Alabama Ledger - November 2023

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PAGE 12 November 2023

Jax State Adds Louisville to 2024 Football Schedule

Jacksonville State's 2024 non-conference schedule is complete after the Gamecocks and Louisville have agreed to play on September 7 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. The game is the fourth non-conference match up announced by the Gamecocks for next season. Coastal Carolina will return the Gamecocks' trip to Conway, S.C., from 2023 and Jax State will return a trip to Eastern Michigan. The Gamecocks will also host Southern Miss in the first of a home-and-home series. The 2024 match up will mark the first time that Jax State and Louisville have met on the gridiron and will be the Gamecocks' first game against a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since their win at Florida State in 2021. The game replaces an originally scheduled trip to San Jose State for the Gamecocks that was recently canceled due to a schedule conflict at SJSU. The 2024 season will be Jax State's second in FBS and Conference USA. The Gamecocks final 2023 home game in their inaugural FBS season is November 18 against LA Tech at 1 pm. Jax State will be heading into the final home game of the season with a 7-3 record following a 38-28 loss at South Carolina on November 4. The Gamecocks will close out the 2023 season with a trip to New Mexico State on November 25. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger

Jacksonville State's Logan Smothers runs the football against South Carolina.

Ole Miss got two touchdowns from its star running back to make it tight early, but were unable to keep pace with a powerful Georgia Bulldogs team in a 52-17 loss between the hedges at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, November 11. The 9th-ranked Rebels (8-2, 5-2 SEC) made it a fight early on after two scores from sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins. However, the two-time defending national champions and undefeated Georgia Bulldogs took command of the game with a 14-0 run to close the half. Georgia led 28-14 at the break. Ole Miss was able to move the ball early on thanks to the ground game established by Judkins, but the Bulldog defense quickly adjusted and stymied the potent Rebel offensive attack. Judkins finished the night with 75 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, becoming the first rusher to score twice in a game against Georgia since 2020. Starting quarterback Jaxson Dart finished the night 10-of-17 for 112 yards and one interception, and was forced out of the game late in the third quarter due to injury. Spencer Sanders was 4-of-7 for 61 yards in relief, and leading the way receiving was senior Dayton Wade with three catches for 45 yards – including a spectacular 23-yard one-handed grab in the fourth quarter from Sanders. The Rebels got on the board first 7-0, with Judkins taking some of the energy out of the 92,746 Bulldog faithful in attendance with a 15-yard punch-in at 10:30 on the clock. The Bulldogs responded in kind, as Georgia QB Carson Beck orchestrated a quick six-play, 75-yard drive finished off by a one-yard score by Daijun Edwards to knot the game 7-7 with 7:28 left in the frame. The Bulldogs got a stop and got right back on the board on its next drive, with Beck finding Ladd McConkey from 28 yards out to take a 14-7 lead with 3:09 left in the opening quarter. Judkins answered for the Rebels in the early moments of the second quarter, scoring from four yards with 14:16 left in the half to tie the game 14-14. Georgia ended the half with a 1-yard score from Edwards and a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Kendall Milton, and the third quarter saw another score from Milton from 33 yards out and a 27-yard field goal from Peyton Woodring to give Georgia a 38-14 advantage heading into the fourth. Star Bulldog tight end Brock Bowers found the endzone in his return from eight yards out with 14:12 left in the game before a 29-yard Ole Miss field goal from Caden Davis at 8:50 made it a 45-17 game. Georgia’s Andrew Paul ended the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run with 4:12 left in the game, putting the top-ranked Bulldogs on top for good at 52-17. Ole Miss now returns home to host non-conference ULM (2-7, 0-6 Sun Belt) next Saturday, Nov. 18, for Senior Day. Kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway is set for 11 a.m. CT. Georgia has won 27 games in a row. The Bulldogs will try to continue the winning streak in Knoxville on Saturday, November 18 against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are 7-3 overall this season, following a 36-7 loss to Missouri on Nov. 11. Should Georgia beat the Vols, the Bulldogs will have a chance to close out the regular season undefeated with a win at in-state rival Georgia Tech on November 25. Despite what happens over the next two weeks, Georgia has already earned the opportunity to compete against Alabama in the 2023 SEC Championship on December 2 in Atlanta. Ole Miss Falls To Top Ranked UGA Georgia to face Alabama in SEC Championship Game

Auburn's Brian Battie powers for extra yards during the Tiger's recent battle with Mississippi State at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn defeated the Bulldogs 27-13 to start a three game SEC winning streak that includes a 31-15 win at Vanderbilt and a 48-10 win at Arkansas. The Tigers are set to host New Mexico State on November 18 at 3 p.m in a non-conference game, before hosting Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl showdown on November 25 at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn Set to Host Annual Iron Bowl Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger

Alabama tight end Amari Niblack (84) dodges a defender to score a touchdown against Kentucky on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The visiting Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 49-21. With the win Alabama moved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the SEC. The win also helped Alabama secure the SEC West title, as well as a spot in the SEC championship game in Atlanta on December 2. Courtesy of Alabama Athletics Alabama Set To Play in SEC Championship

8563 US Hwy 431 Albertville, AL

Jerome Bryant 256-572-2577

Photo By Kate Luffman, Tennessee Athletics

Photo By Tony Walsh, UGA Athletics

Georgia's Rara Thomas.

Tennessee's Ramel Keyton.

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