Jacksonville, AL – Senior day of football, sun and wind amusement to two Jax State seniors who’ve seen many things during their 7 years in the college game.
By Joe Medley
A west wind has tasked flags in Burgess-Snow Field, and construction
Zion Webb and Jeremiah Harris played in the final match at home of their seven-year Jacksonville State careers on a pleasant, sunny day in November.
The west wind was able to tasked flags on Burgess-Snow Field, and construction on the Loring and Debbie White Football Complex showed remarkable progress in the month that has passed since the last time Jax State played home.
The Gamecocks had their eleventh match in the FBS program and smashed the Sonny Cumbie’s Louisiana Tech team for their eighth victory in their inaugural season of FBS football.
Every time Jax State’s bowl resume gets more appealing, should bowl spots remain available for a currently-transitioning program.
There’s no NCAA waiver is needed to allow Jax State play in the Conference USA championship game while technically in transition. The NCAA did not grant an appeal last week However, it is possible to win some and lose a few.
Webb as well as Harris have two hardship waivers from injuries between them, which means that the day they were seniors was not their first day.
As Webb took on Tech’s weak defensive line to lead Jax State to a Conference USA record 522 rushing yards, everything seemed so right on the day was a pleasant one before the Thanksgiving weekend.
As Harris assisted Jax State’s defense to come up with three stops on fourth downs in the first quarter and held Tech to just one offensive score it was all a bit tinny.
They were two of the 11 Jax State seniors recognized on an afternoon when the Gamecocks beat the team that’s been in FBS for a while, winning 56-17, however, Webb Harris and Webb Harris have more tales to tell than all the other nine.
Additional Jax State stories, that is, since they’ve experienced only one school experience.
Take a look back at 2017’s Webb’s redshirt seasons and Harris his first season as a walk-on. John Grass led a coaching team that comprised David Blackwell, Nick Gentry, William Green, Brandon Hall, Owen Kilgore, Cleo Lemon, Jim Ogle, Kevin Revis, J.R. Sandlin and Cody Wells.
Jax State was two years away from making it to an appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision championship game and four years away from Grass the season’s lone loss.
Jax State assistant coaches privately expressed excitement about Webb’s potential to help the Gamecocks rise above the rest … within FCS which is. It was a natural progression following Bryant Horn led the artist who was previously referred to as JSU to the seventh title of the 9 Ohio Valley Conference titles.
Nobody in Jax State had yet heard of Zerrick Cooper, the man who transferred from Clemson in the summer of 2018 and changed Webb’s career path.
Webb was waiting for his turn as Cooper wrote new Jax State passing records amid disappointing team performances. All those touchdowns and yards resulted in one OVC title as well as one playoff victory.
In retrospect at the past, one might consider how Jax State’s recent FCS years might have turned out, should the quarterback best suited to Grass The offense was able to follow a natural career progression.
A nagging injury in 2020 for Cooper caused Cooper Webb to win Jax State’s final OVC title, during the COVID spring game of 2021. Jax State looked on path to defeat Delaware in the second round of an FCS playoff game however, a non-contact knee injury ruled out Webb.
He returned to win the legendary Jax State quarterback’s ASUN championship in 2022. Jax State’s very first FBS transition season.
Webb is a seventh-year senior. Webb has been a quarterback for Jax State into position for an unofficial second-place CUSA finish. Bowl prospects are also in the mix.
Similar to Harris, Webb has done it under head coaches named Grass and Rich Rodriguez and an interim head coach named Max Thurmond.
In the case of Harris the past nearly four years now since Grass awarded him the opportunity to receive a scholarship. When Harris attended with his family members on the field on Saturday during the senior ceremony prior to the game One couldn’t help but wonder what Harris dad did using the lawn mower he utilized to pay for his son’s initial two academic years at Jax State.
Beginning with Jeremiah Harris’ interception to save Jax State’s 14-12 win against Murray State in 2019 to his intercept to secure a 17-14 win against UTEP in the state’s first contest in its first game as the first FBS program, he’s performed a number of feats on grass to pay back Melvin Harris’ efforts on grass.
