Jacksonville St. pulls off 2OT upset over Ole Miss in Jeremiah Masoli's debut

[Shooter]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone catch this game? This Jacksonville State team was supposed to be a doormat for Ole Miss. Instead this turned out to be one freakin unbelievable game with a crazy finish to boot.

In double overtime on a 2-point conversion Jacksonville State QB dropped back to pass and was under all kinds of sickening pressure. He lofts one up into the endzone and through a sea of arms and legs the receiver miraculousy comes up the the grab to absolutely stun Ole Miss 49-48 in a wild and crazy game.

Jacksonville St. pulls off 2OT upset over Ole Miss in Jeremiah Masoli's debut

OXFORD, Miss. -- On the final crazy play of a crazy game, Jacksonville State running back Calvin Middleton found himself in the middle of a mass of bodies as quarterback Coty Blanchard lofted a 2-point conversion pass toward the end zone.

Somehow, through the arms and legs, Middleton came down with the football as the Gamecocks celebrated a stunning 49-48 victory over Mississippi in double overtime.

"The coaches called a shovel pass," Middleton said. "I don't even know if [Blanchard] saw me, but I knew if I could catch it I was deep enough in the end zone to score.

"This means everything."

Blanchard threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kevyn Cooper on fourth-and-15 to pull within 48-47 in the second overtime.

It looked like the two teams might play all night, but then Gamecocks coach Jack Crowe made the call to go for the win in the season opener for both teams.

"I just didn't think we could play defense again," Crowe said.

Crowe, who had tears in his eyes during the postgame press conference, was fired as coach at Arkansas in 1992 after his team lost to The Citadel -- which was also a lower-level program.

"If you stay in this long enough, it goes both ways," Crowe said.

Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision team from the Ohio Valley Conference, trailed 31-10 at halftime but outscored Ole Miss 21-3 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

"Without a doubt, it's the worst loss of my career," Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said.

It's the first time Jacksonville State has beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team since Sept. 27, 2001, when the Gamecocks beat Arkansas State. The 21-point deficit was the largest Jacksonville State has overcome in school history.

Jeremiah Masoli made his much-anticipated debut for Mississippi after being cleared by the NCAA on Friday. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards and one interception and led the Rebels on both of their touchdown drives in overtime.

Like the rest of his teammates, he had a hard time explaining the collapse.

"Crazy stuff happens sometimes," Masoli said. "I never expected us to be in overtime."

Ole Miss is 6-6 all-time in overtime games. It was the school's first loss to an FCS opponent.

The Ole Miss offense, which debuted eight new starters, scored on five of six first-half possessions, including four touchdowns. After that, Jacksonville State rolled.

The Gamecocks scored on their final six possessions, including touchdowns on the last five. The Ole Miss defense, which returned six starters, ranked in the top half of the Southeastern Conference in most major categories last season, but had no answer for the Gamecocks.

Ole Miss kicker Bryson Rose made a 35-yard field goal to extend the Rebels' lead to 34-26 with 2:55 left in regulation, but Jacksonville State drove the field for a touchdown to pull within 34-32 with 18.9 seconds left. Marques Ivory threw a 2-yard pass to La'Ray Williams for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 34 and send it to overtime.

Middleton rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. The Gamecocks had no turnovers.

Using a two-quarterback system with Blanchard and Ivory, the duo combined to complete 22 of 36 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns.

Mississippi's Brandon Bolden rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Sophomore Nathan Stanley threw for 133 yards and three touchdowns.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Mississippi Rebels - Recap - September 04, 2010 - ESPN

 

[Jon]

I know it's always a big deal when one of these fluff teams win over someone, but it's just Ole Miss. It's not like anyone thought they were worth a shit with Houston Nutt at the helm.

Also, Masoli's old team won 72-0 tonight. I bet he feels like a bigger douchebag than he actually is.

 

[ConHog]

I know it's always a big deal when one of these fluff teams win over someone, but it's just Ole Miss. It's not like anyone thought they were worth a shit with Houston Nutt at the helm.

You watch Jon, They will beat either us, Bama or LSU this season. BOOK IT. That's classic Nutt lose one that should have been a laugher than beat someone he had no business competing against. IOW he's a horrible dumbass coach.

 

[Shooter]

They will beat either us, Bama or LSU this season. BOOK IT.

I'll be your Huckleberry. Here's the bet. If Ole Miss beats either the Tide or Tigers you get to pick my avatar and signature for a week. If Ole Miss loses both games I get to pick yours.

Bet?

 

[Jon]

Interesting that you don't think they can beat Bama or LSU, but ignore the fact that he also mentioned Arkansas. Short-sightedness is hilarious.

 

[Jon]

I just noticed all the connections to Arkansas this story has. Houston Nutt, obviously. Jack Crowe used to coach at Arkansas, and was fired for losing to an unknown team. And the last time Jacksonville State beat an FBS team was Arkansas State.

 

[ConHog]

They will beat either us, Bama or LSU this season. BOOK IT.

I'll be your Huckleberry. Here's the bet. If Ole Miss beats either the Tide or Tigers you get to pick my avatar and signature for a week. If Ole Miss loses both games I get to pick yours.

Bet?

With Nutt's history versus Miles. I'll take that friendly bet. And I have no problem tossing Arkansas out because I think we beat that ass this year.

 

[Kat]

I don't get it. Instead of giving kudo's to Jax St, you guys have to be at each others throat over Nutt? I personally can't stand him, and never could, but I don't see the point of taking the joy out of the win by JS.
Sometimes the little guy beats up the big guy.

 

[Jon]

Because I have no feelings towards JS. Their win is not what I am celebrating. I am celebrating Ole Miss's and Houston Nutt's loss.

 

[Kat]

Okie doke Jon. I didn't realize you had to have feelings toward a team to give them kudo's for something good they did.