Jacksonville State Edges Middle Tennessee 24–21 Under Coach Charles Kelly's Leadership

October 29, 2025 - MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Jacksonville State continued its undefeated run in Conference USA with a gritty 24–21 road win over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, October 29, at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium. The victory marked the Gamecocks' third straight and improved their record to 5–3 overall and 4–0 in conference play, solidifying their position as a top contender under new head coach Charles Kelly.

In his first season at the helm, Kelly has brought a disciplined, defense-first mentality to the Gamecocks, and it showed in a game that demanded resilience and execution. Jacksonville State held Middle Tennessee to just 84 rushing yards and made key stops in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.

Quarterback Caden Creel managed the game efficiently, completing 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and adding 31 rushing yards on 16 carries. Running back Cam Cook powered the ground game with 105 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while also contributing 21 receiving yards. Wide receiver Deondre Johnson delivered explosive plays, finishing with four receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns, including a momentum-shifting score in the second half.

Jacksonville State ran 70 plays for 356 total yards, including 141 on the ground. The defense limited Middle Tennessee's passing attack to 235 yards and kept the Blue Raiders out of the end zone in the final quarter.

Coach Kelly praised his team's composure and toughness after the game. "We're building something here, and games like this show what kind of character we have," Kelly said. "We didn't flinch when things got tight. We executed when it mattered."

Kelly emphasized the importance of complementary football and credited his staff and players for staying focused. "We're playing as a unit-offense, defense, and special teams. That's how you win close games on the road," he said.

With the win, Jacksonville State remains undefeated in conference play and heads into a pivotal matchup against UTEP on Saturday, November 8, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Coach Kelly said the team is hungry to keep improving.

"We've got a long way to go, but I love the fight in this group," Kelly said. "Every week is a new challenge, and we're going to keep climbing."