JSU Answers, Questions Plus the Southerners

Louisville, KY – Jacksonville State appears to have found a quarterback in Huff, still searching for answers on defense after 49-14 loss at Louisville

By: Joe Medley

Jacksonville State appears to have found its starting quarterback. Such was the good news in a 49-14 loss at Louisville on Saturday.

Bad news?

A defense that needed to get a lot fixed after giving up 55 points in a season-opening loss to Coastal Carolina still needs to get a lot fixed.

In the big picture, a program that strutted triumphantly into FBS last season, appearing way ahead of schedule with a bowl victory among its nine victories, is 0-2 in Year 2, having been outscored 104-41.

“I’m just upset that we didn’t play better at times,” third-year Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said. “Particularly with missed assignments, not guarding a guy probably six or seven times, giving them easy first downs and touchdowns. There’s just no excuse for that.

“Offensively, we had some stuff, but we didn’t finish drives, as well.”

To be fair, 22nd-ranked Louisville is once again an ascendant Power 4 program under Jeff Brohm, quite possibly a contender for the ACC title this season. It’s easy to default and say a Group of 5 program like Jax State shouldn’t expect better in a guarantee game, on an early September Saturday.

Then again, Jax State had SEC member South Carolina on the ropes last season, the Gamecocks’ first in FBS. As an FCS program in 2015, they had Auburn on ropes.

The Gamecocks roped Florida State in 2021 and Ole Miss in 2010, and Jax State signaled itself as FBS-ready with that triumphant inaugural FBS season in 2023.

Two games into this season, Jax State has had the season many forecast for 2023, when no one believed a first-year FBS program could do what the Gamecocks did.

We interrupt this down sound for good news. After rotating with returning quarterback Logan Smothers against Coastal Carolina, Tyler Huff started Saturday and played until Jax State’s final possession, when Zion Turner mopped up,

Smothers didn’t practice much since the Coastal Carolina game, Rodriguez said, which cleared the way for Huff to have it almost all to himself. Huff also made big throws, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Brown, and big runs, including a 15-yard touchdown run.

He rushed for 117 yards. He also completed 17 of 27 passes for 160 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Huff looked like a Rodriguez kind of quarterback, doing enough to where it won’t matter how much Smothers practices this week.

“I thought he gave us a chance,” Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t run the ball very well, besides him, and didn’t block well enough at certain points. …

“Logan was hurt all week and didn’t practice much. Tyler was going to get the start, but based on today, I don’t see no reason why Tyler wouldn’t start the next one.”

As for the defense, it gave up 610 yards.

After Coastal Carolina pushed Jax State around, Louisville rushed for 240 yards, averaging 6.5 per attempt, and converted nine of 13 first downs.

That means Jax State ran into the same problem it had against Coastal … having to commit too many defenders to the run and blowing coverages.

“There were moments where we played solid defense, but we gave up way to many third downs,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t tackle well at all. We’re ducking out head.

“The frustrating part is, deep balls down the field, we haven’t made a play on a ball yet. Five or six times, we didn’t guard the tight end for easy first downs.”

Call it another week to consider the realities of a change at defensive coordinator, and the new coordinator working with eight new starters. The more games like Saturday’s stack up, however, the question shifts from when it will be fixed to if it can be fixed this season.

“At some point, you’ve got to fix it, right?” Rodriguez said. “We knew what was wrong in the first game, and we didn’t get it fixed in the second game.

“Obviously, we’ve got to look at ourselves and take a look at what we’re doing, and our players have got to take a little ownership in it, too, which they will. I’ve got guys conscientious. I think they’ll take ownership of it and get it fixed.”

