The Jacksonville State Gamecocks battled all day through adversity during the New Orleans Bowl. For anyone that feels the decision to entirely dismiss Florida State from the playoff discussion, this game showed why that type of mentality is a mistake.
Of course any team that tries to put points on the board without their starting quarterback will look different at first and likely struggle. But to dismiss a team out of hand, for having to use their backup quarterback is a flawed approach, and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, a newly minted FBS school member showed why.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Quarterbacks
For a day that the quarterback position struggled due to injury, the sum of the team members really stepped up to ensure the overtime 34-31 win over the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Logan Smothers came in to the day as the backup quarterback to Zion Webb. With Webb leaving with a lower body injury, it made him an immobile athlete for most of the game until the end. Smothers picked up the game play, and put his team in a winning position when he entered the game.
The junior transfer from Nebraska, provided a much needed offensive spark at the time. Down by four, late in the third, Smother took off to his right and dived for the pylon to put his team in front. Unfortunately, for him, the play injured, what looked to be his shoulder. Unable to give a full throwing motion, his ensuing interception triggered Rich Rodriguez to turn back to Webb, who had had some time to recover.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Force OT And Win
Trailing again in the fourth, it was Webb’s turn to mount a comeback. Although he did not seem as mobile as usual, Webb, like Smothers, was battling through his injury pain to help his football team.
After an offensive three and out, it was the defense that stepped up to force a three and out of their own to give the Jacksonville State Gamecocks the ball back.
On the scoring drive that involved Webb in the running game, and some nice throws in the passing game, he sealed off game tying score, with an 18 yard completion to Perry Carter. A play that the opposing defense had dialed up an all out blitz, Webb remained composed and threw the crucial fourth down conversion for the score.
In overtime, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks defense took over and appeared to be getting stronger as the game went on. Had the game been extended to multiple overtimes, it seemed that it would be a struggle for yards to be gained against this unit.
This time leaning on their workhorse running back, Ron Wiggins picked up the needed yards to make it a closer field goal try for kicker Garrison Rippa. As he was preparing himself, it was reported that he kept affirming to himself, ” You were built for moments like this.” Rippa would go on to nail the game winner from 27 yards out.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks After The Game
Understandably emotional after the game Wiggins wanted to be sure to credit his teammates:
Thanks to O-line We came out here, played our hardest, we like that outcome. Our first bowl game ever in history and out first win. It will live on in memory for ever.
Wiggins finished with 126 rushing yards on 27 attempts, and really set the tone for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks that outgained their opponent 526-247 in total yards.
We knew we were still in the game. We just knew hat we had to keep fighting, we knew it wouldn’t be easy but we kept fighting.
Coach Rodriguez was high off of the win, and in a bleeped out interview ended his statement with:
They keep battling.
For a team that almost was not able to compete in this game, because of what appears to be a senseless qualifying rule for new FBS teams, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks showed that a team can rally around any given circumstances and endure setbacks to achieve a team win.