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Jacksonville State wins first bowl game in program history on a walkoff FG
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Jacksonville State won its first bowl game in school history on Saturday.
In the Gamecocks’ first season in the FBS, the team went 8-4 in the regular season and earned a bid to the New Orleans Bowl against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.
The team’s debut bowl game was a back-and-forth affair. The teams were tied 14-14 at the half. Then, they were tied at 31 at the end of the regulation. In overtime, the Ragin Cajuns failed to score after missing a field goal attempt. This set the Gamecocks up to win the game with any score.
Garrison Rippa nailed a 27-yard FG to give the Gamecocks their first bowl win in program history.
JACKSONVILLE STATE WINS THE NEW ORLEANS BOWL IN OVERTIME!! pic.twitter.com/jB5VgmUSkR
— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) December 16, 2023
Running back Ron Wiggins was electric on the ground for the Gamecocks, racking up 126 yards and 1 TD on 27 carries. Quarterback Zion Webb had 156 yards passing and added 70 yards on the ground. The Gamecocks outgained the Ragin Cajuns by 279 yards, finishing with 526 in total.
The New Orleans Bowl win is the 6th bowl win in Rich Rodriguez’s career after 2022 was Rodriguez’s first season with the Gamecocks. In the Gamecocks’ final season in the FCS, the team went 9-2. The veteran coach successfully navigated his team’s first FBS season, and now it has a bowl win.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
