Jacksonville State Edges Troy 17-13 in Season Opener
Jacksonville State defeated Troy 17-13 in a Week 1 matchup that saw multiple lead changes throughout the contest. The Gamecocks scored touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters while adding a field goal in the third, holding off the Trojans' early offensive push.
Troy struck first, scoring 13 points through the first half before being held scoreless in the second half. Jacksonville State matched Troy's opening quarter touchdown before controlling the game's momentum down the stretch.
Caden Creel led Jacksonville State's passing attack with 173 yards, connecting with receivers including D. Johnson on multiple first-down conversions. Khristian Lando rushed for 44 yards for the Gamecocks. Troy's receiving corps was led by Rara Thomas with 52 yards.
Jacksonville State's defense made key plays throughout the contest, including a critical fumble return for a touchdown in the opening period. The game featured significant momentum swings, with Jacksonville State ultimately prevailing to cover the 3-point spread. The final score came in under the 47.5-point over/under.
AI-generated recap · Aug 22, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Troy | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
 Jacksonville State | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Troy | Jacksonville State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 15-30 | 14-22 |
| Pass Yards | 129 | 173 |
| Rush Yards | 88 | 100 |
| Total Yards | 217 | 273 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 2-12 | 8-17 |
| Penalties | 3-15 | 3-45 |
| Possession | 29:30 | 30:30 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass incomplete short right to #5 T.Taylor thrown to Troy37
PENALTY Troy Illegal Substitution 5 yards from Troy30 to Troy25. NO PLAY
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass complete short right to #7 R.Thomas caught at Troy22, for 1 yard to the Troy26 (#13 J.Cruz; #96 D.Prater)
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 9 yards gain to the Troy35 (#91 G.Stansbury; #31 M.Woods)
#28 E.Crenshaw punt 36 yards to the JAX ST29
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 3 yards gain to the JAX ST32 (#99 J.Peterson; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush middle for 5 yards gain to the JAX ST37 (#2 S.Cattledge; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush right for 5 yards gain to the JAX ST42 (#0 J.Williams; #6 J.Powe), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 3 yards gain to the JAX ST45 (#14 D.Daniel-Sisavanh)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short middle to #11 D.Johnson caught at JAX ST49, for 9 yards to the Troy46 (#3 D.Lafayette), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #5 D.Gentry caught at Troy41, for 18 yards to the Troy28 (#6 J.Powe), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush left for 3 yards gain to the Troy25 (#11 E.Davis; #98 J.Fils-Aime)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #1 M.Pettway caught at Troy26, for 3 yards to the Troy22 (#5 K.Levine)
Brock Rechsteiner 22 Yd pass from Caden Creel (Garrison Rippa Kick)
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass complete short middle to #18 D.Epps caught at Troy30, for 0 yards to the Troy34 (#59 M.Sanders)
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder rush middle for 14 yards gain to the Troy48 (#1 C.Nix), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 0 yards to the Troy48 (#16 Q.Hood; #40 W.O'Steen)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short right to #5 T.Taylor thrown to Troy48 broken up by #44 K.Perry
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short left to #14 E.Conner caught at JAX ST48, for 5 yards to the JAX ST47 (#31 M.Woods; #22 J.Jenkins)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short left to #7 R.Thomas thrown to JAX ST37 QB hurried by #40 W.O'Steen, TURNOVER ON DOWNS
No Huddle-Shotgun #0 A.Paul rush left for 4 yards gain to the Troy49 (#2 S.Cattledge; #0 J.Williams)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush right for 2 yards gain to the Troy47 (#3 D.Lafayette; #5 K.Levine)
No Huddle-Shotgun #0 A.Paul rush middle for 2 yards gain to the Troy45 (#7 J.Stringer; #2 S.Cattledge)
#87 C.Donaghy punt 45 yards to the Troy00, Touchback
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush left for 7 yards gain to the Troy27 (#22 J.Jenkins), out of bounds
