USM 42, Jax State 25
- Updated: September 27, 2025
Creel accounts for 270 yards total offense in most action as a Gamecocks, but turnovers costly in loss at Southern Miss.
Editor’s note: Complete stats from Jax State’s 42-25 loss at Southern Miss can be found on this link.
By East Alabama Sports Today
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A strip sack on the first offensive play for Jax State was a sign of things to come in a 42-25 loss at Southern Miss on Saturday.
The Gamecocks committed four turnovers, which led to 21 points.
“We made enough mistakes to lose two games tonight,” Jax State coach Charles Kelly said. “Can’t turn the ball over. You can’t give people short fields, not when you’re playing on the road. You just can’t do that.”
Southern Miss took a 7-0 lead after a four-play, 25-yard drive that was set up by a strip sack on Jax State’s first play from scrimmage. Jeffrey Pittman made it 14-0 with his second touchdown run of the game to cap a four-play, 80-yard drive with 6:38 left in the quarter.
Jax State’s first score, a 35-yard field goal by Garrison Rippa, came with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive covered 57 yards on 15 plays and was kept alive by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct foul after Jax State failed to convert on third down-and-27 at their own 8-yard line.
Malcolm Jones’ strip sack set up the Gamecocks at the 6-yard line with 9:49 left in the second, but the Golden Eagles stopped the Gamecocks on fourth and goal from the 3-yard line.
Southern Miss took advantage of a fumble just before the two- minute timeout with a 48-yard drive on 11 plays, with Braxton running into the end zone for the second time, from six yards out, for a 21-3 lead with just five seconds left in the first half.
With 5:52 left in the third, Braxton connected with Kadinn Morris for a six-yard touchdown to push the lead to 25. The Gamecocks answered on the next drive with Caden Creel finding Brock Rechsteiner for a four-yard touchdown pass with 4:33 left in the quarter which was set up by a 73-yard run by Creel.
Creel finished the game 9-of-17 passing for 109 yards and added 161 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Southern Miss responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 left in the third for a 35-11 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. The fourth Gamecock turnover was an interception returned 49 yards for a touchdown with 1:27 left in the contest.
Cam Cook found paydirt with 23 seconds left in the game on an 8-yard carry. The junior rushed for 77 yards and had 77 receiving yards.
Mac Sanders was atop the tackle chart with 13, including one for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
Jax State-USM updates
FIRST QUARTER
–After recovering a fumble at Jax State’s 25-yard line, So. Miss is on the board with Pittman’s 1-yard run. Willbanks’ PAT is good at 11:14. Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards, 1:31. USM 7, JAX STATE 0
–Pittman adds a 3-yard TD run, and Willbanks’ PAT is good at 6:38. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:17. USM 14, JAX STATE 0
–Jax State is on the board with Garrison Rippa’s 35-yard field goal at 0:45. Drive: 15 plays/57 yards/5:57. USM 14, JAX STATE 3
SECOND QUARTER
–Malcolm Jones sacks Braylon Braxton, forces fumble, recovers at USM 15, returns to USM 6. Sets up scoring opportunity, but Gavin Wimsatt is stopped at the goal line on fourth and goal from the 3.
–Caden Creel with a fumbled snap, recovered by USM’s Avery Sledge at the JSU 47 at 1:55. Sets up Braxton’s 6-yard scramble for a TD. Willbanks’ PAT is good at 0:05. USM 21, JAX STATE 3
THIRD QUARTER
–Braxton throws a 6-yard TD pass to Morris, and Willbanks’ PAT is good at 5:52. Drive: 7 plays/67 yards/3:30. USM 28, JAX STATE 3
–Jax State gets into the end zone, with Creel throwing a 4-yard TD pass to Brock Rechsteiner. Creel in with the conversion run at 4:33. Drive: 3 plays/75 yards/1:19. Creel keys the drive with a 73-yard run. USM 28, JAX STATE 11
–USM answers quickly with Braxton’s 13-yard TD pass to Chester. PAT is good at 1:55. Drive: 6 plays/75 yards/2:38. USM 35, JAX STATE 11
FOURTH QUARTER
–Creel with a 5-yard TD run at 7:23. After a pass interference penalty on the first conversion attempt, Creel stopped short. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 6:20. USM 35, JAX STATE 17
–Ian Foster picks off a Creel pass and returns 49 yards for a TD at 1:27. PAT good. USM 42, JAX STATE 17
–Cam Cook in with an 8-yard TD run at 0:23. Creel runs for the 2-point conversion. Drive: 5 plays/75 yards/1:04. USM 42, JAX STATE 25
FINAL: USM 42, Jax State 25
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