Jacksonville State opens OVC defense with 48-20 victory

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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Zerrick Cooper threw two touchdown passes and Zion Webb ran for two scores and threw for another to lead Jacksonville State to a 48-20 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday night in an Ohio Valley Conference opener.

The Gamecocks (2-1, 1-0), who have now won the last seven meetings with the Golden Eagles (1-3, 0-1), are ranked No. 9 in the FCS coaches poll and seeking their fifth straight conference title.

The teams matched first-quarter field goals before Webb threw a 40-yard score to Jamari Hester for a 10-3 first-quarter advantage. Jaelen Greene ran 65 yards for a touchdown and Cooper connected with Josh Pearson on a 50-yard score for a 24-6 halftime lead. Cooper and Pearson combined for a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Webb added scoring runs of 20 and 5 yards in the fourth.

Pearson finished with 102 yards receiving. The Gamecocks outgained the Golden Eagles 544-292.