Rippa and Billings finish Jax State’s 27–26 comeback at Kennesaw State

Garrison Rippa's 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left gave Jacksonville State a 27–26 win at Kennesaw State on Wednesday. Rob Billings IV then intercepted Rickie Collins to stop the Owls' final possession, completing a comeback from nine points down late in the third quarter.

The Gamecocks improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Conference USA. Kennesaw State fell to 1-4 and 0-1 in league play. It was another close finish between the teams that met in last season's conference championship game, with this result turning on Jacksonville State's response after two late Kennesaw leads.

Rippa had already put Jax State ahead 24–23 with a 20-yard field goal at 9:23 of the fourth quarter. Daniel Kinney answered from 28 yards with 2:15 remaining to restore the Owls' advantage. Kennesaw State's official video shows the kick that forced the Gamecocks to produce one more scoring drive.

Caden Creel moved Jacksonville State 60 yards in 11 plays on the winning possession. A Kennesaw holding penalty kept the drive alive after consecutive incompletions. Creel then completed passes of 11 and 14 yards to Dylan Gentry and a 15-yarder to Cedric Kouemi to put Jax State in range. Rippa's kick supplied the final point of separation.

Kennesaw still had time to answer. Collins completed a nine-yard pass to Brayden Munroe before Billings intercepted him near midfield. Creel took a knee, and the Gamecocks left with their third consecutive win and first road victory of the season.

The comeback had started much earlier. Latrelle Murrell's four-yard touchdown run put the Owls up 23–14 with 1:30 left in the third quarter. Jalen Likely answered with a three-yard scoring run before the quarter ended, reducing the deficit to two points. Jacksonville State's official clip captures the run that brought the game back within one possession.

Creel finished 26 of 44 for 311 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter. Deondre Johnson supplied four catches for 112 yards, while Likely led the Gamecocks with 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. The passing game carried an offense that finished with only 74 yards on the ground.

Collins completed 24 of 34 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, added 61 rushing yards and a score, and threw two interceptions. Munroe caught seven passes for 159 yards. Kennesaw State outgained Jacksonville State 410–385, but the final interception denied it the chance to turn that yardage edge into another late scoring opportunity.

Both teams committed two turnovers. Penalties also took a substantial toll: Kennesaw State was charged with 15 for 137 yards, Jacksonville State with 11 for 93. On the winning drive, the defensive holding call gave the Gamecocks a fresh set of downs when they needed it most. Rippa and Billings then finished the two possessions that decided the night.