‘Uncharacteristic things’
- Updated: September 13, 2025
Defense, kicking game struggle as Jax State comes back, then surrenders fourth-quarter lead to fall at Georgia Southern.
By East Alabama Sports Tooday
STATESBORO, Ga. — For the fourth time in as many trips to Georgia Southern, Jax State departed Allen E. Paulson Stadium Saturday night with a case of the Statesboro Blues.
The host Eagles overcame a fourth-quarter deficit by scoring twice in the last 11 minutes to defeat Jax State 41-34 before a near sellout crowd of 24,585. The Gamecocks dropped to 0-4 all-time at Georgia Southern’s home field.
Brock Rechsteiner scored twice, and quarterback Gavin Wimsatt ran for two touchdowns and threw for 178 yards with one touchdown for the Gamecocks (1-2).
Jax State had taken the lead when Rechsteiner scored on an end around in the waning moments of the third quarter, but the Eagles tied it with a field goal on their next possession and sealed the win with a short touchdown run with six-and-a-half minutes left.
“It was very obvious that we didn’t play as well as we can play,” Jax State coach Charles Kelly said. “We feel it will always be about us and not the other team.
“We did uncharacteristic things in the kicking game and gave up too many yards, which put us in bad field position. Defensively, we didn’t tackle the way we’ve been tackling.”
The Eagles struck quickly, receiving the opening kickoff and moving 60 yards in nine plays for a 7-0 lead after only four minutes. Quarterback J.C. French IV finished the drive with a 2-yard run at the 11:04 mark in the first quarter.
Wimsatt directed consecutive 75-yard scoring drives sandwiched around a 95-yard Georgia Southern kickoff return as the Eagles grabbed a 17-14 lead through one quarter. Wimsatt’s second rushing touchdown of 2025 — a 10-yard keeper keyed by a block from receiver Michael Pettway — came with 6:34 left in the first.
Wimsatt connected with Rechsteiner for a 56-yard touchdown for the Gamecocks’ second score. Rechsteiner’s third career touchdown reception and Garrison Rippa’s second extra point drew Jax State even at 14-14 at the 3:42 mark.
Rippa’s 30-yard field goal and a 6-yard Wimsatt run for a score accounted for Jax State’s final points of the opening half. The Gamecocks went into the locker room trailing 31-24 despite outgaining Georgia Southern 282-200.
With 22 seconds left in the third quarter, Rechsteiner scored his first career rushing TD on a 14-yard reverse, giving the Gamecocks their first lead of the night. The drive was extended by a targeting penalty against the Eagles (1-2), which came after they had successfully stopped Jax State’s fake field goal try.
Linebacker Walker O’Steen had a career-best eight tackles for the Gamecocks, while safety Trevor Woods also had eight stops. Chase Alexander recovered a fumble and returned it 28 yards.
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