Jacksonville State loses Cure Bowl 30 to 27

December 20, 2024 – ORLANDO, FL – Jacksonville State University came up three points short against Ohio University in the Cure Bowl. The game pitted the Mid-American Conference champion Ohio team versus the Conference USA Champion Jacksonville State team.

JSU Quarterback Tyler Huff threw for 364 yards in the loss with 21 completions on 34 attempts with one touchdown and one interception.

Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro ran the ball for three touchdowns and 111 yards to go along with his 264 yards of passing. He also threw for one touchdown on 19 for 28 passing and an interception.

The leading rusher for JSU was Trey Stewart who had 35 hard rushing yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns. JSU never could get a consistent rushing game going forcing them to rely on Huff's passing. Ohio, on the other hand, rushed for 234 yards against JSU with two players eclipsing the 100-yard mark.

Cam Vaughn was the leading receiver for Jacksonville with 10 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Jacksonville was forced to play the bowl game without head coach Rich Rodriguez who left after the season to go back to the West Virginia Mountaineers.

JSU finished the season with a 9 and 5 record. Ohio finished the year 11 and 3 – it was their sixth straight bowl win.

Neither of the conference champions were in the first annual 12 team college playoff, because only the highest ranked champion from the group of five conferences get an automatic bid to the playoff. This year that was Boisie State from the Mountain West Conference.

Ohio built up a 30 to 13 lead; but Huff engineered two fourth quarter drives that were each capped off with Stewart rushing touchdowns. JSU scored last with 3:35 left in the game; but Ohio ran out the clock to secure the win.

Rod Smith was the interim coach for Jacksonville.

Following the game, Jacksonville announced that longtime assistant coach Charles Kelly t would be their new head coach. Rick Trickett has agreed to stay on as offensive line coach.

Kelly was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Auburn Tigers.

Kelly has named Clint Trickett as the offensive coordinator. His father is the offensive line coach. The younger Trickett was the offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern.

This was the second year for Jacksonville to compete in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision.

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