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush middle for 6 yards gain to the Troy33 (#96 D.Prater), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #14 E.Conner caught at Troy34, for 11 yards to the Troy44 (#2 T.Franklin, Jr.), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 3 yards gain to the Troy47 (#47 C.Mims; #54 K.Bendolph)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete deep left to #18 D.Epps thrown to JAX ST18 broken up by #22 J.Jenkins
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #1 J.Lovett caught at Troy43, for 3 yards loss to the Troy44 (#5 T.Taylor; #44 K.Perry)
PENALTY Troy False Start (#13 K.McNulty) 5 yards from Troy44 to Troy39. NO PLAY
#28 E.Crenshaw punt 49 yards to the JAX ST12
Luis Medina 0 Yd Fumble Return (Scott Taylor Renfroe Kick)
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush left for 17 yards gain to the JAX ST42, out of bounds at JAX ST42, 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete deep left to #11 D.Johnson thrown to Troy17
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #3 B.Rechsteiner caught at JAX ST39, for 0 yards to the JAX ST42 (#44 L.Hodge)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short left to #5 D.Gentry caught at JAX ST42, for 3 yards to the JAX ST45 (#7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle #2 G.Wimsatt pass incomplete short right to #13 P.Baldwin thrown to JAX ST46, TURNOVER ON DOWNS
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush middle for 4 yards gain to the JAX ST41 (#16 Q.Hood)
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass incomplete short right to #88 J.Worley thrown to JAX ST37
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder rush middle for 6 yards gain to the JAX ST35 (#6 R.Elston; #13 J.Cruz), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush right for 0 yards to the JAX ST35 (#31 M.Woods; #49 T.Gallagher)
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass complete short right to #7 R.Thomas caught at JAX ST25, for 12 yards to the JAX ST23 (#4 S.Payton Hodges; #22 J.Jenkins), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush middle for 5 yards gain to the JAX ST18 (#40 W.O'Steen)
Shotgun #7 R.Thomas rush right for 2 yards loss to the JAX ST20 (#31 M.Woods)
Shotgun #9 G.Crowder pass incomplete short left to #1 J.Lovett thrown to JAX ST17
#40 S.Renfroe field goal attempt from 38 yards GOOD (H: #28 E.Crenshaw, LS: #87 C.Walls), clock 10:57
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #13 P.Baldwin caught at JAX ST31, for 10 yards to the JAX ST35 (#14 D.Daniel-Sisavanh), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #6 J.Likely rush left for 1 yard loss to the JAX ST34 (#5 K.Levine; #2 S.Cattledge)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush right for 2 yards gain to the JAX ST36 (#3 D.Lafayette)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete deep left to #11 D.Johnson caught at Troy28, for 49 yards to the Troy15 (#17 M.Odom), out of bounds PENALTY JAX ST Pass Interference (#11 D.Johnson) 15 yards from JAX ST36 to JAX ST21. NO PLAY
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short left to #3 B.Rechsteiner caught at JAX ST24, for 5 yards to the JAX ST26 (#5 K.Levine; #7 J.Stringer)
#87 C.Donaghy punt 44 yards to the Troy30 fair catch by #2 P.Higgins at Troy30
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 3 yards gain to the Troy33 (#99 E.Oyebadejo; #59 M.Sanders)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #7 R.Thomas caught at Troy47, for 17 yards to the Troy50 (#22 J.Jenkins), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush right for 0 yards to the Troy50, out of bounds at Troy50
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease sacked for loss of 8 yards to the Troy42 (#40 W.O'Steen)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short left to #2 P.Higgins caught at JAX ST48, for 20 yards to the JAX ST38 (#5 T.Taylor; #1 C.Nix), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush left for 5 yards gain to the JAX ST33, End Of Play
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #18 D.Epps caught at JAX ST22, for 18 yards to the JAX ST15 (#22 J.Jenkins), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush middle for 5 yards gain to the JAX ST10 (#59 M.Sanders)
Shotgun #2 P.Higgins rush left for 3 yards loss to the JAX ST13 (#59 M.Sanders)
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 1 yard gain to the JAX ST12 (#92 T.Carter; #44 K.Perry)
#40 S.Renfroe field goal attempt from 30 yards GOOD (H: #28 E.Crenshaw, LS: #87 C.Walls), clock 01:55
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 3 yards gain to the JAX ST25 (#99 J.Peterson; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #11 D.Johnson caught at JAX ST40, for 15 yards to the JAX ST40 (#8 J.White), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete short left thrown to JAX ST48 QB hurried by #99 J.Peterson
