Jax State gets its sixth straight victory in an overtime thriller over Louisiana Tech and is therefore eligible for the bowl

In Jacksonville State’s third game of the season, a double overtime loss to Eastern Michigan gave the Gamecocks their third straight loss and raised questions about the future.

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

The Gamecocks came from behind to beat Louisiana Tech in overtime with a 44-37 win to secure their sixth straight victory and remain atop the Conference USA standings.

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

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

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

Tre Stewart ran the ball on Jax State’s third play of overtime and took the lead, with the defense forcing a three-pointer capped by a sack by J-Rock Swain.

“We’re very fortunate,” Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said. “You have to be very lucky and we did that in the end. We played very poorly in the second half, especially on offense, and simply gave ourselves enough time. It’s easy for us to pick up the pace, so it wasn’t a big problem. But I thought Tyler made a great shot and Cam Vaughn continues to impress, but I’m really proud of the guys.

“Louisiana Tech, you have to give them a lot of credit. They played hard, out-coached us, but in the end we made just enough plays to win. So we’re happy.”

Jax State only scored on a 40-yard field goal from Rippa with 5:55 left in the fourth quarter. The host Bulldogs scored 23 points, led 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 energy or intensity as usual and I think that’s a lesson we all need to learn. I have to do a better job in the future.”

Tre Stewart had his fifth consecutive 100-yard game on the ground, rushing for 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 yards during the 2017 season.

Tyler Huff and Andrew Paul also ran for touchdowns.

Vaughn, who caught the touchdown pass that forced overtime, finished the game 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 in the win.

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

Fred Perry also dominated the team with 14 tackles (seven solo), one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and one 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) hosts Florida International on Saturday.