Jacksonville State goes for a school record eight touchdowns in a 63-24 win at Kennesaw State

Jacksonville State ran away from Kennesaw State in the second half on Friday night, turning a close game into a laugher in record-breaking fashion.

The Gamecocks cruised to a 63-24 victory at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, outscoring the Owls 42-7 in the second half and rushing for 384 yards and a school-record eight touchdowns. The win moved Jax State to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in Conference USA.

JSU led just 21-17 after a mistake-filled first half in which Kennesaw State (0-5, 0-1) returned a kickoff for a touchdown and blocked a field goal. However, the Gamecocks scored the first three goals in the second half when they had the ball and also scored on defense to take control of the game.

Tre Stewart set a Jax State school record with four rushing touchdowns, a 9-yarder and three 1-yard scores. The Limestone University transfer ran for 134 yards on 24 carries.

Quarterback Tyler Huff also had a big game for JSU, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and throwing for 193 yards on 16-for-25 passing. Huff, a Furman transfer, ran for scores of 6, 14 and 19 yards and drained a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter after replay ruled he went out of bounds at the 1 (Stewart scored on the next play). ).

Jax State also got into the end zone on Jabari Mack's 30-yard interception return and Mike Franklin's 23-yard run. The Gamecocks totaled 577 yards of offense and limited the Owls – a first-year FBS program – to just 277.

JSU also forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Zechariah Poyser. Fred Perry added a sack and a forced fumble for the Gamecocks' defense.

Kennesaw State scored in the first half on Austin Welch's 25-yard field goal, Qua Ashley's 93-yard kickoff return and Davis Bryson's 7-yard touchdown pass to Carson Kent. The Owls' Adam Watkins blocked Garrison Rippa's 39-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the second quarter, keeping the score at four at halftime.

Kennesaw State managed only Michael Benefield's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter amid Jacksonville State's barrage. Benefield rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries.

Jax State has a short week before hosting New Mexico State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. This game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.