Garrison Rippa kicked a 27-yard field goal in overtime as Jacksonville State rallied late to defeat Louisiana 34-31 in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday in the Superdome.
The Gamecocks finished 9-4 after winning their first bowl game in their second season as an FBS program.
Zion Webb threw a tying touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to help JSU overcome three defensive touchdowns by the Ragin’ Cajuns (6-7).
Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares was wide left on a 43-yard field-goal attempt on the first possession of overtime, setting the stage for the game-winner.
Jalen Clark had fumble and interception returns for first-half touchdowns, and Tyree Skipper added a tie-breaking interception return for a touchdown for Louisiana, which got 155 passing yards from Chandler Fields.
Webb passed for 156 yards with two interceptions and Ron Wiggins rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Webb’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Perry Carter on fourth-and-3 tied the score with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rippa kicked a 22-yard field goal on the Gamecocks’ first possession of the third quarter to give them a 17-14 lead.
The Cajuns answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Fields on the ensuing possession to take a 21-17 lead.
Logan Smothers’ 10-yard touchdown run put JSU back on top, 24-21, at the end of the third quarter.
Almendares kicked a 33-yard field goal on the fourth play of the fourth quarter to tie the score.
Skipper intercepted a Smothers pass and returned it 43 yards for a 31-24 lead with 5:32 remaining.
On the game’s first possession, Clark picked up Carter’s fumble and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.
JSU drove to Cole Fuller’s 1-yard touchdown run that tied the score at the end of the first quarter.
Clark intercepted a Webb pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown that gave the Cajuns a 14-7 lead.
Wiggins ran 7 yards for a touchdown with 23 seconds left, tying the score at 14 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
