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  • Nation's Top Rusher Cam Cook Leads Jacksonville State Past Delaware State, 38-25

Nation's Top Rusher Cam Cook Leads Jacksonville State Past Delaware State, 38-25

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Jax State ramped up the defensive intensity against Delaware Wednesday evening to extend its home winning streak to nine and remain unbeaten in Conference USA.

Cam Cook, the nation's top rusher, ran for 117 yards and three touchdowns and Jax State's defense forced turnovers that led to two quick scores as the Gamecocks held on to defeat the Fightin' Blue Hens 38-25 before a crowd of 16,884 at AmFirst Stadium. Jax State improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in CUSA.

"I was proud of our guys for competing for 60 minutes. We didn't play perfect by any means, but that was a good football team on the other side," said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "Our whole slogan this week was 'Do Your Job.' When you do your job and you don't worry about the results, good things are going to happen and that's what we've got to keep on doing."

The Gamecocks' defense forced a key early turnover on Delaware's second series for a 7-0 lead. Travis Franklin Jr. forced a fumble after a Blue Hens' completion and linebacker Walker O'Steen scooped up the loose football and returned it 27 yards to Delaware's 11.

Cook then found the end zone from six yards away and Garrison Rippa, the hero of Jax State's previous game at Sam Houston, added the extra point with 9:27 remaining in the first quarter.

Another Blue Hens' miscue after a completed pass extended Jax State's lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Linebacker Mac Sanders stripped the ball from Delaware's Jake Thaw after a short completion and safety Caleb Nix returned the fumble 45 yards for a touchdown with 10:37 to go in the second quarter. Nix's return was the longest for a score by a Jax State defensive player since Nicario Harper's 55-yard fumble return vs. Stephen F. Austin in 2021.

Jax State tacked on another touchdown less than 2½ minutes later to extend its lead. Caden Creel, making his second career start at quarterback, moved the Gamecocks 48 yards in only three plays, finishing off the drive with a 23-yard strike to wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner at the 8:16 mark.

Rechsteiner's fourth receiving TD of the year and Rippa's third extra point pushed the Gamecocks' lead to 21-0.

Creel passed for 116 yards and ran 12 times for 57 yards.

Jax State carried a 21-6 lead into the locker room at halftime despite being outgained 199-193 by the Fightin' Blue Hens (3-3, 1-2).

Cook found the end zone twice in the third quarter as Jax State built a 35-6 lead. He broke loose for a 66-yard jaunt deep into Delaware territory, then capped the eight-play, 81-yard drive with a one-yard TD run with 8:44 left in the third.

Cook later added a two-yard run for his second career three-touchdown game and first with the Gamecocks.

Sanders led the Gamecocks with nine stops with 1½ tackles for loss. Cornerback RJ Rainer contributed a career-best five solo tackles.

Jax State has an open date next week. The Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday, October 29, to face Middle Tennessee (1-5, 0-2), which is off this week before visiting Delaware next Wednesday.

Kickoff at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2 – Jax State's third straight national TV appearance.