Think of the emotions and thoughts that might be going through their heads when they stood at Burgess-Snow Field on Saturday.
All of it was a mixture of an amazing afternoon for two other multi-era Jax State seniors.
A lot of their time was ruined by the wind that whipped around Burgess Snow Field flags on Saturday, and they’ll soon be leaving the FBS program with a wind in its back.
“This was my greatest senior day of my life,” Webb said with a smile. “That’s my opinion at the moment.”
Game updates
A look back in time at the most significant events during Jax State’s victory of 56-17 in the battle against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
-Kickoff 1 p.m.
Louisiana Tech wins toss, delays to the second half. Jax State to receive opening kickoff.
FIRST QARTER
-Jax State defense forces 3-out. After a punt, the Gamecocks to begin at their 30 yard line. … Malik Jackson runs 68 yards to make way for his 2-yard TD run. Alen Karajic PAT on time at 12:44. JAX STATE 7, LA. TECH 0,
-Three La. Tech possessions Three 3-outs.
Jax State’s Kekoura Tarnue blocks La. Tech kick, pursues after the ball, scoops it up and score … 21 yards. Jax State came close to blocking Tech’s initial two punts. Karajic’s punt is on time at 8:44. JAX STATE 14, LA. TECH 0.
The defense of JSU puts forth fourth and one and Gamecocks call for a delay at 7:02. … Tech tries to get JSU offsides, and then tries to take it. Gamecocks stop it and take over Tech’s 44. … Jax State is in the game on the fourth and five while Zion Webb runs a QB draw to the Tech 12. … Just one play after, Jackson blows through a hole for a 12-yard TD. Karajic kick off good at 5:59. JAX STATE 21, LA. TECH 0.
Breaking news: Tech gets a first down.
The ball is thrown deep by Hank Bachmeier, 30 yards back towards Cyrus Allen for a Tech TD. Jacob Barnes’ PAT is good at 4:45. JAX STATE 21, LA. TECH 7
SECOND QARTER
On Fourth down, and with four on Jax State’s 19, the quarterback throws a miss over the middle. Ball was dropped at the line of the line of scrimmage. Jax State’s fourth fourth-down stop was the second in the contest.
Webb connects with Sean Brown for a big play at the La. Tech 18 … 63 yards. Lead pass through the seam deep, and Brown is able to catch it and continues to run. This sets the stage for Ron Wiggins’ 13-yard TD run. Karajic’s kick is good for 10:41. JAX STATE 28, LA. TECH 7
Zion Webb is on the zone read, but he cuts the hole and discovers nothing more than turf. Webb goes 34 yards to score the touchdown, and Karajic’s punt is perfect at 7:32. JAX STATE 35, LA. TECH 7
Jax State made its third fourth-down stop in the game, on the Gamecocks 37, with 4:28 remaining in the half.
Too simple … Webb keeps his streak going, he’s only thrown 8 yards and an TD. Karajic kicks well. JAX STATE 42, LA. TECH 7
Jax State’s total yardage is 398 yards, with 318 of them rushing.
The field goal of 33 yards by Barnes’ attempt is a success at the time that halftime comes to an end. JAX STATE 42, LA. Tech 10
HALFTIME
Notes: Jax State has 398 total yards at halftime. This is a record breaking the record for total yards at Jax State of 360 that was set by Stephen F. Austin last season.
THIRD Quarter
Tech returns the block-punt favor. Joshua Cobb blocks Jack Dawson’s punt then Michael Richard scoops and scores to cut the lead of Jax State at 14:21. JAX STATE 42, LA. Tech 17
-La. Tech recuperates at Jax State 35 after a poor snap however Jax State’s Zechariah Poyser catches a Bachmeier pass.
Webb has another senior-day highlight running 29 yards to score the Jax State touchdown. Karajic is on the move at 8:40. JAX STATE 49, LA. Tech 17.
It was too easy, once and again … Anwar Lewis in to the midfield for an 8-yard touchdown rout. Karajic and his stuff at 5:53. JAX STATE 56, LA. Tech 17
For those who are thinking, Jax State has 440 running yards and has 20 minutes of football to go.
Fourth Quarter
