American college football season
The 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Gamecocks were led by second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez and played home games at the Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama as first-year members of Conference USA .[ 1]
Due to the lack of bowl-eligible teams, and despite a two-year transition period to FBS with a ban from postseason play, the Gamecocks received a bid to the New Orleans Bowl , where they defeated Louisiana 34–31 in overtime.
Player
Position
Destination
DJ Coleman
DL
Unknown
Amon Scarbrough
S
Alabama State
Brevyn Jones
OT
West Georgia
Osiris Smith
LB
Grambling State
TJ Lockley
WR
Unknown
Aaron McLaughlin
QB
Unknown
Kraeton Muenchau
IOL
Unknown
Patrick Jackson
RB
Unknown
Charles Padgett
OT
Unknown
Ahmad Edwards
WR
Ball State
[ 2]
Conference USA media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Western Kentucky
(18)
2
Liberty
(4)
3
Middle Tennessee
4
Louisiana Tech
5
New Mexico State
6
UTEP
7
Jacksonville State
T8
FIU
Sam Houston
Source: [ 3]
Jacksonville State and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.[ 4] [ 5]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance August 26 4:30 p.m. UTEP CBSSN W 17–1417,982
September 2 1:00 p.m. East Tennessee State * Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL ESPN+ W 49–321,276
September 9 6:00 p.m. at Coastal Carolina * ESPN+ L 16–3016,006
September 23 4:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan * Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL ESPN+ W 21–020,966
7:00 p.m. at Sam Houston ESPNU W 35–28 OT 14,566
7:00 p.m. at Middle Tennessee ESPNU W 45–3013,066
7:30 p.m. Liberty Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL ESPNU L 13–3121,745
6:30 p.m. Western Kentucky Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL ESPNU W 20–1717,977
6:00 p.m. at FIU CBSSN W 41–1614,074
November 4 11:00 a.m. at South Carolina * ESPNU L 28–3875,348
November 18 1:00 p.m. Louisiana Tech Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL ESPN+ W 56–1720,252
November 25 3:00 p.m. at New Mexico State ESPN+ L 17–2015,702
December 16 1:15 p.m. vs. Louisiana * ESPN W 34–31 OT 14,485
UTEP Miners (0-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0-0)
1
2 3 4 Total
Miners
0
7 0 7
14
• Gamecocks
3
7 7 0
17
Scoring summary 1st 4:57 JSU Alen Karajic 41-yard field goal JSU 3–0
2nd 13:26 JSU Ron Wiggins 4-yard run (Alen Karajic kick) JSU 10–0
2nd 0:00 UTEP Deion Hankins 1-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick) JSU 10–7
3rd 7:47 JSU Malik Jackson 7-yard run (Alen Karajic kick) JSU 17–7
4th 12:19 UTEP Kelly Akharaiyi 32-yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Buzz Flabiano kick) JSU 17–14
Statistics
UTEP
Jacksonville State
First downs
22
15
Plays–yards
72–364
62–277
Rushes–yards
156
210
Passing yards
208
67
Passing: comp –att –int
17–29–2
10–20–0
Time of possession
34:38
25:22
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
UTEP
Passing
Gavin Hardison
17/29, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Torrance Burgess Jr.
