Jacksonville State Falls to Southern Miss 42–25 in Road Test

September 27, 2025 - HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Jacksonville State's road trip to Southern Miss ended in disappointment Saturday night as the Gamecocks fell 42–25 in a game defined by early defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities. The loss drops JSU to 2–3 on the season as they prepare to enter the heart of Conference USA play.

🔹 First-Half Struggles Set the Tone

Southern Miss jumped out to a 21–3 lead by halftime, capitalizing on explosive plays and a balanced offensive attack led by quarterback Braylon Braxton. The Golden Eagles racked up over 400 total yards, including multiple chunk gains through the air and on the ground.

Jacksonville State's lone first-half points came from a field goal after a promising drive stalled in the red zone. The Gamecocks struggled to contain Southern Miss's tempo and allowed two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.

🔹 Cam Cook Sparks Late Rally

Running back Cam Cook provided a second-half spark for JSU, scoring twice-including a fourth-quarter touchdown followed by a successful two-point conversion. His performance helped narrow the deficit to 35–25 midway through the final frame.

But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Southern Miss returned an interception for a touchdown with under five minutes remaining, sealing the win and sending the home crowd into celebration.

Coach Charles Kelly praised Quarterback Caden Creel's performance: "He gave us a spark, but we've got to protect the ball and stay disciplined."

Kelly said that the team needs to play better on the road.

"We've got to carry our energy and execution from home games into tough road settings."

🔹 Key Stats

• Southern Miss Total Yards: 412

• Jacksonville State Total Yards: 289

• Turnovers: JSU 2, Southern Miss 1

• Time of Possession: Southern Miss 33:12, JSU 26:48

🔹 Looking Ahead

Jacksonville State returns home next week to face Liberty in a pivotal conference matchup. Head coach Rich Rodriguez emphasized the need for defensive adjustments and cleaner execution: "We've got to start faster and finish stronger. We had chances tonight, but we didn't capitalize."

With the season nearing its midpoint, JSU will look to regroup and build momentum in October.