Webb accounts for five touchdowns as Jacksonville State remains unbeaten

From Jacksonville State Athletics

Davidson's second trip to Burgess-Snow Field in 17 months ended just like its first – with a resounding Jacksonville State victory.

Quarterback Zion Webb accounted for all five touchdowns and Jax State's defense forced three turnovers as the Gamecocks improved to 2-0 with a 35-17 win before a Band Day crowd of 18,462 at Burgess-Snow Field. The victory was JSU's 17th straight in a home opener.

Webb, coming off a three-touchdown performance in the season opener vs. Stephen F. Austin, had a hand in all four touchdowns – two rushing and two through the air – as Jax State raced to a 28-10 halftime lead. He scored on runs of three and seven yards and threw touchdown passes to Sterling Galban (31 yards) and Pat Jackson (21 yards).

"As I told the team, I thought we got out-coached in certain areas, I thought we got out-physicaled in certain areas. But I don't want to apologize for a win," said Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez. "Our guys did what they had to do.

"You worry about option teams and how many possessions you're going to have and are they going to eat the clock up. But there was no panic. I think we learned a few things today."

The Wildcats (0-1), a Pioneer Football League member, were their own worst enemy during the first half, coughing up three fumbles and giving the Gamecocks excellent field position.

Four of Jax State's first five drives started inside Davidson's 30 as Stevonte Tullis recovered a pair of fumbles and J-Rock Swain also came up with a loose ball. Tullis, a senior linebacker, became the 14th JSU defender in school history with multiple fumble recoveries in a game and the first since Pierre Warren in 2011.

The Gamecocks broke a 7-7 deadlock by scoring three touchdowns in a tick over six minutes during the second quarter.

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Michael Pettway's 71-yard kickoff return deep into Davidson territory set up the Gamecocks' go-ahead score. Webb finished the six-play, 19-yard drive with a three-yard run to the end zone and Brenton King added the extra point for a 14-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Webb's seven-yard TD run capped off an 86-yard scoring drive to extend his team's lead to 21-7. Moments later, JSU's Chuck Taylor forced a fumble and Tullis came up with his second recovery of the afternoon at the Wildcats 26.

Webb hit Jackson with a swing pass for a 21-yard touchdown pass and another PAT from King made it 28-10 with 8:54 left in the half.

Davidson held a 23:16 to 6:44 advantage in time of possession through the first two quarters.

Webb salted away the win in the fourth with a 20-yard touchdown sprint with 9:32 remaining in the game to complete a 75-yard JSU drive that took eight plays.

The Wildcats ran 77 plays and held possession for more than 42 minutes but were limited to only 57 yards passing. Jacksonville State rolled up 316 yards despite only having the football for 18 minutes.

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Webb has now rushed for six touchdowns in JSU's first two games.

Tullis finished with a career-high 14 tackles along with his two recoveries. Markail Benton contributed 10 stops.

Jacksonville State travels to face former Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State at Roy Stewart Stadium next Saturday. The Gamecocks own a 16-2 lead in the all-time series and have won the last seven meetings.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN+.