JSU extends OVC welcome

~ Jacksonville State built a 31-0 lead over the first three quarters en route to a 38-7 victory.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Jacksonville State has been the Ohio Valley Conference's top football team since joining the league in 2003.

Saturday afternoon, the Gamecocks demonstrated their prowess to Southeast Missouri State by handing Tony Samuel has first loss as the Redhawks' coach.

JSU posted a resounding 38-7 victory in the OVC opener for both squads.

The host Gamecocks improved to 1-1 overall, after allowing a touchdown in the final 30 seconds during a 17-13 setback at fourth-ranked Furman on Sept. 2.

Southeast, meanwhile, fell to 2-1. The Redhawks were denied their first 3-0 start since 1958. They had won their initial two games of a season for the first time since 2002.

After outscoring overmatched opponents Austin Peay and Missouri-Rolla 82-36, the Redhawks were dominated by JSU, which improved to 21-4 in OVC play since joining the conference. The Gamecocks won league titles in 2003 and 2004 before finishing third last year.

"They were faster than us, quicker," Samuel said. "That's a good, experienced football team."

Southeast was able to operate its offense effectively in its first two games, averaging 379.5 yards, including 240.5 yards on the ground.

But JSU's fast, swarming defense shut down the Redhawks, particularly in the first half.

The Redhawks had a grand total of 38 yards over the opening two quarters, with 17 rushing yards. Southeast had two first downs in the first half, both coming on its second possession that ended on a missed 43-yard field goal attempt by Colin Schermann.

That was Southeast's only real scoring opportunity in the half. The Redhawks were actually lucky to be down just 17-0 at the break, considering JSU had piled up 258 yards and 15 first downs.

"They have a great defense," Southeast quarterback Kevin Ballatore said. "Their defense was a lot faster than what we've seen the first two games.

Southeast still could not get much going on offense in the second half, and the Gamecocks steadily pulled away. It was 31-0 after three quarters.

"I felt pretty good at the half because we probably should have been behind about 40-0," Ballatore said. "But we just couldn't get anything going on offense."

Southeast managed to avoid being shut out for the first time since 2001, scoring with 12:27 remaining in the game on a 2-yard pass from Ballatore to fullback Clint Jones.

The Gamecocks finished with 473 total yards to 163 for Southeast. The Redhawks had 70 yards through three periods.

JSU rushed for 303 yards, which left an impression on Samuel, a former Nebraska player and assistant coach under Tom Osborne.

"We couldn't get them off the field. They just marched and marched and marched. It looked like my old Nebraska offense," Samuel said.

Added defensive end Kyle Hunt: "They were really good, well disciplined. They had some really good running backs."

JSU used short fields to build its 17-0 halftime advantage.

All-American Clay Green -- who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards for his ninth straight 100-yard performance in OVC play -- returned the game's opening kickoff 38 yards to his own 47.

Five plays later, and just 1:58 into the contest, JSU had a 7-0 lead on Green's 9-yard run.

Late in the first quarter, Craig Agee's 16-yard punt return set JSU up at midfield. Green's 3-yard run with 1:19 remaining made it 14-0.

A 32-yard punt return by Agee to the Southeast 45 led to a 25-yard field goal with 4:28 left in the half.

The Redhawks received a flicker of hope midway through the third quarter when Matt Boyack recovered a fumbled punt at the JSU 30. But another Southeast drive went backward, and Schermann was short on a 51-yard field goal try.

JSU responded on Green's 48-yard TD run with 5:22 left in the period and the rout was on. The Gamecocks final two touchdowns were scored with offensive backups on the field.

"We just have to stay positive and take this as a learning experience," Hunt said.

Southeast now has an open date before hosting OVC foe Samford on Sept. 30.