Nov. 22, 2003

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Jacksonville State built up a 10-0 halftime lead and then held off numerous Southeast Missouri State rallies to claim a 22-17 win, the Ohio Valley Conference outright title and a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

Jacksonville, 8-3, 7-1 OVC, scored first on a 42-yard fumble return by Dexter Sistrunk and added a 51-yard field goal by Steven Lee for the 10-0 halftime lead. A 76 yard pass from Andrew Goodenough to Brandon Amick put Southeast, 5-7, 5-3 OVC, on the one-yard line in the first series of the second half and Bobby Dorsainvil scored to make it a 10-7 game.

Ralph Jenkins added to the Jacksonville lead with a 15-yard TD run on an end around, but the PAT failed and the Gamecocks led 16-7. Derek Kutz kicked a 21-yard field goal to close the gap to 16-10 late in the third quarter.

Trailing by six, Southeast drove to the Gamecock 25-yard line, but threw three straight incomplete passes after facing second and two from the 25. The Gamecocks seemingly put the game away with an 11-play 75 yard drive that ended with Oscar Bonds scoring on a 22-yard run with 1:39 remaining to make it a 22-10 lead.

Southeast came right back behind the passing of Andrew Goodenough who completed 27-39 passes for 407 yards and one TD. He drove the Indians 65 yards in just 54-seconds with the touchdown on a 20-yard pass to Amick.

Trailing 22-17, Southeast attempted an onside kick with 41-seconds remaining, but Jacksonville State recovered and held on for the victory.

Kory Champman had 22 carries for 93 yards to lead the Gamecock ground game that produced 250 yards. Southeast led in total offense 490-yards to 318 yards.