New York: Jacksonville State’s season-long run of fortune came to a halt on Tuesday night as two failed trick plays proved costly in a bowl loss to Troy at the Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery.
The Gamecocks attempted multiple gadget plays in the first half, but both backfired and directly contributed to points for Troy, swinging momentum firmly in the Trojans’ favor.
Risky Play Calls Turn the Tide
The first miscue came deep in Jacksonville State territory when the Gamecocks attempted a flea flicker near their own end zone. Quarterback Caden Creel was unable to get the throw away, taking a sack and fumbling the ball. Troy defender Luis Medina recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give the Trojans an early touchdown.
On Jacksonville State’s next possession, the coaching staff again turned to trickery on a crucial fourth down. Backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt lined up as the up-man on the punt team and took the snap, attempting a short pass to Pearson Baldwin in the flat. The pass was dropped, resulting in a turnover on downs at the Gamecocks’ 45-yard line.
Troy capitalized soon after, extending their lead with a field goal and firmly seizing control of the game.
A Departure From Earlier Success
The failed plays were a sharp contrast to Jacksonville State’s success with creative calls earlier in the season. The Gamecocks had previously found success using two-quarterback packages, most notably against Middle Tennessee State, when a double-pass play between Creel and Wimsatt resulted in a touchdown to Deondre Johnson.
Jacksonville State has also shown creativity on special teams throughout the year. In a regular-season game against Kennesaw State, third-string quarterback Cade Cunningham scored on a two-point conversion while serving as the holder after a successful Hail Mary. Creel has even taken snaps as a punt returner during the season.
However, against Troy, the high-risk approach failed to pay off, with the Trojans making the most of the Gamecocks’ mistakes to gain a decisive edge in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
