Jacksonville, AL — Jacksonville State head coach Charles Kelly said he was most pleased with his team’s complete effort in Saturday’s win over Liberty as the Gamecocks prepare for a Week 3 road test at Georgia Southern.
“We competed for 60 minutes… fast, physical, tough, disciplined, and we will compete,” Kelly said, adding that consistency must improve “on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game.”
Respect for Georgia Southern, road challenge ahead
Kelly called Georgia Southern “a great program with a lot of tradition” and praised head coach Clay Helton as “a phenomenal offensive football coach.” He noted Statesboro is “one of the toughest places to play in college football,” citing the Eagles’ historically strong home record.
Special teams as a difference-maker
Kelly highlighted kick placement, coverage speed, and scouting as keys in bottling up returns. He emphasized field position:
“If we punt five times and average 40 yards, that’s 200 yards in a game… it’s the same amount of yards; you’re just punting it instead of running it.”
Quarterback play and offensive approach
Kelly lauded quarterback Gavin Wimsatt (transcript audio spelled “Rimsat”) for decision-making and protecting the ball: “We’ve had one turnover in two games… when we needed a completion… he completed two big third downs to Caleb [Cooper] across the middle.”
Wimsatt said the offense leaned into the run because it “gave us the best chance to win,” adding that key third-down throws were about “doing my job… and what’s best for the team.”
Defense, pass rush, and growth
JSU produced four sacks vs. Liberty and six through two games. Kelly credited position coaches and emerging personnel: “Emmanuel is a talented guy… Tay Floyd is not just a pass rusher now—he’s rounding out his game.” On linebacker Thaxton Gallagher: “He brings a toughness to your team… the whole team seems to be that way.”
Safety Caleb Nix said the defense is communicating better as reps accumulate: “The game kind of slowed down for us… keep making offenses snap the ball and defend every blade of grass.”
Injury note
Kelly said WR Michael Pett practiced last week and will be evaluated again: “We want to make sure he’s as close to 100% as he can be.”
Weather delays and home atmosphere
Players described navigating two early-season weather delays by treating them “like halftime” for adjustments before resetting. Wimsatt praised JSU’s intimate home atmosphere, while Nix said he’s eager to experience the environment at Georgia Southern.
Milestone win
Players acknowledged that Saturday marked Kelly’s first win as a head coach at JSU, celebrating with a locker-room presentation and a traditional cooler shower. “A lot of our first wins here… and more to come,” Wimsatt said.
