LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Jax State enters the final month of the Conference USA campaign firmly entrenched atop the standings and having secured bowl-eligibility for a fourth straight year.
The Gamecocks (6-2, 4-0 CUSA) reeled off their fifth-straight win Wednesday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium as Caden Creel ran for the second-highest total ever by a CUSA quarterback in a dominant 24-0 shutout of host New Mexico State. It marked the first time Jax State blanked an opponent on the road since 2006.
Creel became the first quarterback in Jax State history to rush for more than 200 yards, finishing with 211 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. He concluded his record-setting performance with a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Gilbert to seal the victory.
Jax State rushed for a season-best 324 yards against CUSA's top rushing defense that entered the night surrendering under 52 yards per game.
"I give a lot of credit to our defensive players and our defensive coaches," said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "That was a team that you have to control the ball on offense and be able to move the ball and we did that. I think Coach Brian Williams did a great job."
The Gamecocks dodged an early NMSU scoring threat after the Aggies picked off Creel and strung together a 17-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up more than six minutes. But a 31-yard field goal try sailed wide left and Jax State capitalized on the miss, moving 80 yards in 12 plays for the game's first points.
Creel's three-yard TD rush finished off the Gamecocks' second possession of the game with 12:33 remaining in the second quarter. Garrison Rippa tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Another Jax State trip into the red zone came up empty when Creel was stopped short on a fourth-and-2 from the NMSU 19. Jalen Likely fueled the drive with three carries for 38 yards, but the Gamecocks' offense stalled and they came away empty-handed.
Jax State outgained New Mexico State (3-5, 2-2 CUSA) 200-113 in the first half and carried the seven-point lead to the locker room at intermission.
Rippa nailed a 49-yard field goal early in the third quarter for a 10-0 Jax State lead with 10:08 remaining. His 48th career field capped a seven-play drive after the Gamecocks defense forced a Aggies punt to open the second half.
Creel made amends for his second interception of the evening after Marc Woods intercepted a New Mexico State pass at the Aggies 15 late in the third quarter.
Creel broke loose for the second-longest rush from scrimmage in school history, an 84-yard jaunt before getting knocked out of bounds at NMSU's 1. Likely plunged in on the next play and Rippa's PAT stretched the lead to 17-0 with 2:31 to go in the third quarter.
Caleb Nix led the staunch defensive effort by tying his season high with nine tackles. Defensive end Tae Floyd contributed a career-best five stops.
Jax State returns to action on Saturday, November 7, when it hosts Sam Houston (1-7, 0-4 CUSA) for Homecoming. Kickoff at AmFirst Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.
