Jacksonville State QB sets rushing record to seal fifth straight win

Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel set a career rushing record on Wednesday night to help the team defeat New Mexico State 24-0 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Gamecocks entered the contest with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-0 mark in Conference USA play. Before this game, their best single-game rushing output for the season stood at 276 yards, a total set against Middle Tennessee. In the previous year, Creel had rushed for 161 yards against Southern Miss, which remained his personal career high until Wednesday.

Creel carried the ball for 211 yards, breaking the single-game school record for a quarterback. He opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run. Late in the third quarter, he broke free for a career-long 84-yard rush that set up Jalen Likely’s 1-yard score, extending the lead to 17-0. The offense added a 49-yard field goal from Garrison Rippa in the third quarter and a 29-yard passing touchdown to Luke Gilbert in the fourth.

The team finished with a season-high 324 yards on the ground. They limited New Mexico State to zero points and just 29 passing yards. Marc Woods recorded an interception of Adam Damante in the second half. The Aggies did manage 192 rushing yards, led by James Jones, who carried for 112 of them. The victory marks Jacksonville State’s fifth consecutive win and secures bowl eligibility for the fourth straight season at the Bowl Subdivision level.

Both teams return to action on Nov. 7. Jacksonville State will host Sam Houston at home. New Mexico State will host Liberty at home.