Despite giving up three defensive touchdowns, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks offense persevered and found ways to defeat the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to win the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in overtime. Garrison Rippa’s 27-yard field goal in the extra period pushed the Gamecocks (9-4) to a 34-31 victory over the Ragin’ Cajuns (6-7) in the Caesar’s Superdome on Saturday.
Jacksonville State dominated Louisiana in the yardage battle.
The Gamecocks recorded 526 total yards of offense and 290 rushing yards, while the Cajuns picked up only 247 total yards and 92 rushing yards. The Gamecocks kept several drives alive by converting 10 out of 24 three third downs and five out of 10 fourth downs. The Cajuns, on the other hand, were five for 16 on third downs and attempted no fourth down conversions.
Cole Fuller put Jacksonville State on the board late in the first quarter with a one-yard rush, while Ron Wiggins tacked on another touchdown via a seven-yard run seconds before halftime. However, the Cajuns were able to take a 14-14 tie into the half thanks to the outstanding play of their defense.
Kenyon Martin forced a fumble on Jacksonville State’s first drive, allowing Jalen Clark to scoop up the loose ball and score on a 46-yard return. Late in the second quarter, Clark intercepted Gamecocks quarterback Zion Webb and ran 16 yards for Louisiana’s second touchdown of the day. That makes Clark the first player in New Orleans Bowl history to have return a fumble and an interception for touchdowns in the same game and the seventh player in NCAA FBS history to accomplish the feat.
The Cajuns defense bent early in the third quarter, but they didn’t break, allowing only a field goal on Jacksonville State’s first drive. The Cajuns offense finally found a rhythm after that Gamecocks score. On the ensuing drive, Chandler Fields used a deep completion and a pass interference call to set up a one-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw to put Louisiana back in the lead. Jacksonville State responded with a touchdown of their own on the following drive, which the Cajuns answered with a field goal to tie the game at 24 early in the fourth quarter.
The Cajuns defense then struck again. Tyree Skipper intercepted Logan Smothers’s pass and scored on a 43-yard return, putting the Cajuns ahead 31-24 after the extra point. Jacksonville State responded with an eight-play, 70-yard, two-minute drive that ended with an 18-yard Perry Carter touchdown reception on fourth down. The Gamecocks defense rode the momentum created by that score and stuffed the Cajuns offense near midfield to force the Cajuns to punt and send the game into overtime.
Louisiana’s overtime possession was lackluster and included two incompletions and a loss of yardage on third down. Kenneth Almendares then missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, giving Jacksonville State a chance to win on the next possession.
The Gamecocks took advantage, driving to the nine-yard line to set up a chip shot field goal for Rippa, which he drilled.
Jacksonville State running back Ron Wiggins was named the game’s most valuable player. Wiggins rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 17 yards.
