JSU season ends against Eastern Kentucky

A disappointing season ended in fitting fashion for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Senior day in a 29-23 defeat to Eastern Kentucky (7-5, 5-3).

The loss dropped Jacksonville State to 6-6 overall and 3-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play in their Nov. 23 finish.

Zerrick Cooper started the game out with some fireworks for the home crowd. The Clemson transfer found Notre Dame transfer KJ Stepherson for a 20-yard touchdown pass to put JSU up 6-0. However, two made field goals by EKU’s Sam Hayworth tied the game at 6-all through one quarter.

Midway through the second, the Gamecocks finally got back on the board. Bryant Wallace nailed a 21-yarder to put Jacksonville State up 9-6. Their advantage would not last long, though. Hayworth converted on a 25-yard kick to tie the score at 9 through one half.

The Generals scored first in the third quarter. Conor Blount threw a scoring toss to Jackson Beerman from 17 yards out to put EKU up 16-9. The Gamecocks responded in kind, as Cooper found Stepherson for his second touchdown catch of the game. The 16-16 tie was broken on the ensuing drive, as Alonzo Booth raced in from one yard out to put Eastern Kentucky up 23-16 heading into the final quarter.

EKU added a field goal early in the fourth to extend their lead to 26-16. Unfortunately, JSU’s defense could not get a stop in their own territory, allowing Hayworth to make his fifth field goal of the game with 3:06 left to play. Though Cooper threw another touchdown pass to Stepherson late to make the score more respectable, the onside kick failed and allowed the Generals to kneel out the clock and earn the win.

Cooper completed 21 of his 35 pass attempts on Saturday for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 44 yards on 17 carries, the best of any player for JSU. It was a banner day for first-year receiver KJ Stepherson, who tallied seven receptions for 80 yards and three scores.

This season will sadly always be seen as a waste for the Gamecocks. For a team with as much talent as they had, there should have been no way that JSU would miss the playoffs. Instead, they barely finished .500 and now limp into the offseason heartbroken.