‘Chickens’ kickin’
- Updated: October 4, 2024
Rebounding Jax State takes dominating form on the road to open CUSA play with a 63-24 victory at Kennesaw State.
Editor”s note: Final statistics from Jax State’s victory at Kennesaw State on Friday can be found on this link.
By East Alabama Sports Today
KENNESAW, Ga. — Jax State wore its white football helmets with a special “AKC” logo Friday at Kennesaw State. The logo’s nickname rhymes with glass-kickin’ chickens.
The Gamecocks took their kickin’ form on the road and ruined KSU’s welcome to Conference USA, piling up a season-best 577 yards in a 63-24 rout of the Owls at Fifth-Third Stadium.
The Gamecocks improved to 2–3 after an 0-3 start, having beaten Southern Miss and Kennesaw State by a combined score of 107-31.
Jax State built a 21-3 lead, led 21-17 at halftime and blew the game open in the second half.
The Gamecocks beat Kennesaw State for the second straight time by scoring touchdowns on all five of their second-half possessions and adding another score on Jabari Mack’s 30-yard interception return.
“We made some critical errors in the second quarter that allowed them to come back into the game and got their fans into it, but there was no panic at halftime,” third-year Jax State coach Rich Rodriquez said. “We just had to relax a little bit.
“I thought the key was coming out in the second half and getting some drives again. I just noticed we had 31 first downs, and when you get 31 first downs, you’re usually controlling the tempo.”
Running back Tre Stewart and quarterback Tyler Huff combined for seven rushing touchdowns, and the Gamecocks capitalized on three interceptions … Mack’s pick-6 and two by safety Zechariah Poyser.
It was the first time Jax State had multiple players rush for at least three touchdowns in the same game since 2015, the year the Gamecocks finished as FCS runners up.
Stewart’s four rushing touchdowns made him the first Jax State player to perform the feat since former quarterback Eli Jenkins ran for four against Tennessee-Martin in 2016. The Gamecocks set season highs for points (56), plays (78), first downs (31), rushing yards (384) and total yards against the Owls (0-5, 0-1).
Huff had scoring runs of six, 14 and 19 yards and ended up with a career-high 176 yards on 15 carries. His 176 yards were the fifth-most by a quarterback in CUSA history.
Huff added 193 yards on 16-for-25 passing.
“I thought Tyler Huff was fantastic,” Rodriguez said. ‘That guy is a warrior.”
Stewart had three touchdown runs of one yard plus 9-yarder. Mike Franklin scored his first Jax State touchdown on a 23-yard run for the game’s final points.
Jax State has its shortest turnaround of the season as it hosts New Mexico State in a nationally televised CUSA matchup on Wednesday. Kickoff at AmFirst Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Jax State 63, Kennesaw State 24
FIRST QUARTER
–Tre Stewart’s 1-yard TD run and Garrison Rippa’s PAT at 10:54 give Jax State the early lead. JAX STATE 7, KSU 0
–KSU’s Austin Welch kicks a 25-yard field goal at 3:57. JAX STATE 7, KSU 3
SECOND QUARTER
–Tyler Huff keeps for a 6-yard TD run. Rippa’s PAT is good at 11:24. JAX STATE 14, KSU 3
–Stewart’s 9–yard TD run and Rippa’s PAT at 7:08 extend Jax State”s lead. JAX STATE 21, KSU 3
–Qua Ashley’s 93-yard kickoff return narrows the gap at 6:56. JAX STATE 21, KSU 10
–Bryson 7-yard TD pass to Kent. Ashley PAT good at 1:49. JAX STATE 21, KSU 17
THIRD QUARTER
–Huff’s 14-yard TD run and Rippa’s PAT extend Jax State’s lead at 10:56. JAX STATE 28, KSU 17
–Stewart 1-yard run, Rippa kick at 6:14. JAX STATE 35, KSU 17
–Huff 19-yard TD run and Rippa kick at 0:23. JAX STATE 42, KSU 17
FOURTH QUARTER
–J. Mack 30-yard interception return and Rippa kick at 14:08. JAX STATE 49, KSU 17
–M. Benefield 1-yard run and Ashley kick at 12:29. JAX STATE 49, KSU 24
–Stewart 1-yard run and Rippa kick at 7:28. JAX STATE 56, KSU 24
–M. Franklin 23-yard TD run and Rippa kick at 1:22. JAX STATE 63, KSU 24
FINAL
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