Wednesday college football: Jax State wins late, FIU rides five field goals

Wednesday's two-game college football window finished with Jacksonville State surviving a one-point Conference USA road game and FIU winning its league opener behind Robert Czeremcha's five field goals. The Gamecocks beat Kennesaw State 27–26, while the Panthers held New Mexico State without a touchdown in a 22–3 victory.

The decisive possessions came late at Kennesaw State. Garrison Rippa kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining, then Rob Billings IV intercepted Rickie Collins to end the Owls' response. Jacksonville State improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference; Kennesaw State fell to 1-4 and 0-1.

Jacksonville State finishes the comeback

Jax State trailed 23–14 late in the third quarter after Latrelle Murrell's four-yard touchdown run. Jalen Likely's three-yard scoring run brought the Gamecocks within two, keeping the game close enough for Rippa's two fourth-quarter field goals to change the lead. The official Jax State clip captures Likely's contribution to that comeback.

Rippa first put the visitors ahead 24–23. Daniel Kinney restored Kennesaw State's lead with a 28-yard kick and 2:15 left, setting up the final Jacksonville State drive. Caden Creel moved the Gamecocks 60 yards in 11 plays before Rippa's winner. Creel finished with 311 passing yards; Collins threw for 293 and ran for 61, but his second interception ended Kennesaw's last chance.

Read the Jacksonville State–Kennesaw State recap.

FIU converts its chances into points

FIU's lone touchdown came on Anthony Carrie's one-yard run in the first quarter. Czeremcha then kept extending the lead, connecting from 40 yards before halftime, from 52 and 33 in the third quarter, and from 21 and 48 in the fourth. New Mexico State's only score was Kyah Francone's second-quarter field goal.

The Panthers also took the ball away three times. Wesley Miller and Demetrius Hill intercepted passes, while Germaine Carter recovered a fumble forced by DeeJay Holmes Jr. near the Aggies' goal line. FIU's official native photo recognizes Hill's interception during the closing stretch.

FIU improved to 3-2 and 1-0 in Conference USA. New Mexico State dropped to 2-4 and 1-1. James Jones supplied 89 rushing yards for the Aggies, but their passing game and turnovers left them unable to generate a touchdown. Czeremcha's five successful kicks gave the Panthers enough points to turn repeated defensive stops into a comfortable final margin.

Read the FIU–New Mexico State recap.

The window leaves Jacksonville State unbeaten through two conference games and FIU with a successful league start. Kennesaw State lost a game it led deep into the fourth quarter; New Mexico State followed its conference-opening win with a road loss in which it could not finish drives.