Jax State takes overtime thriller over Louisiana Tech for sixth straight win, bowl eligibility

In Jacksonville State’s third game of the season, a double-overtime loss to Eastern Michigan handed the Gamecocks their third straight loss and left questions about what the future may hold.

On Saturday in Ruston, Louisiana, Jax State left an overtime thriller with a statement made.

The Gamecocks outlasted Louisiana Tech in overtime with a 44-37, come-from-behind victory to clinch its sixth straight victory and remain atop the Conference USA standings.

The victory for Jax State made the team bowl-eligible for the second straight season and gave the program its longest win streak since the 2017 season when it won seven straight.

With the final play of regulation and Jax State down 37-31, Tyler Huff threw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone looking for a receiver. Cam Vaughn remained behind the rest of Louisiana Tech’s receivers to catch the ball from 49 yards out.

Kicker Garrison Rippa missed the extra point to force overtime with the score tied at 37 points apiece.

Tre Stewart ran the ball on Jax State’s third overtime play to take the lead, with the defense forcing a three-and-out capped off by a sack from J-Rock Swain.

“We’re very fortunate,” Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said. “You’ve got to have a lot of luck involved, and we did that at the end. We played so poorly in the second half, particularly on offense, and just gave us enough time. Going tempo is easy for us, so that wasn’t a big deal. But I thought Tyler made a great throw, and Cam Vaughn continues to impress, but I’m really proud of the guys.

“Louisiana Tech, you’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They played hard, they outcoached us, but we made just enough plays at the end to win. So, we’re happy.”

Jax State didn’t score in the fourth quarter until a 40-yard field goal from Rippa with 5:55 left to play, with the host Bulldogs rattling off 23 points started by a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the first half.

The Gamecocks led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter.

“All wins are good,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t do a good job. I didn’t do a good job as a head coach. I thought our guys were ready to play, but we didn’t have the same kind of energy or intensity that we normally have, and I think that’s a lesson that we’ve all got to learn. I’ve got to do a better job going forward.”

Tre Stewart had his fifth straight 100-yard game on the ground, piling up 166 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in the win; he also had a 15-yard reception and became Jax State’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Roc Thomas ran for 1,065 in the 2017 season.

Tyler Huff and Andrew Paul also ran for touchdowns.

Vaughn, who hauled in the touchdown pass that would force overtime, finished with 130 of the team’s 130 receiving yards and had two touchdown catches.

Swain, a redshirt senior and Oxford High graduate, finished with six tackles (two solo), a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in the win.

“He’s one of the best leaders I’ve had, period, of my entire career, and he continues to help us lead,” Rodriguez said of Swain. “We were fortunate to win this, but hey, you’ve got to keep playing until the last play. And we did, then we were all excited, and we missed the extra point, and then overtime, it’s like, “What’s going to happen?’ But, we hung in there.”

Fred Perry also keyed the team with 14 tackles (seven solo), a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble; Jawaun Campbell recovered the forced fumble and returned it 38 yards to set up a touchdown.

Jax State (6-3, 5-0 CUSA) will host Florida International on Saturday.