Murfreesboro, Tennessee – JSU trailed MTSU 23-7 at the half, but sacks, pressures, turnovers and Zion Webb garnered 38 straight points before Jacksonville State (5-1,3-0) triumphed, 45-30. With QB Logan Smothers under center, JSU went nowhere on offense into the second period. Enter Zion Webb. Three plays including his 61-yard run to the one before Malik Jackson’s TD put JSU in front, 7-3. Things got scary on MTSU’s next series. WR Kellen Stewart left strapped to a stretcher before a silent crowd. First responders worked on him for 15 minutes. A post-game report says he is in the hospital moving his arms and legs.
Raiders ramp up
After this disconcerting delay, the Blue Raiders caught some offensive fire. On a fourth and two, QB Nick Vattiato connected with DJ Riles for 42 yards to the one. There, Frank Peasant took it in to lead, 10-7. The Raiders didn’t’ stop scoring for the rest of the half. Vattiato connected for touchdown passes to Elijah Metcalf on MTSU’s ensuing series for 71 yards and for 19. The Blue Raider defense stepped up behind DEs Richard Kinley and Quindarius Dunnigan to keep JSU under wraps. The last extra point, however, was missed. It was probably a sign of things to come in the second half though MTSU led, 23-7.
JSU scores on offense and defense
To start the second half, the Raiders seemed in control knocking down two of three pass attempts before JSU punted. JSU increased the pressure on Vattiato (26 for 41, 408 yards, two TDs, two INTs) who kept passing from outside the pocket. An interception by Safety Kekoura Tarnue started to turn the momentum around for the Gamecocks. His pick resulted in a ten yard TD pass from Webb to TE Sean Brown. JSU punted on its next possession, but the MTSU return man misplayed the ball. The Gamecocks continued at the MTSU 27. Webb (11 for 21, 186 yards passing, two TDs, and 101 rushing yards) took it in from the one to narrow the Raider lead, 23-21. Alin Karajic’s 43-yard FG gave JSU a 24-23 lead going into the final fifteen.
Frustration
A sack forced MTSU to punt from the 50. JSU started to take control for good starting from their eight. A swing pass left went to Perry Carter who raced 63 yards for a score. On the ensuing Blue Raider possession, under pressure, Vattatio’s pass attempt was tipped and intercepted by DE Chris Hardie to put JSU at the MTSU 17. J’Wan Evans swept left for a one-yard score and a 38-27 JSU lead. On a fourth and four at the 14, a bad snap and sack resulted with the Gamecocks taking over from their 27.
I made a pit stop under the upper deck seats as most of the MTSU fans on Black-out Night (which looked more like silver-out night with all the empty aluminum seats) couldn’t watch any more. Only 13,066 attended. I returned to a portal over the north end zone to watch for any sign of a Raider comeback before following.
Right away, under pressure, Vattiato lost control of the ball on a spring left. Curley Young of JSU returned it 26 yards for a TD. A female Raider fan in from of me slammed her fists on a hand rail, cursed, and stormed out on to the mezzanine to hang her head in frustration. You couldn’t blame her. Her team played poorly and dropped this game, 45-30, in the end. They’re 1-6. One more loss assures no bowl for this season, and we’ll know that quickly.
Coming back?
With my season ticket package to take advantage of weekday games like this one, we’ll probably both be back next Tuesday night the the Louisiana Tech game (3-3, 2-0). That’s only five days from now. Head Coach Rick Stockstill was concerned about the timing of the games his team plays this year at the pre-season Blue Raider Blitz I attended. It seems like he’s had a long season already. And some fans in the seatback section near me vocalized their opinions about their coach of 17 years very negatively.
Next!
Jacksonville stands now at 5-1, 3-0 in Conference USA. Their next game comes as a challenge with undefeated Liberty (4-0, 2-0) who plays Sam Houston State this evening. Because JSU joined the FBS this year, for some dumb reason, it won’t be eligible to play in any bowl game this year. Collegefootballfan.com ventures east for a wedding weekend with Saturday available to allow us to attend Lafayette (4-1) at Princeton (2-1). This should be a good, fun game. Look forward to seeing a game again at PU.