JSU RUNS PAST TTU

JACKSONVILLE — Tennessee Tech hung around for a little while, but Jacksonville State ended up running away with a 48-20 win Saturday night in its Ohio Valley Conference opener at Burgess-Snow Field.

The Golden Eagles took their opening drive down the field 36 yards and capped it off with a 53-yard field goal by Nick Madonia to grab an early 3-0 advantage.

That was Tennessee Tech’s final lead of the game.

JSU tied the game at the 6:26 mark in the first quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Cade Stinnett. The Gamecocks took the lead for good on a 40-yard pass from Zion Webb to Jamari Hester less than two minutes later.

TTU stayed in the game for much of the second quarter. Madonia kicked a 39-yard FG to trim JSU’s lead to 10-6.

It only took JSU 11 seconds to answer, as Jaelen Greene took the first play of the ensuing possession up the middle 65 yards for a touchdown. Stinnett’s extra point put the Gamecocks up 11.

Jacksonville State led 24-6 at the half after Zerrick Cooper found Josh Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown later in the second.

The Gamecocks scored three touchdowns in the second half on a 32-yard pass from Cooper to Pearson and two touchdown runs by Webb (20 and 5 yards). Stinnett also kicked a 45-yard field goal.

Jacksonville State led 34-13 through three quarters.

Both of Tennessee Tech’s second-half touchdowns came through the air. Bailey Fisher tossed a 20-yard score to Jeremiah Edwards and Marcus McMeans found Darrius Stafford for a 33-yard touchdown.

Play of the Game

Greene’s 65-yard touchdown in the second quarter extended JSU’s lead to 11 points and the Gamecocks continued to add on from there.

By the Numbers

33 — Consecutive wins for Jacksonville State against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. … 16 — Jacksonville moved to 16-6 all-time against Tennessee Tech. … 7 — Consecutive wins for the Gamecocks against the Golden Eagles. … 5 — Touchdown receptions for Pearson three games into the 2018 season. Krenwick Sanders led JSU in touchdowns receptions last season with four. … 544 — Total yards for Jacksonville State (302 rushing; 242 passing). … 292 — Total yards for Austin Peay (150 passing; 142 rushing). … 9 — Number of touchdowns for Jacksonville State that have been 20 yards or more this season.

Injuries

Safety Marlon Bridges (knee), defensive end E.J. Moss (elbow) and safety Charles Crawford (thumb) did not play. JSU coach John Grass said Bridges could’ve played tonight, but he wants him to “get all the way well." Grass said Moss will be back next week while Crawford will be back in a few weeks.

They Said It

“Practice. Coach (JSU offensive coordinator Jimmy) Ogle and our offensive staff preaches how hard it is to have big plays. I really just want thank my offensive line for that.” — Cooper on JSU’s big plays

“We practiced that play a lot this week. I saw the hole and hit it. My offensive line did a great job opening it up.” — Greene on his 65-yard touchdown run

Coachspeak

“I thought we made a lot of plays and I thought we missed a lot of plays. You got to give (TTU) some credit. I don’t think we played very clean in the first half but I think they had something to do about that.” — Grass

JSU Stat Sheet

Cooper was 14-of-24 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Webb was 3-of-8 passing for 52 yards with one touchdown and added 59 rushing yards with two more scores. Greene finished with 68 rushing yards on two carries with one touchdown. Tramel Terry ran for 38 yards on eight carries and added 33 yards receiving in his return from a preseason injury. Jalen Choice led the defense with nine tackles.

TTU Stat Sheet

Bailey was 11-of-27 passing for 96 yards and one touchdown and added 67 rushing yards. Former Gadsden City standout Chris McElderry had three tackles including a ½ sack.

Up Next

Jacksonville State (2-1, 1-0 OVC) hosts Austin Peay to continue conference play at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Tennessee Tech (0-4, 0-1) welcomes OVC foe Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. Saturday.