Game updates

–Kickoff, 2:30 p.m.
–Jax State wins the toss, defers. UL to receive opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

UL starts on its 38
–Cards go 62 yards in 9 plays in 4:26, scores on Donald Chaney’s 10-yard TD run. Brock Travelstead’s PAT is good at 10:29. Big plays was Tyler Shough’s scramble right (J-Rock Swain pressure) and 23-yard pass to Ja’Corey Brooks to set up first and goal. UL 7, JAX STATE 0
Jax State starts on its 22
–Tyler Huff starts at QB. … Gamecocks get one first down, punt after a Huff scramble on third down.
UL starts on its 25
–Jax State gets a stop after one first down. UL to punt from its 39.
Jax State starts on its 28
–A holding call on Sean Brown backs the Gamecocks up to the 18. … Huff throws deep on third down and long, intercepted by Quincy Riley and out of bounds. Looked like a receiver stopped short on the route.
UL starts on its 48
–UL goes 52 yards in three plays, 1:24. Keyjuan Brown breaks a 22-yard TD run at 3:58, and Travelstead’s PAT is good. UL 14, JAX STATE 0
Jax State starts on its 25
–Demarcus Lacey’s 43-yard catch to the UL 2 overturned on review. … Defensive holding on third down and 11 gives Jax State first down at UL’s 36. … Huff scrambles for 20 yards, to UL’s 15, on third down.

SECOND QUARTER

Jax State drive cont’d, first down at UL 15
–Huff throws to Brown, 11 yards for a Jax State TD at 14:24. Garrison Rippa’s PAT good. Scoring drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:34. Huff made several big plays, with his arm and legs. Seemed to find his footing. UL 14, JAX STATE 7
UL starts on its 30
–UL goes 70 yards in nine plays, 4:33. Maurice Turner over the top, 1 yard for a UL TD. Travel stead PAT good at 9:47. UL 21, JAX STATE 7
Jax State starts on its 25
–Huff continues to impress, leads Jax State in position for Rippa’s 38-yard field goal attempt at 6:30. Rippa misses just wide left, but Huff made plays with his arm and feet to drive Jax State 55 yards in nine plays.
UL starts on its 20
–Jax State DE Shane Payton Hodges down with apparent leg cramps. … Duane Martin in with a 2-yard TD run. Travel stead PAT is good at 2:37. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:47. UL 28, JAX STATE 7
Jax State starts on its 25
–Another impressive drive for Huff, who ends it with a 15-yard keeper for a TD. Rippa’s kick is blocked by Riley, but defense off sides. Rippa’s second attempt is good at 0:36. Drive: 75 yards, six plays, 2:01. Two defensive holding calls, but indicative that Jax State found some looks that gave UL trouble, including a five-receiver set with an empty backfield. UL 28, JAX STATE 14
UL starts on its 26
–After a Geimere Lattimer interception is overturned on review, Travel stead ends the half by missing a 60-yard field goal try, hits crossbar.

THIRD QUARTER

Jax State starts on its 25
–Gamecocks get a first down, but Huff suffers a third-down sack. Punt.
UL starts on its 23
–After converting fourth down and 2 near midfield field, UL scores on Shough’s 48-yard bomb to Chris Bell. Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 4:26. Travelstead PAT is good at 8:58. UL 35, JAX STATE 14
Jax State starts on its 25
–Gamecocks get a first down, stall, punt. Jack Dawson stays in character while acting like he got hurt. Fans boo as he trots off of the field.
UL starts on its 25
–Cards get into field-goal position, but Travelstead misses.
Jax State takes over on its 20
–Jax State’s first three-and-out today, and Dawson punts.
UL starts on Jax State’s 45
–Jax State forces a punt, touchback.
Jax State starts on its 20
–Huff scrambles, trucks UL DB Aaron Williams while gaining a first down to UL’s 48.

FOURTH QUARTER

Jax State drive cont’d, at UL’s 48
–Drive stalls, and Jax State to punt. Marco Baker downs the ball on the UL 4.
UL starts on its 4
–J-Rock Swain down after last play, looks like left knee. Walking off on own power, slight limp. … Shough finds Cataurus Hicks for 51 yards to Jax State’s 26. … Sets up Shough’s TD pass to Mark Redman, 12 yards. Travelstead’s kick is good at 7:43. Drive: 11 plays, 96 yards, 7:01. UL 42, JAX STATE 14
–Add Duke Watson’s 40-yard TD run and Travelstead’s PAT with 1:50 to play. UL 49 JAX STATE 14

FINAL : Louisville defeats Jax State 49-14.

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