In 2013, Jacksonville State last loss an Ohio Valley Conference FCS football game — when today's Gamecock freshmen were in 8th grade. A lot of winning has happened since then, and this past weekend was no exception. In this week's Coaches Corner, HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin talked to head coach John Grass about last weekend's dominating win at Eastern Kentucky, how Clemson QB transfer Zerrick Cooper is coming along, and what is it like to be born on leap year?
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Jacksonville State (4-1) lost to North Carolina A&T in the Guardian Kickoff Classic back in August when most of the FCS was just wrapping up fall drills. The game featured a lot of rust — on both sides — but a lot of impressive defense and some highlights on offense. Since then, Jacksonville State has been a buzzsaw on offense and like the Great Wall on defense, scoring 223 points in just four games while allowing only 59 in the same stretch. The Gamecocks have found themselves — but how?
We asked head coach John Grass exactly that less than 48 hours after his JSU team went on the road to Eastern Kentucky and did what two FBS teams from the MAC — Marshall and Bowling Green — couldn't do: Knock Eastern Kentucky around.
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We asked about the quarterback play as both Zerrick Cooper and young and talented Zion Webb have both played in all five games and have thrived. Cooper's already at 1,136 yards passing with 11 TDs to 3 INTs and three rushing touchdowns, while Webb has thrown for 266 yards with 4 TDs and 0 INTs and is second on the team in rushing with 246 yards and 4 TDs. Josh Pearson has become the big target in the pass game, averaging 20.3 per catch with 8 TDs so far. On defense, 18 players have recorded a tackle-for-loss … and we ask Grass about that too.
We also talk about non-football stuff, like the fact he's recognized by Wikipedia as one of the four most famous residents of his hometown — a list that includes an Alabama Governor from the 1880s. Enjoy!
Listen to "Coaches Corner: Jacksonville State Coach John Grass" on Spreaker.
