JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team rallied from down 14 points in the third quarter and forced overtime, but threw an interception in the end zone in the extra period and saw Jacksonville State quarterback Eli Jenkins score on a 14-yard run for a 41-35 victory in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Quarterback Jacob Huesman finished with 258 yards of total offense in his final game, with 161 passing and 97 rushing. He accounted for five scores – two passing, two rushing plus a 39-yard receiving score on a pass from backup quarterback Alejandro Bennifield to give the Mocs a 35-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
Troymaine Pope, who had 234 yards and three rushing touchdowns, broke off a 75-yard run with 4:40 to play to tie the game at 35, and the teams traded stops for overtime.
In the extra period, the Mocs got a first down, but Huesman’s pass intended for Derrick Craine was intercepted by Brandon Bender. On JSU’s possession, Jenkins carried twice, including the game-winner.
The top-ranked Gamecocks (11-1), who host Charleston Southern next week, had 640 yards of total offense. Jenkins had 208 yards passing and 195 yards on the ground with three rushing scores, while Ruben Gonzalez had 101 yards on five catches.