Jacksonville State has gone undefeated since Auburn loss
JSU quarterback Eli Jenkins hopes to lead the Gamecocks to the FCS title. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)
John Grass and his Jacksonville State football team would have loved to have upset Auburn in the second game of their 2015 season.
But the Gamecocks may have gained from the 27-20 overtime loss as they went on to become the consensus No. 1 Football Championship Subdivision team.
Grass and his squad face No. 3 North Dakota State at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, for the FCS National Championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, in a game that can be seen nationally on ESPN.
A five-touchdown underdog against the then-No. 6 Tigers, Jacksonville State led by a touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Auburn tied the score with 39 seconds in regulation, and scored on its first possession in overtime to claim the victory in the first meeting between the schools.
[JSU’s championship run gives fans plenty to crow about]
During a press conference Monday, Grass said the aim is always to play without regard about the opponent’s status or the stage on which they play.
The Auburn game cemented that theory in the minds of the Gamecocks.
“I think it kind of put a nail in the coffin of our guys that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” the coach said. “It matters how we’re playing. We played extremely well that day at a high level.
“I don’t think any stage intimidates our guys or who we’re playing intimidates our guys,” he continued. “They really don’t look at that. It’s all about us and how we play.”
The Gamecocks really took flight after dropping that meeting on the Plains. They rose to No. 1 in the STAT FCS Top 25 and would eventually become the consensus No. 1 FCS squad in the land.
In every game since, Jacksonville State has scored more than the 20 points it had against Auburn, outscoring opponents 44.25 to 17.9. That includes sweeping the Ohio Valley Conference for the second straight year and winning its first three postseason games – all at Burgess-Snow Field.
John Grass’ team will wear the visiting team label Saturday. Perhaps that’s appropriate, as the Bison have won 12 national championships overall, including the past four FCS crowns.
JSU quarterback Eli Jenkins, a Parker High product, said North Dakota State is the measuring stick for the FCS.
“When you think about a great FCS program, you think of North Dakota State,” he said. “Even though we’re the No. 1 seed, they’ve been there. They know what it’s like. Some are saying on Twitter this is their homecoming.”
Grass said his team’s ranking and his opponent’s past successes don’t matter.
“It didn’t help us to be the third seed and be ranked second in one poll last year when we got beat in the second round,” he said. “Saturday, that game will have a life of its own and it’ll be how each team plays.”