12 carries, 58 yards
Receiving
Kelly Akharaiyi
4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
10/20, 67 yards
Rushing
Malik Jackson
13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Ron Wiggins
2 receptions, 24 yards
vs East Tennessee State [ edit ]
East Tennessee State Buccaneers (FCS) (0-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (1-0)
1
2 3 4 Total
Buccaneers (FCS)
3
0 0 0
3
• Gamecocks
14
7 21 7
49
Date: September 2Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AlabamaGame start: 1:00 p.m. CST /11:00 a.m. PST TV announcers (ESPN+ ): TBD
Statistics
East Tennessee State
Jacksonville State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
East Tennessee State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Coastal Carolina [ edit ]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-0) vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (0-1)
1
2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks
6
3 0 7
16
• Chanticleers
7
3 13 7
30
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Coastal Carolina
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Coastal Carolina
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Eastern Michigan [ edit ]
Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-1) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-1)
1
2 3 4 Total
Eagles
0
0 0 0
0
• Gamecocks
7
7 7 0
21
Date: September 23Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AlabamaGame start: 4:00 p.m. CST /2:00 p.m. PST TV announcers (ESPN Networks): TBD
Statistics
Eastern Michigan
Jacksonville State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Eastern Michigan
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (3-1) vs Sam Houston Bearkats (0-3)
1
2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks
7
0 7 14
28
Bearkats
14
7 0 7
28
Scoring summary 1st 9:47 JSU Malik Jackson 26-yard run (Alen Karajic kick)(4 plays, 86 yards, 0:51) JSU 7–0
1st 8:10 SAM John Gentry 56-yard pass (Colby Sessums kick)(4 plays, 75 yards, 1:37) TIE 7–7
1st 1:37 SAM Noah Smith 22-yard pass (Keegan Shoemaker kick)(3 plays, 38 yards, 1:02) SAM 14–7
2nd 10:20 SAM Trapper Pannell 3-yard run (Colby Sessums kick)(11 plays, 89 yards, 5:02) SAM 21–7
3rd 8:32 JSU Michael Pettway 31-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Alen Karajic kick)(5 plays, 60 yards, 1:46) SAM 21–14
4th 8:44 JSU Logan Smothers 16-yard run(3 plays, 31 yards, 0:57) SAM 21–20
4th 1:11 SAM Trapper Pannell 1-yard run (Colby Sessums kick)(7 plays, 20 yards, 3:00) SAM 28–20
4th 0:13 SAM Perry Carter 28-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Quinton Lane kick)(8 plays, 75 yards, 0:58) TIE 28–28
OT 0:00 JSU Sean Brown 24-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Alen Karajic kick)(2 plays, 25 yards, 0:00) JSU 35–28
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Sam Houston State
First downs
20
25
Plays–yards
393
435
Rushes–yards
196
136
Passing yards
197
299
Passing: comp –att –int
16–33–1
23–39–1
Time of possession
17:36
42:24
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Logan Smothers
16/28, 197 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Malik Jackson
13 rushes, 129 yards, TD
Receiving
Michael Pettway
3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
John Gentry
30 rushes, 97 yards
Receiving
Noah Smith
10 receptions, 97 yards, TD
at Middle Tennessee [ edit ]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (4-1) vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-4)
1
2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks
0
0 0 0
0
Blue Raiders
0
0 0 0
0
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Middle Tennessee
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Middle Tennessee
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Liberty Flames (5-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-1)
1
2 3 4 Total
Flames
0
0 0 0
0
Gamecocks
0
0 0 0
0
Date: Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AlabamaGame start: 7:30 p.m. CST /5:30 p.m. PST Game attendance: 21,745TV announcers (ESPNU): TBD
Statistics
Liberty
Jacksonville State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Liberty
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Western Kentucky [ edit ]
Game Eight – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-2) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-2) – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Western Kentucky
10
7
0 0 17
Jacksonville State
0
10
0 10 20
at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Alabama
Date : Tuesday, October 17, 2023Game time : 6:30 p.m. CSTGame weather : Clear, 56 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 17,977Referee : -TV announcers (ESPNU ) : Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Derek Mason (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
