New Orleans, LA—-In a thrilling matchup at the New Orleans Bowl, Jackson State and Louisiana-Lafayette went head-to-head, culminating in a nail-biting overtime finish. The game concluded with a tight score of 34-31, showcasing the teams’ determination and resilience. The overtime period added an extra layer of excitement, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as both teams fought for victory.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring standout plays and resilient efforts from both teams. The overtime period intensified the drama, culminating in a memorable triumph for Jacksonville State.
Jacksonville State coach Rich Rodriguez was glowing from the locker-room celebration when he sat before a microphone to take questions and looked down at a printout of the final statistics from the New Orleans Bowl.
“I don’t know if I even want to look at these stats,” said Rodriguez, whose career as a head coach has included stints at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona. “I’ve done this a long time, and this is one of the most improbable games I’ve ever been a part of.”
Zion Webb completed a fourth-down pass to Perry Carter for an 18-yard, tying touchdown with 1:46 left in the game, Garrison Rippa hit his second field goal attempt of his career from 27 yards in overtime, and Jacksonville State capped off its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Ron Wiggins rushed for 126 yards and a score for Jacksonville State (9-4), which had to overcome four turnovers — three of which were returned for touchdowns — just to force overtime.
“They never panic. They’ve got a great attitude,” Rodriguez said. “They kept playing all the way until the end.”
The Cajuns punted on their first six series — nine times in all — and also settled for a field goal after having second and 1 from the JSU 16 — then throwing incomplete passes on second and third down. If not for its defense producing turnovers and points, ULL might have had trouble staying in the game.
Safety Jalen Clark scored touchdowns on a 46-yard fumble return and a 16-yard interception return for Louisiana-Lafayette (6-7).
“It’s good that I did that, but it’s not the best because we didn’t get the W,” Clark said.
UP NEXT:
Jacksonville State: Host Coastal Carolina on Aug. 31, 2024.
