Jacksonville State scored 24 second quarter points to erase a 12-10 deficit en route to a 45-18 win over Alabama A&M in front 16,654 at Paul Snow Stadium on Saturday.The Gamecocks improved to 1-1 in front of the third largest crowd in Paul Snow Stadium history.
“I think we came out here with a great purpose and tried to say that we’re a good football team that has some good ambitions,” JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe said. “I am proud of it. I still think we have a lot of work left to do, but I think we are good enough to have high expectations.”
Daniel Jackson got the scoring started on JSU’s opening drive when he took an option pitch and rambled 37-yards to give JSU a 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs responded with the next three scores to cut the deficit into a Bulldog lead. Jeremy Licea made field goals of 26 and 38 yards and A&M took a 12-10 lead when Anthony Green scored on a one-yard run with 11:17 to go in the second quarter, just before JSU’s big second quarter.
The 24-point second quarter was the most points in a quarter at home since August 30, 2001, when JSU scored 34 in the fourth quarter against Cumberland and the most in the second quarter since scoring 28 in the second quarter against UT Martin on October 9, 2004.
Junior Ryan Perrilloux threw a pair of touchdowns passes to Eric Johns and ran for another to highlight the quarter. Perrilloux tossed a two-yard pass to Eric Johns to cap a 10-play, 77-yard drive with 7:45 left in the second quarter.
The Gamecocks scored 14 points in the final 54 seconds to finish the half. Perrilloux raced in from 13-yards out to finish off a 10-play 80-yard drive. Rod Byrd recovered a pooch kick by Zach Walden to set up the Gamecocks at the A&M 23. Perrilloux’s four-yard pass to Johns sent JSU into halftime with a 31-12 advantage.
Perrilloux would give way to freshman Marques Ivory in the second half after completing 11-of-17 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns while rushing six times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
JSU’s Frank Moore recovered an Alabama A&M fumble on a punt at the A&M 16 to set up the Gamecocks next score. It took JSU just four plays to cash in when Alphonso Freeney scored on a four-yard run to push the lead to 38-12 with 6:41 to go in the third.
An Ivory to John Houston Whiddon 75 -yard pass play set up the Gamecocks final score of the contest. The pass play was the longest play since a Clay Green 81-yard run versus Tennessee Tech on October 27, 2005.
Ivory then tossed his first collegiate touchdown pass to cap the 94-yard drive at the 7:16 mark of the fourth quarter when he found Maurice Dupree for a four-yard score.
Alabama A&M put the final points of the night on the board to end JSU’s 35-0 run with 2:49 left in the contest. Ulysses Banks scored on a one-yard run to make the final score 45-18.