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel sacked for loss of 15 yards to the JAX ST25 (#22 D.Smith)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #22 K.Lando caught at JAX ST25, for 11 yards to the JAX ST36 (#8 J.White)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short left to #11 D.Johnson caught at JAX ST41, for 16 yards to the JAX ST41 (#6 J.Powe), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush middle for 3 yards gain to the JAX ST44 (#2 S.Cattledge; #11 E.Davis)
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush right for 4 yards gain to the JAX ST48 (#7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel sacked for loss of 3 yards to the JAX ST45 (#0 J.Williams)
#87 C.Donaghy punt 43 yards to the Troy12 fair catch by #2 P.Higgins at Troy12
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush middle for 0 yards to the Troy12 (#99 E.Oyebadejo)
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 0 yards to the Troy12 (#92 T.Carter; #49 T.Gallagher)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush left for 0 yards to the Troy12 (#31 M.Woods)
#28 E.Crenshaw punt 44 yards to the JAX ST44 fair catch by #1 C.Nix at JAX ST44
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel sacked for loss of 9 yards to the JAX ST35 (#21 J.Perry)
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush middle for 11 yards gain to the JAX ST46 (#6 J.Powe; #14 D.Daniel-Sisavanh)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short right to #11 D.Johnson caught at Troy48, for 8 yards to the Troy46 (#6 J.Powe), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #0 A.Paul rush left for 2 yards gain to the Troy44 (#7 J.Stringer; #99 J.Peterson)
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush middle for 9 yards gain to the Troy35 (#4 T.Thompson; #14 D.Daniel-Sisavanh), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush left for 2 yards gain to the Troy33 (#3 D.Lafayette; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #11 D.Johnson rush right for 1 yard loss to the Troy34 (#3 D.Lafayette)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete short middle to #5 D.Gentry thrown to Troy27 broken up by #3 D.Lafayette
#37 G.Rippa field goal attempt from 51 yards GOOD (H: #8 C.Cunningham, LS: #50 C.Marszalek), clock 06:35
Shotgun #1 J.Lovett rush middle for 1 yard loss to the JAX ST21, End Of Play
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush right for 0 yards to the JAX ST21, out of bounds at JAX ST21
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease sacked for loss of 10 yards to the JAX ST31 (#4 S.Payton Hodges, #16 Q.Hood)
#40 S.Renfroe field goal attempt from 49 yards NO GOOD (H: #28 E.Crenshaw, LS: #87 C.Walls), clock 04:10, End Of Play
No Huddle-Shotgun #0 A.Paul rush middle for 3 yards gain to the JAX ST34 (#11 E.Davis; #4 T.Thompson)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete deep left to #11 D.Johnson thrown to Troy31
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete deep middle to #11 D.Johnson caught at Troy45, for 25 yards to the Troy41 (#6 J.Powe; #17 M.Odom), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete short left to #1 M.Pettway thrown to Troy42
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush right for 6 yards gain to the Troy35 (#6 J.Powe), out of bounds
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass incomplete deep middle to #81 G.Glover thrown to Troy05
PENALTY JAX ST UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct 15 yards from Troy35 to Troy50. NO PLAY
#87 C.Donaghy punt 34 yards to the Troy16, out of bounds at Troy16
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short left to #7 R.Thomas caught at Troy24, for 9 yards to the Troy25 (#59 M.Sanders)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass intercepted by #53 I.Mitchell at Troy47, End Of Play
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #1 J.Lovett caught at Troy20, for 2 yards to the Troy27 (#1 C.Nix; #12 M.Jones), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #8 C.Cunningham pass incomplete deep middle to #2 G.Wimsatt thrown to Troy10
No Huddle-Shotgun #26 L.Farrington rush middle for 2 yards gain to the Troy45 (#7 J.Stringer; #93 K.Curry)
PENALTY Troy Offside (#11 E.Davis) 5 yards from Troy45 to Troy40. NO PLAY
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush right for 7 yards gain to the Troy33 (#14 D.Daniel-Sisavanh; #3 D.Lafayette), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #26 L.Farrington rush right for 5 yards gain to the Troy28 (#6 J.Powe)
