Setback
- Updated: November 22, 2025
Missed opportunities cost Jax State in loss at FIU, and Gamecocks drop into three-way tie for CUSA leads with co-leader Western Kentucky up next.
Editor’s note: Complete statistics from Jax State’s loss at Florida International on Saturday are available on this link.
By East Alabama Sports Today
MIAMI — Missed opportunities doomed Jax State to a 27-21 loss at Florida International in Conference USA play on Saturday, and the loss has consequences for the Gamecocks.
Jax State (7-4, 6-1 CUSA) came into the game with a chance to clinch a spot in the CUSA championship. Instead, the Gamecocks fell into a three-way tie with Western Kentucky and Kennesaw State for the conference lead.
Jax State beat Kennesaw State last week and plays host to Western Kentucky next week. A Gamecocks victory clinches their right to host the CUSA championship for the second year in a row.
A loss, and Jax State could miss the CUSA title game, depending on Kennesaw State’s game at Liberty,
Jax State is the defending league champion.
Jax State quarterback Caden Creel completed 17 of 30 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards. Cam Cook rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Jax State outgained FIU 449 total yards to 398, but turnovers cost the Gamecocks.
First-year coach Charles Kelly called the Gamecocks’ performance “unacceptable” and blamed himself.
“We did not do a good job coaching, and we did not do a good job playing,” Kelly said on a postgame radio interview. “We did not execute. We did things that, honestly, with two minutes left, I thought we were going to go down and win the game.
“Even if we’d have won the game, we didn’t beat our opponent. We didn’t do the things that it takes to beat an opponent. They did. … You’ve got to execute. You can’t turn the ball over. You can’t give up explosive plays.”
FIU’s Johnny Chaney Jr. recovered a Creel fumble at the FIU 32. Two plays later, Joe Pesansky completed a 64-yard TD pass to Alex Perry to put FIU upp 24-21 with 12:56 to play.
Jax State responded when Cook took a Creel pass 43 yards to FIU’s 22-yard line, but Cook fumbled on the next play. FIU’s Dante Anderson recovered at 8:29.
Cook was stopped on fourth and goal from the 4-yard line at 11:22 of the second quarter, and the Gamecocks came up empty on a 14-play, 73-yard drive.
Emmanuel Oyebadejo got the scoring opportunity back, tipping a Pesansky pass that Jacob Cruz intercepted to spot Jax State at the FIU 16. That set up Cook’s 1-yard touchdown run and a 14-7 lead at 8:06.
Oxford High grad Tre’Quon Fegans came up with a one-handed interception in the end zone to thwart an FIU scoring chance in the second quarter.
Jax State-FIU updates
–Kickoff, 2:30 p.m.
FIRST QUARTER
–Jax State’s Garrison Rippa misses a field goal from 49 yards, partially blocked.
–Kejon Owens scores on a 4-yard TD run, and Noah Grant hits the extra point at 7:07. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:25 FIU 7, JAX STATE 0
–Caden Creel completes a 28-yard TD pass to Deondre Johnson at 5:09. Rippa’s PAT is good. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:57. JAX STATE 7, FIU 7
SECOND QUARTER
–Cam Cook stopped on fourth and goal from the 4-yard line at 11:22. A 14-play, 73-yard drive comes up empty.
–Emmanuel Oyebadejo tips a pass, and Jacob Cruz intercepts to spot Jax State at the FIU 16. Sets up Cook’s 1-yard TD run at 8:06. Rippa PAT is good. JAX STATE 14, FIU 7
–On first and goal from the Jax State 4, Tre’Quon Fegans picks off a Joe Pesansky pass in the end zone. Jax State to take over on its 20.
THIRD QUARTER
–Pesansky throws a 1-yard TD pass to Chad Staley at 9:33, and Grant kicks the extra point. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:27. JAX STATE 14, FIU 14
–Anthony Carrie fumbles, forced by Walker O’Steen, and Khurtiss Perry recovers at FIU 20-yard line. Sets up Creel’s 20-yard TD pass to Pearson Baldwin. Rippa PAT is good at 7:14. JAX STATE 21, FIU 14
–Grant hits a 35-yard field goal at 0:35. Drive: 6 plays, 44 yards, 3:19. JAX STATE 21, FIU 17
FOURTH QUARTER
–FIU’s Johnny Chaney Jr. recovers a Creel fumble at Creel fumble at the FIU 32. Two plays later, Pesansky completes a 64-yard TD pass to Alex Perry at 12:56. Grant’s kick is good. FIU 24, JAX STATE 21
–Cook takes a Creel pass 43 yards to the FIU 22, but FIU’s Dante Anderson recovers a Cook fumble at the 21 at 8:29. Josiah Taylor forced the fumble.
–Jax State called for running into the kicker, and FIU takes the penalty after Grant hit a field goal. That makes fourth and 2, and it’s still 24-21. Panthers go for it, and holding penalty wipes out Pesansky’s run for the first down. Grant must hit longer field goal. On fourth and 12, Grant hits the 42-yarder at 1:54. FIU 27, JAX STATE 21
FINAL: Jax State falls 27-21
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