A&M, 2015 at Chattanooga) were decided by three points or less