Jacksonville, AL – Defense finds footing, and Huff flashes accuracy as ,Jax State zips Southern Miss, restores hope in homecoming rout
The best version of Jacksonville State’s 2024 football team made is first appearance Saturday, awaking echoes of 2023 glory for homecoming.
In some ways, this version of Jax State football looked better than the 2023 version that won nine games, reached a bowl and won a bowl in the program’s first FBS season.
Time will tell whether Jax State’s 2024 best came in time to put the Gamecocks back on course for bowl eligibility after an 0-3 start, but they sent themselves into Conference USA play with momentum.
JAX STATE 44, Sun Belt member Southern Miss 7.
The rout started quickly.
Save for a blocked extra point and a couple of third-down penalties that saved the Golden Eagles’ lone touchdown drive from a field-goal fate, the rout stayed on course.
A defense hopelessly unable to get off of the field against Coastal Carolina, Louisville and Eastern Michigan got USM off of the field with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries … one just over the Gamecocks’ goal line.
An offense that started this season without its best running back and searching for a quarterback hit stride in its third consecutive productive start with Tyler Huff, who showed something Jax State hasn’t had at quarterback since the best days of Zerrick Cooper.
Aside from Huff’s prowess running the ball, with a willingness to deal a shoulder boom or two, he has brought consistently accurate passing back to Jax State football.
That’s not to indict Huff’s predecessor. Zion Webb’s seven-year brand of quarterbacking brought Jax State three conference titles and a bowl victory to punctuate a successful FCS-to-FBS transition.
Webb brought a running dimension.
His passing dimension came in moments of flickering accuracy.
Huff’s bulb burns brightly with long life, and it blinded USM. He zipped seam balls and back-shoulder bullets when USM defenders hovered over a receiver’s front shoulder.
Then came the day’s signature throw … an 85-yard touchdown pass to Brock RechSteiner.
Rechsteiner slanted over the middle and got most of those yards after the catch, but only because the throw hit him so perfectly in stride, as he split two flat-footed Golden Eagle safeties.
Jax State owes Webb for his contributions over his extended stay, but a pitch, catch and run like Huff to Rechsteiner filled in a missing element.
Turns out that a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserves can shoot straight, and shoot deadly. He gives Jax State a quarterback who can make opponents defend an array of passes.
It bodes well for the Gamecocks as they hit Conference USA play, looking to plug into the league’s bowl possibilities.
Do we hear a Conference USA title?
It’s too early for such talk, but Huff and Gamecocks’ defense made a deposit toward belief Saturday. They turned early-season despair back into hope.
Possibilities seem possible again after what Jax State showed on the field against USM.
Game updates
–Kickoff 2 p.m.
–USM to receive the opening kickoff
FIRST QUARTER
—USM takes over at its 25 after touchback
Jax State blitzes, and Antonio Carter intercepts Tate Rodemaker’s errant loft.
–Jax State starts on its 35.
Tre Stewart runs left for two big gains, the last a 33-yard TD run at 11:44. Garrison Rippa hits the PAT. … Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards, 0:55. JAX STATE 7, USM 0
–USM starts on its 25 after touchback.
Jax State blitzes Rodemaker into another interception, Geimere Lattimer.
–Jax State starts on its 41.
Anwar Lewis runs six yards, gets the last yard with a big pile push from his offensive line and scores at 4:44. Rippa’s kick is good. … Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 3:25. JAX STATE 14, USM 0
–USM takes over on 25 after touchback (John White QB)
Jax State stops Kenyon Clay on fourth and 1 at Jax State’s 37.
–Jax State takes over on its 37
Apparent pattern miscommunication leads to Huff interception, USM’s Chris Jones with the pick. Stewart turned up field, and Huff threw to where Stewart was.
–USM starts on Jax State’s 44.
SECOND QUARTER
–USM cont’d, drive resumes at Jax State 24
Jax State stuffs Dreke Clark on third and 2 at Jax State’s 16. After USM lines up for a Connor Gibbs field goal, Jax State is flagged for lining up over the snapper. First down. … On third and nine, USM flagged for substitution. … On third and 14, Jax State’s Fred Perry flagged for DPI, first and goal. … On third and goal from the 2, White fakes a handoff left, runs around right end for a TD at 10:39 Conner Gibbs’ PAT is good. … Drive: 1o plays, 43 yards, 5:02. JAX STATE 14, USM 7
–Jax State takes over at its 25 after touchback.
Huff throws a screen to Lewis, who romps for 48 yards to USM’s 4. … Huff sneaks in for a 1-yard TD, but Lewis flagged for false start. … Huff keeps for a 6-yard TD run on a read play at 6:58. Rippa’s kick is good. … Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:41. JAX STATE 21, USM 7
–USM starts on its 25 after a JQ Gray return.
Bryce Lofton punts, 50 yards.
–Jax State starts on its 18.
Jack Dawson punts, 39 yards.
–USM starts at its 20 after a fair catch.
White passes to Larry Simmons, 29 yards to the 49. … White to Kyirin Heath, to Jax State’s 27. … Jax State’s Tee Denson flagged for DPI, off hand around receiver;s back, first down at Jax State’s 15. … White fumbles into the end zone, and Jax State’s Rickey Samuels recovers.
–Jax State takes over on its 20 after touchback.
THIRD QUARTER
–Jax State starts on its 25 after touchback
After Jax State flagged for holding, Huff finds Brock Rechsteiner splitting the safeties on a slant for an 85-yard, catch-and-run TD at 14-15. Rippa’s PAT blocked. … Drive: two plays, 75 yards, 0:45. JAX STATE 27, USM 7
–USM starts on its 22.
Jax State’s Ky’won McCray picks off a White pass.
–Jax State takes over at USM 26.
Lewis runs through a gaping hole for a 2-yard TD run at 12:05, and Rippa’s kick is good. … Drive: four plays, 26 yards, 1:23. JAX STATE 34, USM 7
–Rippa hits a 43-yard field goal. … Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 3:25. JAX STATE 37, USM 7
–Stewart with a 5-yard TD run at 2:19, and Rippa converts. … Drive: five plays, 63 yards, 2:02. JAX STATE 44, USM 7
FOURTH QUARTER
–Logan Smothers gets mop-up work at QB.
FINAL: Jax State 44, USM 7
