JACKSONVILLE, Alabama -- No. 12 Jacksonville State tied a school record with eight rushing touchdowns and allowed the fewest rushing yards in history in its 71-0 rout of Mississippi Valley State Saturday night.
The Gamecocks (1-1) dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference visitors from the opening series.
Jacksonville State recorded the second-highest total yardage in school history (654) and limited the Delta Devils to minus-8 yards rushing on 24 attempts to establish a new school mark before a Band Day crowd of 21,864 at Burgess-Snow Field.
The 71-point margin of victory was the largest of the school's modern football era; the 1928 Gamecocks defeated Bowdon 75-0.
"I thought we got off to a good start in both the first quarter and the third quarter," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "Both sides of the ball, and the kicking game, played well early. It set the tone for the game.
"We didn't have any turnovers and we cleaned up the penalties. I was very, very pleased."
The Gamecocks' eight rushing TDs equaled the record set in 2001 in a 72-10 win over Cumberland.
Jacksonville State scored touchdowns on 10 of its 14 possessions. Backup running back Uriah West ran for three second-half TDs, quarterback Zerrick Cooper continued his hot start with a pair of long touchdown passes to Josh Pearson, and Michael Matthews added two rushing TDs.
The Gamecocks' 654 total yards came with one of tying the most productive outing in JSU history.
MVSU (0-2) was limited to 133 total yards. The minus-8 yards allowed by Jacksonville State's defense eclipsed the previous mark of minus-3 set in 2017 versus Murray State.
Cooper – one of three JSU quarterbacks to see action – completed 12 of 17 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns while running four times for 27 yards, including a 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone just before halftime.
Pearson was on the receiving end of Cooper's two touchdown passes, a 75-yard strike midway through the second quarter and a 38-yard TD reception late in the first quarter. The junior receiver from Decatur now has three touchdowns and 260 yards through two games.
Backup quarterback Zion Webb saw extensive playing time as well. He completed four of nine throws for 73 yards and added another 59 yards on seven carries. Third-stringer QB Chappelle Wade got in the game in the fourth and attempted two passes, completing one.
BOX SCORE
Jaelen Greene led the Gamecocks' ground attack with 87 yards on 11 rushes. Eight different players ran it as Jacksonville State rolled up 368 rushing yards on 55 carries (6.7 yards per run).
Linebacker Jalen Choice recorded six tackles to lead Jacksonville State's defense in that category for the second straight game.
Traco Williams had the Gamecocks' only interception, returning it 45 yards to set up JSU's third touchdown.
Jacksonville State has another open date next Saturday and starts its Ohio Valley Conference slate on Sept. 22 at home against Tennessee Tech. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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