Jacksonville State Outlasts Troy 17–13 in Gritty Salute to Veterans Bowl Victory

MONTGOMERY - In a renewal of one of Alabama's oldest football rivalries, Jacksonville State delivered the final word Tuesday night at the Cramton Bowl, grinding out a 17–13 win over Troy in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. It was a night defined by defensive stands, momentum swings, and a finish that kept the crowd in Montgomery on edge until the final play.

The Gamecocks (9–5) leaned on timely offense and a resilient defense to snap Troy's six‑game winning streak in the series and claim their first bowl victory since moving to the FBS level. Quarterback Caden Creel, steady throughout the night, completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a first‑quarter touchdown that set the tone early.

Jacksonville State opened the game with urgency, pushing the tempo and catching Troy off balance. Creel found Brock Rechsteiner wide open on a blown coverage for a 22‑yard touchdown, marking just the second time in the bowl's history that a team scored on its opening drive. The Gamecocks' early 7–0 lead energized their sideline, but Troy quickly responded with a defensive play that flipped momentum.

On a botched flea‑flicker attempt late in the first quarter, Troy's TJ Thompson strip‑sacked Creel, and Luis Medina pounced on the loose ball in the end zone to tie the game 7–7. It was the Trojans' only touchdown of the night - and it came from their defense.

Troy (8–6) added two second‑quarter field goals from Scott Taylor Renfroe, from 38 and 30 yards, to take a 13–7 halftime lead. The Trojans' defense had Jacksonville State off balance for much of the second quarter, and quarterback Tucker Kilcrease - filling in for the injured Goose Crowder - managed the offense well enough to control field position. But the Gamecocks' defense refused to break, limiting Troy to field goals and keeping the game within reach.

Halftime brought one of the night's strangest moments: during Troy coach Gerad Parker's interview with ESPN, the stadium lights suddenly went dark before quickly returning. It was an odd interruption in a game already filled with unexpected turns.

Jacksonville State clawed back in the third quarter behind kicker Garrison Rippa, whose booming 51‑yard field goal - the second‑longest in the bowl's history - cut the deficit to 13–10. The Gamecocks' defense tightened further, holding Troy scoreless for the entire second half.

The decisive blow came with 5:44 remaining. Running back Andrew Paul took a direct snap at the 1‑yard line and powered into the end zone, giving Jacksonville State a 17–13 lead - its first since the opening quarter. The Gamecocks' sideline erupted, sensing the momentum had finally shifted for good.

But Troy wasn't done. Kilcrease led a late drive past midfield, setting up a dramatic final play. With one second left, he launched a Hail Mary toward DJ Epps in the end zone. Jacksonville State cornerback Tyrin Taylor rose above the crowd and swatted the ball away, sealing the Gamecocks' victory and sending their fans into celebration.

The win capped a remarkable season for Jacksonville State, which has now appeared in a bowl game in each of its first three years at the FBS level - a feat matched only by Marshall in the late 1990s. It also marked the Gamecocks' first win over Troy since 2001, restoring bragging rights in a rivalry that had been dormant for more than two decades.

For Troy, the loss ended a 79‑game streak of victories when leading entering the fourth quarter. Despite five sacks and a defensive touchdown, the Trojans couldn't generate enough offense to finish the job.

For Jacksonville State, Tuesday night in Montgomery was more than a bowl win - it was a statement. A program still carving out its place in the FBS showed it can win tight, physical games against established in‑state competition. And in a rivalry renewed under bright lights, the Gamecocks walked away with the kind of victory that resonates long after bowl season ends.