Box Score / Jacksonville State took advantage of numerous Alabama A&M miscues and converted big plays on offense to hand the Bulldogs their first loss of the season, 45-13, Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.  Alabama A&M committed three turnovers that led to 10 points and gave up four touchdowns on plays over 50 yards in the loss.  The big highlight of the night for A&M was Thomas Harris setting the A&M career receptions record.

The game began ominously for Alabama A&M as JSU's James Wilkerson returned the opening kickoff 40 yards and added a personal foul on the Bulldogs to set up the Gamecock offense at the A&M 26-yard-line.  Jacksonville State scored four plays later on an 11-yard run by quarterback Ryan Perrilloux with just 1:39 gone in the game.  It was the first of five touchdowns that Perrilloux would account for on the night.

Perrilloux gave the Gamecocks a 14-0 lead on their second possession when he hooked up with Alan Bonner for a 57-yard touchdown pass with 9:26 remaining in the first quarter.

Alabama A&M's first score came with 10:24 left in the first half when Jeremy Licea's 38-yard field goal cut the JSU lead to 14-3.

It looked as though the Bulldog defense might get the ball back to the A&M offense with time remaining in the half, but the Gamecocks converted a third-and-sixteen with a 34-yard pass play from Perrilloux to James Shaw to set up first-and-goal at the one-yard-line.  Perrilloux finished the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game, and the Gamecocks took a 21-3 lead into the halftime lockerroom.

The second half kickoff proved less successful that the first half kickoff when A&M's Ulysses Banks fumbled on the return and gave JSU the ball on the 14-yard-line.  The Bulldog defense stiffened and gave up only a Patrick Tatum 37-yard field goal.

Alabama A&M's Harris turned in his biggest play of the night on the ensuing drive, a 45-yard reception to set up Licea's second field goal of the night, a 32-yarder.  Harris finished with four catches for 75 yards and moves into sole possession of the A&M career receptions mark with 167.  Barry Wagner caught 166 balls for the Bulldogs from 1986-89.

Jacksonville State took a 31-6 lead on a 51-yard pass play from Perrilloux to LaRay Williams with 6:14 to play in the third quarter. 

The lone A&M touchdown on the night came on a Kevin Atkins two-yard run, but the fun was short-lived.  On JSU's next offensive play, Perrilloux found Wilkerson for a 59-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 38-13 lead.  The game's final touchdown came for JSU on a 64-yard punt return by Bonner with 5:39 to play.

Statistically, the Gamecocks dominated with 494 yards in total offense, compared to 257 for A&M. Jeremy Maddox recorded 2.5 sacks, and Afu Okosun finished with a game-high 12 tackles to lead the defense.  Larry Lumpkin had a career-high 10 tackles in his freshman campaign.  On the offensive end, Banks rushed for 86 yards and had 222 all-purpose yards.  Atkins finished 10-20 for 118 yards throwing.

Alabama A&M (2-1) will host Ark.-Pine Bluff in the SWAC opener and Homecoming next Saturday beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Louis Crews Stadium.