American college football season
The 2018 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach John Grass, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 9–4, with a mark of 7–1 conference play, winning the OVC title for the fifth consecutive season. Jacksonville State received the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoff marking the program's sixth straight trip to the FCS playoffs. The Gamecocks defeated East Tennessee State in the first round before losing to Maine in the second round. The team played home games at Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Preseason
On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Gamecocks predicted to win the OVC championship.[1] On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Gamecocks also predicted to become OVC champions.[2]
Media poll Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
1 | Jacksonville State | 134 (14) |
2 | Austin Peay | 114 (1) |
3 | UT Martin | 96 |
4 | Tennessee State | 91 |
5 | Eastern Illinois | 83 |
6 | Eastern Kentucky | 64 |
7 | Murray State | 39 |
8 | Southeast Missouri State | 35 |
9 | Tennessee Tech | 19 |
Coaches poll Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
1 | Jacksonville State | 126 (14) |
2 | Austin Peay | 112 (4) |
3 | UT Martin | 95 |
4 | Eastern Illinois | 73 |
5 | Eastern Kentucky | 69 |
6 | Tennessee State | 64 |
7 | Southeast Missouri State | 62 |
8 | Murray State | 24 |
9 | Tennessee Tech | 23 |
Preseason All-OVC team
The Gamecocks had six players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.[3] Defensive lineman Randy Roberinson was also selected as the preseason defensive player of the year.
Offense Tyler Scozzaro – C B.J. Autry– G Darius Anderson – G | Defense Randy Robinson – DL Marlon Bridges – DB | Specialists Cade Stinnett – K |
Award watch lists
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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August 25 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. No. 14 North Carolina A&T* | No. 6 | | ESPN | L 17–20 | 13,500 |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State* | No. 13 | | ESPN+ | W 71–0 | 21,864 |
September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | Tennessee Tech | No. 10 | - Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium
- Jacksonville, AL
| ESPN+ | W 48–20 | 17,403 |
September 29 | 3:00 p.m. | Austin Peay | No. 8 | - Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium
- Jacksonville, AL
| ESPN3 | W 48–32 | 19,388 |
October 6 | 3:00 p.m. | at Eastern Kentucky | No. 8 | | ESPN+ | W 56–7 | 6,820 |
October 13 | 3:00 p.m. | Eastern Illinois | No. 8 | - Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium
- Jacksonville, AL
| ESPN3 | W 49–22 | 15,649 |
October 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Southeast Missouri State | No. 5 | | ESPN+ | L 14–37 | 3,103 |
October 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at Murray State | No. 12 | | ESPN+ | W 42–15 | 8,053 |
November 3 | 1:00 p.m. | UT Martin | No. 10 | - Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium
- Jacksonville, AL
| ESPN+ | W 21–14 | 16,093 |
November 10 | 2:00 p.m. | at Tennessee State | No. 8 | | ESPN+ | W 41–14 | 6,718 |
November 17 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. No. 2 Kennesaw State* | No. 6 | | FSS | L 52–60 5OT | 16,949 |
November 24 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 22 East Tennessee State* | No. 8 | | ESPN3 | W 34–27 | 11,024 |
December 1 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 12 Maine* | No. 8 | - Alfond Stadium
- Orono, ME (NCAA Division I Second Round)
| ESPN3 | L 27–55 | 6,145 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
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[5][6]
Game summaries
vs North Carolina A&T
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 14 Aggies | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
No. 6 Gamecocks | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | NCAT | JSU | 1 | 6:31 | 9 | 65 | 4:38 | NCAT | Zachary Leslie 24-yard touchdown reception from Lamar Raynard, Noel Ruiz kick good | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3:55 | 10 | 57 | 4:00 | JSU | 23-yard field goal by Cade Stinnett | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6:13 | 3 | 75 | 0:58 | JSU | Daniel Byrd 49-yard touchdown reception from Zerrick Cooper, Cade Stinnett kick good | 7 | 10 | 3 | 5:57 | | | | NCAT | Malik Wilson 98 yard kickoff return for touchdown, Cade Stinnett kick good | 14 | 10 | 3 | 4:49 | 3 | 65 | 1:08 | JSU | Josh Pearson 40-yard touchdown reception from Zerrick Cooper, Cade Stinnett kick good | 14 | 17 | 3 | 2:36 | 5 | 31 | 2:13 | NCAT | Elijah Bell 4-yard touchdown reception from Lamar Raynard, Noel Ruiz kick failed | 20 | 17 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 20 | 14 | |
Mississippi Valley State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Delta Devils | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No. 13 Gamecocks | 15 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 71 |
Tennessee Tech
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Golden Eagles | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
No. 10 Gamecocks | 10 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 48 |
Austin Peay
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Governors | 9 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 32 |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 0 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 48 |
At Eastern Kentucky
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 14 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 56 |
Colonels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Eastern Illinois
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Governors | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 22 |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
At Southeast Missouri State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 5 Gamecocks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Redhawks | 7 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 37 |
At Murray State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 12 Gamecocks | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
Racers | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 15 |
UT Martin
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Skyhawks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 14 |
No. 10 Gamecocks | 10 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 21 |
At Tennessee State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 20 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 41 |
Tigers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
vs Kennesaw State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | 4OT | 5OT | Total |
No. 6 Gamecocks | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 52 |
No. 2 Owls | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 60 |
East Tennessee State—NCAA Division I First Round
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 22 Buccaneers | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 7 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 34 |
At Maine—NCAA Division I Second Round
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 8 Gamecocks | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
No. 12 Black Bears | 21 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 55 |
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
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STATS FCS | 6 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
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Coaches | 6 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 13 |
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References
- ^ "Media Pollsters Tab Jacksonville State as 2018 OVC Football Preseason Favorites". Ohio Valley Conference. July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Jacksonville State Picked as 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Football Favorites". Ohio Valley Conference. July 23, 2018.
- ^ "SEMO's Terry, JSU's Bridges Named OVC Preseason Football Players of the Year". Ohio Valley Conference. July 23, 2018.
- ^ "FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced". August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "Jacksonville State Gamecocks Schedule 2018". ESPN. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ "2018 JSU Football Schedule". Jacksonville State University Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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Pre-divisional | |
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NCAA College Division | |
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Division II | |
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National championships in bold † WKU claims a co-championship, while both the OVC and Tennessee Tech state it is not shared |
2018 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants |
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Champion – North Dakota State |