Thomas had 190 yards, Jacksonville St tops Chattanooga 27-13
Jacksonville State RB Thomas breaks a huge run for touchdown
Jacksonville States' Roc Thomas gets away from defenders and goes 76 yards for the touchdown.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Roc Thomas gained 190 total yards and had a 76-yard touchdown run to help Jacksonville State beat Chattanooga 27-13 in a season opener for both teams on Saturday.
Thomas had 19 carries for 122 yards and caught three passes for 68 yards. He broke a tackle up the middle on his touchdown run and raced down the sideline for a 10-3 lead in the first quarter.
Safety Jonathan Hagler intercepted Nick Tiano's overthrown pass and returned it 52 yards for a 20-6 lead. In the fourth, Shaq Davidson's defender slipped on a double-move route then used a stiff-arm at the goal line to score from 59-yards out.
Bryant Horn made his first collegiate start for Jacksonville State, throwing for 182 yards and one touchdown. He replaced Eli Jenkins, who was 25-0 as a starter against Ohio Valley Conference opponents in three seasons at JSU.
Tiano led a late 89-yard drive for Chattanooga's first touchdown with 1:30 remaining.
Game Information
2023 Southern Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Furman | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Chattanooga | 6-2 | 8-5 |
| Mercer | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Western Carolina | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Samford | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| VMI | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| East Tennessee State | 2-6 | 3-8 |
| Wofford | 2-6 | 2-9 |
| The Citadel | 0-8 | 0-11 |
2023 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 8-0 | 13-1 |
| New Mexico State | 7-1 | 10-5 |
| Jacksonville State | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Middle Tennessee | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Sam Houston | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| UTEP | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Florida International | 1-7 | 4-8 |
NCAAF News