Rippa delivers
- Updated: October 9, 2025
Rippa delivers a walk-off field goal, and Jax State holds off winless Sam Houston State to go to 2-0 in CUSA play.
Editor’s note: Complete stats from Jax State’s victory at Sam Houston State can be found on this link.
By East Alabama Sports Today
HOUSTON — Garrison Rippa kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, and Jacksonville State held off winless Sam Houston State 29-27 in Conference USA play Thursday,
The Gamecocks improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in CUSA play. The opened the season with a victory over preseason favorite Liberty.
Reminiscent of 2024, all of Jax State’s early losses have come in non-conference play. The 2024 Gamecocks started 0-3 but went on to finish 9-5, win the CUSA title and play in their second bowl game in as many years of FBS eligibility.
Jax State drove seven plays, 48 yards in 47 seconds to set up the game-winning field goal Thursday.
Rippa added to his reputation for clutch kicks. His game-winning field goal secured Jax State’s victory over Louisiana in the 2023 New Orleans Bowl.
Running back Cam Cook rushed 31 times for a career-high 218 yards, including touchdown runs of two and seven yards, His 7-yard touchdown run put Jax State up 26-21 with 10:34 to play.
Quarterback Caden Creel, making his first start with the Gamecocks, hit on 13 of 17 passes for 129 yards. He also rushed 24 times for 132 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run for the game’s first points.
Rippa hit field goals of 30, 26 and 52 yards, He also saw one blocked.
Jax State broke a four-game road losing streak dating back to last season with a statistically dominating performance, outgaining Sam Houston State 499 total yards to 286.
The Gamecocks gained 370 yards rushing and held a near-11-minute edge in time of possession. They ran 80 plays and rolled up 26 first downs.
“We’ve got to do better at cashing in, and we’ll do that,” Jax State coach Charles Kelly said. “We’ve still got a relatively young football team.”
Jax State appeared on its way to dominating the game on the scoreboard with a 10-0 start, including Creel’s touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 59-yard drive.
But a Creel fumble after Sam Houston State punted Jax State down to its 1-yard line set up the Bearkats’ first score, Landan Brown’s 1-yard touchdown run to bring Sam Houston State within 10-7 at 10:13 of the second quarter.
Cook’s 2-yard touchdown run reestablished a 10-point cushion for Jax State, 17-7, but the Bearkats (0-6, 0-2) drew within 17-14 at halftime on Hunter Waton’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Qua’Vez Humphries.
A Watson-to-Chris Reed hookup for a 20-yard touchdown pass put Sam Houston State up 21-17 at 8:46 of the third quarter.
Rippa’s 24-yard field goal and Cook’s 7-yard touchdown run put Jax State back up 26-21, but Watson and Reed hooked up again, this time for 19 yards, to five Sam Houston State a 27-26 lead with 52 seconds to play.
“You’ve got to learn how to win on the road,” Kelly said. “I’ve played out here a lot of times, and I knew (SHSU head coach) Phil Longo. We didn’t think this was going to be easy. People started talking about, well, they haven’t won, but that’s just college football. That’s the way it is.
“We’ve got to get better, but I’m extremely proud of our players and out coaches and how they prepared all week.”
Jax State at SHSU live updates
–Kickoff, 7 p.m.
FIRST QUARTER
–Caden Creel starts at QB
–Creel with with a 7-yard TD run at 8:57. Garrison Rippa kicks the PAT. Scoring Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 4:35. JAX STATE 7, SHSU 0
–Rippa hits a 30-yard field goal on a drive keyed by Cam Cook’s 73-yard run. Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 1:05. JAX STATE 10, SHSU 0
SECOND QUARTER
–After SHSU punts Jax State down to the 1-yard line, Creel fumbles. SHSU takes over at the 1.
–Landan Brown’s 1-yard TD run gets SHSU on the board. PAT is good. Drive: one play, one yard, four seconds. JAX STATE 10, SHSU 7
–Cook with a 2-yard TD run, and Rippa hits the PAT at 6:15. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:58. JAX STATE 17, SHSU 7
–Hunter Watson throws a 4-yard TD pass to Qua’Vez at 4:28. PAT is good. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:47. JAX STATE 17, SHSU 14
THIRD QUARTER
–Watson throws a 20-yard TD pass to Chris Reed. PAT is good at 8:46. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 03:48. SHSU 21, JAX STATE 17
FOURTH QUARTER
–Rippa hits a 26-yard field goal at 14:56. Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 04:10. SHSU 21, JAX STATE 20
–Cook with a 7-yard TD run at 10:34. Conversion pass failed. Drive: 5 plays, 52 yards,2:26. JAX STATE 26, SHSU 21
–Cook with 194 yards rushing. Jax State outgaining SHSU 420-204, with 336 rushing yards. Gamecocks have an 11:16 edge in time of possession.
–Caleb Nix recovers a Watson fumble. Trevor Woods with the strip. Jax State takes over on its 38.
–Cook with with a 5-yard run on fourth and 1 to SHSU’s 49. Cook with season-high 200 yards on the night.
–Watson throws a 19-yard TD pass to Reed at 0:52. Conversion run fails. SHSU 27, JAX STATE 26
–Rippa makes a 52-yard field goal as time expires. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 00:47. JAX STATE 29, SHSU 27
FINAL: Jax State wins 29-27.
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