MONTGOMERY \u2013<\/b> It\u2019s not how you start, but how you finish.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville State senior quarterback Zion Webb<\/b> overcame a slow start and then orchestrated a second half comeback to lead the Gamecocks to a 42-17 win over Stephen F. Austin the eighth FCS Kickoff at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.<\/p>\n
JSU (1-0) scored 35 unanswered points to give head coach Rich Rodriguez<\/b> the win in his Gamecocks coaching debut.<\/p>\n
Webb finished with 219 total yards and three rushing touchdowns in the win. He completed his final eight passes and finished 9-for-16 for 160 yards through the air. He ran the ball 11 times for 54 yards and career-high three TDs.<\/p>\n
The game was stopped by a weather delay with 13:16 left in the fourth quarter, when rain and lightning hit the area at 5:33 p.m. (CT). The game was officially called at 7:19 p.m. (CT).<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter suspending play because of lightning with 13:18 in the fourth quarter with Jacksonville State leading 42-17 over Stephen F Austin, it was determined that the game could not be resumed without significant risk to the health and safety of the student athletes,\u201d according to the A-Sun Conference. \u201cPer NCAA rules 3-3-3c(2) and with both institutions in complete agreement, the game was ended with the final score 42-17.<\/p>\n
Trailing 17-7 with 1:56 left in the first half, JSU scored two quick touchdowns to take 21-17 halftime lead.<\/p>\n
Senior running back Matt LaRoche<\/b> scored on an 8-yard run to close the gap to 17-14. Webb set up the score with a 73-yard pass to junior wide receiver Sterling Galban<\/b> to give the Gamecocks a first-and-goal at the SFA 8-yard line.<\/p>\n
The JSU defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession putting the ball back in the hands of Webb, who marched the team 49 yards for the go-ahead score. Webb capped the with a 4-yard TD run to give the Gamecocks their first lead of the game at 21-17.<\/p>\n
The Gamecocks scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter to increase the lead to 35-17.<\/p>\n
Webb capped an 82-yard drive with a 2-yard run on fourth-and-goal to give JSU a 28-17 lead with 8:10 left in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Senior safety Deco Wilson<\/b> recorded his first career interception to set the up the next score.<\/p>\n
Webb capped the 52-yard drive with a 4-yard quarterback keeper to push the lead to 35-17.<\/p>\n
After setting up a pair of touchdowns with turnovers, the JSU defense got a touchdown of its own when linebacker Cole Fuller<\/b> recovered a fumble in the end zone with 3:16 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 42-17.<\/p>\n
Stephen F. Austin (0-1) took advantage of a pair of early JSU turnovers to take a 17-7 lead.<\/p>\n
Webb struggled early on for the Gamecocks with two turnovers in the first four possessions.<\/p>\n
The Lumberjacks took advantage of the miscues.<\/p>\n
SFA senior quarterback Trae Self<\/b> completed a 1-yard TD pass to junior wide receiver Darryle Simmons<\/b> on a fourth-and-goal to give the Lumberjacks a 7-0 lead with 6:33 left in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
JSU answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, capped by running back Pat Jackson\u2019s<\/b> 1-yard to tie the game at 7-7.<\/p>\n
Self hooked up with senior wide receiver Xavier Gipson<\/b> on a 50-yard scoring strike to give SFA a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n