Jax State faces a win-win scenario in CUSA matchup with Sam Houston

Nine years ago, Jacksonville State played Sam Houston State for a chance to play in the FCS national championship game.

The 2015 group routed the visiting Bearkats 62-10 to advance.

On Saturday, Rich Rodriguez’s team will have a chance to make history again against a historic opponent.

The Gamecocks will host Sam Houston on Saturday, a win that will secure Jack State’s berth in the Conference USA championship game in just its second season at the FBS level and the first season it will qualify for the conference title game.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium.

“At the beginning of the week, which is today and Sunday, we remind the guys that they’ve now put themselves in a position where you have a chance to compete for a conference championship,” Rodriguez said. “So here we are; if we win this game we have a chance to play for the conference championship and then I’ll mention it again on Friday and that’ll be it.

“I want their thoughts more on the process than the potential outcome. I’m proud of the way they worked in the last two games. It’s been kind of crazy, but they’ve come a long way since we started, and we’re very lucky to have the opportunities coming our way.”

Fresh off a 34-31 win over Florida International, the Gamecocks claimed sole possession of the conference lead after Western Kentucky lost to Louisiana Tech.

If Jax State beats Sam Houston and Liberty beats Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jax State will clinch the CUSA regular season title and have a shot at the conference title game.

“After the first three games of the year, I’m pretty sure a lot of people probably wrote us off,” tight end Sean Brown said. “In a way, we all came together and made a difference at the right time when conference started, and these conference games matter a lot. Having a seven-game winning streak and two conference games remaining, I think it gives us a little more confidence knowing that we can reach this level and just showing what we’ve done over the last seven weeks.”

While Saturday’s win over FIU marked Jacks State’s first time winning back-to-back games when trailing in the fourth quarter since 2010, it sealed its seventh straight victory and kept the Gamecocks in the top 10 among all FBS schools in points per game (38.7).

Tre Stewart ran for his sixth straight 100-yard game after rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the win, with Jax State leading all FBS teams in rushing touchdowns (38) and ranking fourth in the country in rushing touchdowns per game (258.2). ).

“I’m proud of the way they worked,” Rodriguez said of his group. “They’ve come a long way since we started, and we’re very fortunate to have opportunities coming our way.”

The Gamecocks will face a Sam Houston defense that has allowed just 12 points per game over the last three games and ranks 25th in the country in yards allowed per game (319.3).

Defensive lineman Chris Murray is tied for the CUSA lead with 5.5 sacks and is third in tackles for loss with 9.5, while defensive end Caleb Weaver leads the conference with four interceptions on the season.

“One of the best in the league; very, very athletic,” Rodriguez said. “They probably played more offensive players than anyone on our schedule. Rotate seven or eight guys on the defensive line and they’re all very athletic. One of the most athletic teams, perhaps the most athletic defense we’ve ever seen, including some of those teams that were really good earlier in the year.

“It’s a big challenge, and if you look at some of their games, they’ve won some tight games and their defense has done some of the job.”

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday against the Bearkats and the game will air on CBS Sports Network; With next Saturday’s game against WKU being broadcast nationally, Jax State will have eight nationally televised games this season.

“We use that in recruiting,” Rodriguez said. “We’re saying, look, you’re going to get a lot of exposure if you come to Jax State because our conference has a TV deal and our guys are having some success. It’s great that these eight games are not just an advertisement for our program, they are an advertisement for the entire school. Whether you win or not, you still get a lot of positive feedback about the school, so I think it was a big, big boom for all of us.”