Nix's tackle, Paul's plunge lift Jax State over Troy in Salute to Veterans Bowl
Andrew Paul scores what would be the winning touchdown for Jacksonville State in the 2025 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl on Tuesday. (Ryan Gayle)
By BARRY ALLEN
The play of the game turned in by Jacksonville State University redshirt junior safety Caleb Nix did not result in a touchdown, but it certainly saved one.
Nix chased down Troy University junior kick returner DJ Epps after a 79-yard kickoff return at the Jax State 20-yard line. The Trojans offense lost 11 yards on three plays and then missed a field goal, setting up Jax State’s game-winning touchdown drive in a 17-13 come-from-behind win over its in-state rival on Tuesday in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl.
“It was a huge play, massive play,” Troy head coach Gerard Parker said. “We flip the field with a lone kickoff return then we go backwards and miss a field goal.”
Nix said his only thought was keeping Epps from scoring.
“My thought was to keep him out of the end zone,” Nix said. “I almost overran him. I got him on the ground and our defense kept him out of the end zone."
Redshirt sophomore Shane Payton Hodges and freshman defensive tackle Quay Hood combined on a 10-yard sack of Troy quarterback Tucker Kilcrese on third down and Trojans senior kicker Scott Taylor Renfroe missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.
“I thought our defense played well tonight,” Jax State head coach Charles Kelly said. “That was one of those hidden plays that made the difference in the game.”
Troy (8-6) threw an interception on its next possession as Jax State freshman linebacker Ian Mitchell picked off a Tucker Kilcrease pass at the Trojans 47-yard line.
Jax State (9-5) marched 47 yards in 11 plays to retake the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by redshirt junior running back Andrew Paul to take a 17-13 lead with 10:06 left in the game,
The Gamecocks played without junior running back Cam Cook, who was the Conference USA Player of the Year and third-team All-American.
“We showed tonight we have some pretty good running backs,” Kelly said. “They all ran the ball hard.”
Troy’s next three possessions resulted in a turnover on downs, an interception and a hail mary that fell incomplete on the final play of the game.
The Trojans became the first team in the bowl’s 12-year history not to score an offensive touchdown. The 30 combined points were the second fewest in the bowl’s history. Buffalo (17) and Marshall (10) only combined for 27 points in 2020.
“As a defensive guy, it’s fun to be in a low-scoring game and a defensive battle,” Nix added.
Jax State scored on its opening possession to take a 7-0 lead. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Creel’s 22-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior Brock Rechsteiner capped a 9-play, 71-drive, making the Gamecocks the second team in bowl history to score on its first possession of the game.
The Gamecocks offense sputtered after the first drive and the Troy defense got on the board late in the first quarter. Redshirt junior linebacker TJ Thompson had a 12-yard sack and forced fumble and senior nose tackle Luis Medina recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Renfroe added a pair of field goals in the second quarter to give the Trojans a 13-7 lead.
Jax State redshirt sophomore kicker Garrison Rippa kicked a 51-yard field goal with 6:35 left in the third quarter to cut the Gamecocks’ deficit to 13-10. The 51-yard FG is the second longest in bowl history, behind FIU’s Jose Borregales’ 52-yard field goal in 2019.
Nix made a touchdown-saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff and the Gamecocks would pick up its first win over its arch-rival in 36 years.