Jax State faces win-and-in scenario in CUSA matchup with Sam Houston

It had been nine years since Jacksonville State played Sam Houston for a chance to compete in the FCS national championship game.

The 2015 squad would go on to take down the visiting Bearkats in a 62-10 rout to advance.

On Saturday, Rich Rodriguez’s men have a chance to make history again against a historic foe.

The Gamecocks will host Sam Houston on Saturday, with a win clinching a berth in the Conference USA championship game for Jax State in just its second season at the FBS level and first season eligible to play in the conference title game.

Kickoff is set for 11 at Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium.

“Early in the week, which is today and Sunday, we remind the guys that they’re putting themselves in a position now where you have a chance to compete for a conference championship,” Rodriguez said. “So now, here we are; if we win this game, we have a chance to play for the conference championship, and then I’ll mention it again on Friday, and that will be it.

“I want their thoughts on the process more than a potential outcome. I’m proud of the way they’ve worked the last couple of games. It’s been kind of crazy, but they’ve come a long way since the start we had and we are very fortunate to have the opportunities we have in front of us.”

Fresh off a 34-31 comeback win over Florida International, the Gamecocks claimed sole possession of the conference lead after Western Kentucky lost to Louisiana Tech.

Should Jax State beat Sam Houston and the Liberty beat Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jax State would claim the CUSA regular-season title and have the opportunity to host the conference title game.

“After the first three games of the year, I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of people that probably wrote us off,” tight end Sean Brown said. “We kind of all came together and we turned it around right at the right time when the conference started and those conference games mean a lot. Being on a seven-game winning streak with two conference games left, I think it gives us a bit more confidence knowing we can get to that level and just show what we’ve done in the last seven weeks.”

While Saturday’s win over FIU marked Jax State’s first time since 2010 to win back-to-back games when trailing in the fourth quarter, it sealed a seventh straight victory and kept the Gamecocks in the top 10 among all FBS schools in points per battle ( 38.7).

Tre Stewart ran for his sixth 100-yard haul after collecting 136 yards and two touchdowns in the win, where Jax State led all FBS teams in rushing touchdowns (38) and ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game (258 ,2) ).

“I’m proud of the way they’ve worked,” Rodriguez said of his group. “They’ve come a long way since the start we had, and we’re very fortunate to have the opportunities we have in front of us.”

The Gamecocks will go against a Sam Houston defense that has allowed just 12 points per game. game in his last three games and ranks 25th in the nation in yards allowed per carry. battle (319.3).

Defensive lineman Chris Murray is tied for the CUSA lead with 5.5 sacks and ranks third in tackles for loss with 9.5, while defensive back Caleb Weaver leads the conference with four interceptions on the season.

“One of the best in the league; very, very athletic,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve probably played more guys up front than anybody on our schedule. Rotate seven or eight guys into the defensive line and are all very athletic. One of the most athletic teams, probably the most athletic defense that we’ve seen, including some of the teams early in the year that were really good.

“It’s a big challenge and if you look at some of their games, they’ve won some close ballgames and their defense has kind of pulled some of that out.”

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday against the Bearkats, with the game televised on CBS Sports Network; with next Saturday’s game against WKU being picked up for a national broadcast, there will be eight nationally televised games for Jax State this season.

“We use it to recruit,” Rodriguez said. “We’re saying, look, you’re going to get a lot of exposure if you come to Jax State because our conference has their TV deal and our guys have some success. It’s neat that the eight games and it’s not just exposure for our program, it’s exposure for the school. Whether you win or not, you still get a lot of positive exposure for the school, so I think it’s been a big, big boom for all of us.”