No Huddle-Shotgun #26 L.Farrington rush middle for 4 yards gain to the Troy24 (#7 J.Stringer; #21 J.Perry)
Shotgun #26 L.Farrington rush middle for 2 yards gain to the Troy22 (#93 K.Curry), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #26 L.Farrington rush right for 1 yard gain to the Troy21 (#0 J.Williams)
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush middle for 0 yards to the Troy21 (#2 S.Cattledge)
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush left for 12 yards gain to the Troy09 (#3 D.Lafayette), 1ST DOWN
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush middle for 8 yards gain to the Troy01 (#69 J.Paramore; #6 J.Powe)
Shotgun #0 A.Paul rush left for 1 yard gain to the Troy00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:06 #37 G.Rippa kick attempt good (H: #8 C.Cunningham, LS: #50 C.Marszalek)
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush left for 11 yards gain to the Troy44 (#49 T.Gallagher), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush middle for 4 yards gain to the Troy48 (#40 W.O'Steen; #1 C.Nix)
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush left for 8 yards gain to the JAX ST44 (#49 T.Gallagher), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush left for 0 yards to the JAX ST44, out of bounds at JAX ST44
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short left to #7 R.Thomas caught at JAX ST35, for 13 yards to the JAX ST31 (#9 P.Taylor; #31 M.Woods), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush left for 4 yards gain to the JAX ST27, End Of Play
Shotgun #25 D.Palmer rush middle for 0 yards to the JAX ST27 (#59 M.Sanders; #4 S.Payton Hodges)
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short left thrown to JAX ST26
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #2 P.Higgins caught at JAX ST22, for 5 yards to the JAX ST22 (#59 M.Sanders), TURNOVER ON DOWNS. The previous play is under automatic review - "Short of the line to gain". CALL UPHELD
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 4 yards gain to the JAX ST26 (#0 J.Williams; #3 D.Lafayette)
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 0 yards to the JAX ST26 (#6 J.Powe; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel sacked for loss of 2 yards to the JAX ST24 (#7 J.Stringer, #2 S.Cattledge)
#87 C.Donaghy punt 43 yards to the Troy33 fair catch by #2 P.Higgins at Troy33
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass intercepted by #5 T.Taylor at JAX ST32, End Of Play
PENALTY JAX ST UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct 15 yards from JAX ST32 to JAX ST17. NO PLAY
No Huddle-Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 2 yards gain to the JAX ST19 (#3 D.Lafayette; #99 J.Peterson)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush middle for 2 yards gain to the JAX ST21 (#11 E.Davis; #7 J.Stringer)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel pass complete short left to #11 D.Johnson caught at JAX ST30, for 28 yards to the JAX ST49 (#2 S.Cattledge), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #22 K.Lando rush middle for 0 yards to the JAX ST49 (#7 J.Stringer; #93 K.Curry)
No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Creel rush right for 4 yards gain to the Troy47 (#3 D.Lafayette)
No Huddle-Shotgun #21 J.Savage rush middle for 0 yards to the Troy47 (#1 L.Medina; #7 J.Stringer)
#87 C.Donaghy punt 27 yards to the Troy20 fair catch by #2 P.Higgins at Troy20
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush right for 11 yards gain to the Troy31 (#10 R.Rainer), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short middle to #14 E.Conner thrown to Troy40 broken up by #92 T.Carter
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease rush middle for 6 yards gain to the Troy37, End Of Play
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short right to #14 E.Conner thrown to Troy50
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short right to #2 P.Higgins caught at Troy42, for 6 yards to the Troy43 (#10 R.Rainer; #31 M.Woods), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short middle to #1 J.Lovett thrown to Troy43 QB hurried by #92 T.Carter
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass complete short middle to #88 J.Worley caught at JAX ST45, for 13 yards to the JAX ST44 (#59 M.Sanders), 1ST DOWN
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete, Spike
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete short right to #7 R.Thomas thrown to JAX ST35 broken up by #10 R.Rainer
Shotgun #10 T.Kilcrease pass incomplete deep right to #18 D.Epps thrown to JAX ST00 broken up by #43 T.Woods