(8:52) WKU – Dalvin Smith 10-yard pass from Austin Reed (Lucas Carneiro kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:20; Western Kentucky 7-0 )
(1:55) WKU – Lucas Carneiro 28-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 79 yards, 5:01; Western Kentucky 10-0 )
Second quarter
(12:45) JVST – Zion Webb 10-yard run (Alen Karajic kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:14; Western Kentucky 10-7 )
(8:36) WKU – River Helms 3-yard pass from Austin Reed (Lucas Carneiro kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:09; Western Kentucky 17-7 )
(5:35) JVST – Alen Karajic 23-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 3:01; Western Kentucky 17-10 )
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
(4:40) JVST – Anwar Lewis 26-yard run (Alen Karajic kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 91 yards, 3:39; Tied 17-17 )
(0:00) JVST – Alen Karajic 41-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 2:32; Jacksonville State 20-17 )
Statistics
WKU
JVST
First downs
16
27
Total yards
72–339
95–484
Rushing yards
24–89
55–262
Passing yards
250
222
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
24–48–1
23–40–1
Time of possession
26:56
33:04
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Western Kentucky
Passing
Austin Reed
24/48, 250 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Elijah Young
10 carries, 39 yards
Receiving
K.D. Hutchinson
4 receptions, 52 yards
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
22/39, 218 yards, INT
Rushing
Zion Webb
28 carries, 146 yards, TD
Receiving
P.J. Wells
5 receptions, 53 yards
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6-2) vs FIU Panthers (4-4)
1
2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks
0
0 0 0
0
Panthers
0
0 0 0
0
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Florida International
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Florida International
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game information
First quarter
(11:07) SC – Tonka Hemingway 2-yard Run (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 2:38; South Carolina 7–0 )
(3:44) JVST – Sean Brown 15-yard pass from Zion Webb (Alen Karajic Kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 2:36; Tied 7–7 )
(2:03) SC – Spencer Rattler 1-yard Run (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:41; South Carolina 14–7 )
Second quarter
(14:16) JVST – Anwar Lewis 4-yard Run (Alen Karajic Kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:47; Tied 14–14 )
(0:23) SC – Xavier Legette 5-yard pass from Spencer Rattler (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 0:30; South Carolina 21–14 )
Third quarter
(11:50) JVST – Sean Brown 13-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Alen Karajic Kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 3:02; Tied 21–21 )
(5:30) JVST – Perry Carter 54-yard pass from Zion Webb (Alen Karajic Kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 62 yards, 1:16; Jacksonville State 28–21 )
(1:29) SC – Xavier Legette 65-yard pass from Spencer Rattler (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 1 play, 65 yards, 0:11; Tied 28–28 )
Fourth quarter
(5:51) SC – Mitch Jeter 26-yard Field Goal (Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 3:58; South Carolina 31–28 )
(2:02) SC – Stone Blanton 88-yard Interception Return (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 11 play, 58 yards, 3:49; South Carolina 38–28 )
Statistics
JVST
SC
First downs
23
20
Total yards
84–421
77–488
Rushing yards
57–225
38–89
Passing yards
196
399
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
13–27–2
27–39–1
Time of possession
27:07
32:53
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
12/23, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Ron Wiggins
17 carries, 88 yards
Receiving
Perry Carter
5 receptions, 106 yards, TD
South Carolina
Passing
Spencer Rattler
27/38, 399 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Mario Anderson
16 carries, 75 yards
Receiving
Xavier Legette
9 receptions, 217 yards, 2 TD
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0-0)
1
2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs
0
0 0 0
0
Gamecocks
0
0 0 0
0
Date: November 18Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AlabamaGame start: 1:00 p.m. CST /11:00 a.m. PST TV announcers (ESPN Networks): TBD
Statistics
Louisiana Tech
Jacksonville State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Louisiana Tech
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at New Mexico State [ edit ]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8–3) vs New Mexico State Aggies (9–3)
