Teams are starting to make it a trend to walk off the field of Doak Campbell Stadium with a win.
First it was No. 9 Notre Dame in a thrilling overtime finish. Then it was ... Jacksonville State?
With six seconds left, quarterback Zerrick Cooper took the snap and threw it 39 yards down the field to wide receiver Damond Philyaw-Johnson at the 20-yard line. Philyaw-Johnson stutter-stepped to shake one defender before his teammate, wide receiver Ahmad Edwards, came up the field to throw a block and leave the end zone open. Philyaw-Johnson walked into the end zone to wrap up the 59-yard play as time expired and deliver Jacksonville State the shocking 20-17 win.
Jacksonville State just beat Florida State with a 59-yard TD at the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/Wq5N8JTVDl
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) September 12, 2021
The win for the Gamecocks continues what has already been a standout start to the year for FCS football programs.
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It was the second score of the quarter for Jacksonville State, which had brought the game to just 17-14 with 4:45 left. The Gamecocks finished the game having outgained the Seminoles 350-335 in total yards with more third down success, with an 8-for-17 conversion rate compared to just 5-for-14 by Florida State.
Just the week prior, the Seminoles felt like it had reason to be potentially excited about the season. They took the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish — a team that reached the College Football Playoff a season ago — to overtime, but missed a field goal, allowing Notre Dame to kick one in response to walk off for the win and escape Tallahassee 41-38.
Jacksonville State is not exactly Notre Dame. The Gamecocks were coming off a home loss to UAB in which they were outgained 517-156 in total yardage and ultimately lost 31-0.
Notre Dame, too, came out in a close matchup with a team it should beat. It went to the final minute with Toledo before the heroic efforts of quarterback Jack Coan saved the Fighting Irish from a potentially dangerous loss to their CFP resume.