Garrison Rippa absolutely nailed a 26-yard field goal with just 44 seconds left on the clock, giving Jacksonville State a wild 27-24 win over FIU Tuesday night. But man, that wasn’t even the whole story. FIU kicker Robert Czeremcha had a chance to tie it up as time expired with a 49-yard attempt, and he missed it , not his only one of the night either. Talk about a heartbreaker for the Panthers! This win pushes the Gamecocks to a stellar 5-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in Conference USA, keeping their incredible 19-3 home record since joining the FBS totally alive.
Gamecocks Came Out Firing, Panthers Clawed Back
Jacksonville State came out hot, with quarterback Caden Creel slinging it all over the field. He threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the game, both coming in that crucial first quarter. Creel hit Luke Gilbert for a 38-yard score and then connected with Deondre Johnson for a 36-yard TD, helping the Gamecocks build up a solid 17-7 lead. You thought JSU was going to run away with it, right? Nah, FIU wasn’t having it. Their QB, JJ Kohl, was a beast, especially on one insane play where he escaped pressure on third-and-15 and found Maguire Anderson for a massive 50-yard touchdown. Those two linked up again for another 30-yard score to tie the game at 17 before halftime. What a swing!
The Third Quarter Slugfest and Missed Opportunities
The third quarter was a back-and-forth grind, with both teams trading blows. JSU’s Justus Savage powered in for his first collegiate touchdown on a 4-yard run, but FIU answered right back with Devonte Lyons punching in an 8-yard score to tie it up at 24. This whole time, Kohl was putting on a show, finishing with 278 yards and two touchdowns, and Anderson was his favorite target, hauling in eight catches for 133 yards and both scores. But the real story that kept coming back to haunt FIU? Those missed kicks. Josiah Taylor grabbed his first career interception for JSU late in the second quarter, only for Robert Czeremcha to miss a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the half. Then, after all that fight and the Gamecocks getting their go-ahead kick, Czeremcha got another shot to be the hero, or at least force overtime, but that 49-yard attempt at the buzzer just couldn’t find the uprights. Tough, tough break for FIU.
JSU’s Clutch Drive Secures Unbeaten Conference Run
With the game tied at 24 going into the fourth, Jacksonville State showed some serious composure. They marched 82 yards in 13 plays, setting up Rippa’s game-winning 26-yard field goal. That’s the kind of clutch drive you need to win tight games! For FIU, it’s a frustrating loss, dropping them to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. They’ll look to bounce back next Tuesday when they host Middle Tennessee State. Jacksonville State, meanwhile, will try to keep their perfect conference run going when they hit the road to New Mexico State on October 28. What a finish, and what a statement for the Gamecocks’ conference record!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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