SATURDAY'S SCORES
#5 Jacksonville State 27, #12 Chattanooga 13 (Montgomery, Ala.)
#5 JACKSONVILLE STATE 27, #12 CHATTANOOGA 13
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Roc Thomas ran for 122 yards and one touchdown and Jonathan Hagler returned an interception 52 yards for another score as No. 5 Jacksonville State defeated No. 12 Chattanooga in the inaugural Guardian Credit Union Kickoff Classic at Cramton Bowl.
Thomas, a senior from Oxford, Ala., accounted for 190 total yards, including a highlight reel 76-yard sprint for a touchdown in the first quarter as the Gamecocks beat the Mocs for the fifth straight time and extended their regular season winning streak against non-FBS opponents to 32.
Bryant Horn of Alexander City, Ala., – making his first career start at quarterback – shook off a pair of first-half interceptions and finished with 182 yards, including a 59-yard TD strike to Shaq Davidson with under 10 minutes left in the game.
Cade Stinnett was successful on both of his field goal attempts as Jacksonville State (1-0) opened a season at a neutral site and in front of a national ESPN audience for the first time since 1992.
"We've played some real ugly games against Chattanooga in the past, but this wasn't one of them," said Jacksonville State fourth-year head coach John Grass. "I thought our defense really played excellent.
"Overall, I'm pleased with the effort."
Jacksonville State led 10-6 at halftime. The Gamecocks' defense then limited the Mocs to only 18 yards over a 17-play span, forcing two turnovers and stretching the narrow halftime lead to a comfortable 20-6 cushion entering the fourth quarter.
The game's momentum swung to Jacksonville State's favor for good late in the third quarter when senior linebacker Jonathan Hagler picked off a pass by Mocs quarterback Nick Tiano and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Stinnett tacked on the extra point as JSU opened a 14-point lead with 3:45 left in the third quarter.
The Mocs managed only 294 yards against the Jacksonville State defense boasting nine returning starters, with 89 of that total coming on a desperation drive in the game's waning minutes.
Reggie Hall also had an interception and All-American candidate Darius Jackson added one tackle for loss to become the Gamecocks' leader in the category with 163 yards.
Horn directed Jacksonville State to its first points of 2017 on the second possession.
Taking over the Mocs' 48 after a short UTC punt and kick catching interference penalty, the Gamecocks moved 34 yards in eight plays, culminating in Stinnett's 31-yard field goal with 8:14 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.
Chattanooga answered with a game-tying field goal, but Thomas electrified the announced crowd of 12,952 at Cramton Bowl with his career-long 76-yard touchdown run on JSU's first play for a 10-3 lead the Gamecocks never surrendered.
Thomas also contributed a game-high 68 receiving yards on three receptions.
Jacksonville State will play in the second annual Guardian Kickoff Classic on Aug. 25, 2018, against an opponent yet to be announced.