Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Troy Trojans
Jacksonville State holds off Troy 17-13 to win Salute to Veterans Bowl
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- — Caden Creel threw a touchdown pass, Deondre Johnson had six receptions for 101 yards, and Jacksonville State beat Troy 17-13 on Tuesday night to win the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Andrew Paul’s 1-yard run off a direct snap gave the Gamecocks a 17-13 lead with 5:44 remaining. With about a minute left, Tucker Kilcrease drove Troy past midfield but his Hail Mary pass-attempt to DJ Epps on the final play was knocked down in the end zone.
Creel completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards that included a 22-yard touchdown pass to Brock Rechsteiner in the first quarter. Garrison Rippa added a 51-yard field goal in the third for Jacksonville State (9-5).
Kilcrease was 12-of-23 passing for 116 yards and threw two interceptions for Troy (8-6), which ended a 79-game win streak when leading heading into the fourth quarter.
Late in the first quarter, Troy scored its only touchdown on the Gamecocks' botched flea flicker. Luis Medina recovered a fumble in the end zone after TJ Thompson strip-sacked Creel. Scott Taylor Renfroe kicked field goals from 38 and 30 yards in the second quarter and the Trojans led 13-7 at halftime.
Troy had won the last seven games between the teams but it was the first meeting since 2001 for the schools located just 162 miles apart. The Trojans are 33-29-2 in the series that dates to 1924.
Jacksonville State has played in a bowl game in each of its three seasons at the FBS level. Marshall is the only other team (1997-99) to appear in bowl games in each of its first three eligible seasons.
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Game Information
Montgomery, AL
2025 Standings
| Sun Belt - EastSun Belt - East | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| James Madison | 8-0 | 12-1 |
| Old Dominion | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Coastal Carolina | 5-3 | 6-6 |
| Georgia Southern | 4-4 | 6-6 |
| Marshall | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| App State | 2-6 | 5-7 |
| Georgia State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
| Sun Belt - WestSun Belt - West | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Troy | 6-2 | 8-6 |
| Southern Miss | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Louisiana | 5-3 | 6-7 |
| Arkansas State | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| Texas State | 3-5 | 6-6 |
| South Alabama | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| UL Monroe | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Conference USAConference USA | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Kennesaw State | 7-1 | 10-4 |
| Jacksonville State | 7-1 | 9-5 |
| Western Kentucky | 6-2 | 8-4 |
| Louisiana Tech | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Missouri State | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| Florida International | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Delaware | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Liberty | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Middle Tennessee | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| New Mexico State | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| UTEP | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| Sam Houston | 1-7 | 2-10 |
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