Oct. 5, 2002

Final Stats

Jacksonville, Ala. - Jacksonville State scored 14 points off four second-half Samford turnovers as the Gamecocks held off the Bulldogs, 37-23 at Paul Snow Stadium. JSU's Rondy Rogers rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries to lead the Gamecocks (3-2) offense.

Senior quarterback Josh Kellett completed 16-of-24 passes for 196 yards and rushed for 37 yards on five carries, but he was intercepted twice. Aryvia Holmes caught seven passes for 90 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs (2-3).

Jacksonville State scored on its first two possessions of the second half. Mayo threw to Jarvis Houston for a 2-yard touchdown giving the Gamecocks a 23-15 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Duwan Northcutt fumbled and JSU recovered at the Samford 36.Eight plays later, Marcus Mitchell punched it in from the 1-yard line to put JSU ahead 30-15 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.

Samford cut into its deficit 13 seconds into the fourth quarter. Kellett threw to Aryvia Holmes for his third touchdown of the night. Holmes caught a 13-yard pass over the middle. Efrem Hill caught the two-point conversion to make it 30-23.

After Samford's defense held JSU at the Samford 1-yard line, Kellett bobbled the snap and Dewayne Cuffie recovered the fumble in the end zone to put JSU ahead 37-23 with 5:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Samford fell behind early 7-0 when Rogers scored on the Gamecocks first play from scrimmage. He ran around left end for a 43-yard touchdown to put JSU on top.

The Gamecocks extended their lead to 14-0 when Ralph Jenkins caught a 31-yard touchdown from Anthony Mayo to put JSU ahead with 9:42 left in the first quarter.

Trailing 14-0, Kellett replaced Ray Nelson and led the Bulldogs on two scoring drives. On third-down from the JSU 28-yard line, Holmes caught a pass tipped by Northcutt at the JSU 12 and traveled the rest of the way for his first touchdown. Rob Shaw ran in the two-point conversion cutting the deficit to 14-8.

After Samford's defense held the Gamecocks and forced them to punt, Kellett engineered an 11-play 72-yard drive capping it off with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Holmes to put Samford ahead 15-14 with 10:52 left in the first half.

JSU regained the lead 16-15 after Leo Randall intercepted a Mayo pass in the end zone, but Randall fumbled back into the end zone and Robert Evans recovered giving the Gamecocks the safety.

JSU outgained Samford 405-304. Mayo finished the game with 183 yards on 13-of-22 passing. Samford will have next Saturday off before returning to action on Oct. 19. The Bulldogs will host Alcorn State for homecoming.