Brief

Garrison Rippa kicks game‑winning field goal as Jacksonville State beats FIU 27‑24

Caden Creel threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns while Rippa's late kick clinched the victory.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:57:14 GMT

Jacksonville State defeated FIU 27‑24 on Tuesday night after Garrison Rippa converted a 26‑yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining, the Associated Press reported.

Caden Creel accounted for 214 passing yards and two touchdowns, delivering first‑quarter scores of 38 yards to Luke Gilbert and 36 yards to Deondre Johnson to give Jacksonville State a 17‑7 lead.

FIU rallied in the second quarter when quarterback JJ Kohl escaped pressure on third‑and‑15 and connected with Maguire Anderson for a 50‑yard touchdown, then again for a 30‑yard score to tie the game at 17 before halftime.

Defensive back Josiah Taylor recorded his first career interception late in the second quarter, but FIU kicker Robert Czeremcha missed a 38‑yard attempt as time expired. In the third quarter, Justus Savage ran for his first collegiate touchdown on a 4‑yard play, answered by Devonte Lyons' 8‑yard score to knot the game at 24.

Kohl finished with 278 passing yards and two touchdowns; Anderson caught eight passes for 133 yards and two scores. FIU's Czeremcha also missed a 49‑yard field goal as the game ended.

Next, FIU hosts Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday, while Jacksonville State travels to New Mexico State on Oct. 28.

Key facts

Garrison Rippa kicked a 26‑yard field goal with 44 seconds left to win the game (winnipegfreepress.com)
Caden Creel threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns (winnipegfreepress.com)
FIU quarterback JJ Kohl threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns (winnipegfreepress.com)
Jacksonville State improved to 5‑2 overall, 3‑0 in Conference USA (winnipegfreepress.com)
FIU fell to 3‑3 overall, 1‑1 in conference play (winnipegfreepress.com)