Caden Creel threw for 173 yards and a touchdown and Deondre Johnson hauled in six catches for 101 yards on Tuesday, helping Jacksonville State post a 17-13 victory over Troy in the Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
Brock Rechsteiner caught a 22-yard touchdown for the Gamecocks (9-5), who won their second bowl game in three FBS seasons. Jacksonville State earned bragging rights in the rivalry known as the “Battle for the Ol’ School Bell.” Tuesday marked the 64th all-time meeting in a series that began in 1924.
Tucker Kilcrease completed 12 of 23 passes for 116 yards and threw two interceptions in relief of Troy starter Goose Crowder, who left with an injury after throwing for 13 yards in the first quarter. The Trojans’ (8-5) lone touchdown came on a fumble recovery in the end zone in the opening quarter.
Trailing by six at halftime, Jacksonville State trimmed its deficit in half on Garrison Rippa’s 51-yard field goal with 6:35 left in the third.
DJ Epps returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to Jacksonville State’s 20. From there, Quay Hood and Shane Payton Hodges’ sack of Kilcrease on third down forced Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 49-yard field goal attempt, which missed far right.
After Jacksonville State’s punt, Kilcrease was intercepted by Ian Mitchell at Troy’s 47-yard line.
With 10:06 left in the fourth quarter, the Gamecocks took their first lead since the first quarter, as Andrew Paul’s 1-yard rushing score gave Jacksonville State a 17-13 lead.
Troy came up short on fourth-and-6 on Jacksonville State’s 27 on its next drive before getting the ball back after the Gamecocks’ punt. Kilcrease then threw his second interception, which Tyrin Taylor grabbed at Jacksonville State’s 32.
The Trojans had one last chance, but Kilcrease’s Hail Mary attempt as time expired was knocked down in the end zone.
After Troy’s three-and-out began the game, Creel’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Rechsteiner stamped a nine-play, 71-yard scoring drive to give the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead.
Following Troy’s second punt, Creel fumbled in the end zone and the ball was recovered for a game-tying touchdown by Luis Medina with 1:39 remaining in the first.
After Jacksonville State’s failed fake punt, Troy tacked on with Taylor Renfroe’s 38-yard field goal at the 10:57 mark of the second quarter.
Taylor Renfroe’s 30-yarder gave the Trojans a 13-7 halftime lead.