1
2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks
0
3 0 14
17
• Aggies
14
3 0 3
20
Date: November 25Location: Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, New Mexico Game start: 3:00 p.m. CST /1:00 p.m. PST Game attendance: 15,702Game weather: Cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C)Referee: Garrett DickersonTV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young, Danny Knee, and Tatiana Favela
Scoring summary 1st 8:12 NMSU Jamoni Jones 1-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick)(13 plays, 65 yards, 6:48) NMSU 7–0
2:28 NMSU Trent Hudson 11-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick)(8 plays, 83 yards, 4:15) NMSU 14–0
2nd 7:09 JSU Alen Karajic 33-yard field goal(5 plays, 41 yards, 1:21) NMSU 14–3
0:00 NMSU Ethan Albertson 27-yard field goal(15 plays, 70 yards, 3:31) NMSU 17–3
4 14:52 JSU Alen Karajic 27-yard field goal(4 plays, -1 yard, 1:07) NMSU 17–6
6:23 JSU Malik Jackson 11-yard run (Zion Webb run)(4 plays, 22 yards, 0:56) NMSU 17–14
0:43 JSU Alen Karajic 27-yard field goal(12 plays, 52 yards, 2:57) TIED 17–17
0:00 NMSU Ethan Albertson 52-yard field goal(5 plays, 50 yards, 0:43) NMSU 20–17
Statistics
Jacksonville State
New Mexico State
First downs
17
27
Plays–yards
58–333
82–455
Rushes–yards
28–85
48–186
Passing yards
248
269
Passing: comp –att –int
17–30–2
23–34–2
Time of possession
20:18
39:42
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
17/30, 248 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Malik Jackson
8 carries, 43 yards, TD
Receiving
Perry Carter
7 receptions, 134 yards
New Mexico State
Passing
Diego Pavia
23/34, 269 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Diego Pavia
19 carries, 68 yards
Receiving
Trent Hudson
5 receptions, 70 yards, TD
vs. Louisiana (New Orleans Bowl)[ edit ]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8–4) vs. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (6–6)
1
2 3 4 OT Total
• Gamecocks
7
7 10 7 3
34
Ragin' Cajuns
7
7 7 10 0
31
Date: December 16, 2023Location: Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana Game start: 1:20 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 47 minutesGame attendance: 14,486Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Indoor (N/A)Referee: Steven AndersonTV announcers (ESPN ): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
Scoring summary 1 13:17 LA Jalen Clark 46-yard fumble returned (Kenneth Almendares kick)(5 plays, 21 yards, 1:43) LA 7–0
03:06 JVST Cole Fuller 1-yard rush (Garrison Rippa kick)(13 plays, 80 yards, 4:42) TIE 7–7
2 04:22 LA Jalen Clark 16-yard interception returned (Kenneth Almendares kick)(3 plays, 6 yards, 0:50) LA 14–7
00:23 JVST Ron Wiggins 7-yard rush (Garrison Rippa kick)(14 plays, 75 yards, 3:59) TIE 14–14
3 07:55 JVST Garrison Rippa 22-yard field goal(16 plays, 72 yards, 5:37) JVST 17–14
05:47 LA Chandler Fields 1-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick)(6 plays, 73 yards, 2:08) LA 21–17
02:53 JVST Logan Smothers 10-yard rush (Garrison Rippa kick)(8 plays, 75 yards, 2:54) JVST 24–21
4 14:02 LA Kenneth Almendares 33-yard field goal(10 plays, 46 yards, 3:51) TIE 24–24
05:32 LA Tyree Skipper 43-yard interception returned (Kenneth Almendares kick)(6 plays, 8 yards, 1:46) LA 31–24
01:46 JVST Perry Carter 18-yard pass from Zion Webb (Garrison Rippa kick)(8 plays, 70 yards, 1:51) TIE 31–31
OT JVST Garrison Rippa 27-yard field goal(7 plays, 16 yards) JVST 34–31
Pregame line
Over/under
JVST –3.5
59
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Louisiana
First downs
31
14
Total yards
526
247
Rushing yards
290
92
Passing yards
236
155
Turnovers
4
0
Time of possession
33:00
27:00
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
14/26, 156 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
Ron Wiggins
27 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Quinton Lane
7 receptions, 86 yards
Louisiana
Passing
Chandler Fields
13/26, 155 yards
Rushing
Dre'lyn Washington
16 carries, 73 yards
Receiving
Pearse Migl
2 receptions, 34 yards
^ WBRC Staff (July 7, 2023). "Jacksonville State ushers in new era of athletics" . WBRC . Retrieved August 28, 2023 .
^ "2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks Football Transfers" . On3 . Retrieved July 18, 2023 .
^ "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish" . July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023 .
^ Stephenson, Creg (January 10, 2023). "Jacksonville State releases 2023 football schedule" . The Birmingham News. Retrieved January 14, 2023 .
^ Carter, Mo (January 10, 2023). "Jacksonville State & C-USA announce 2023 football schedule" . WZDX. Retrieved January 14, 2023 .
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