Jacksonville State 31, Sam Houston 19

ALABAMA - Montressa Kirby, the Southland Football League's total offensive leader, produced big plays to lead Jacksonville State to a 31-19 league victory over Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon. Kirby completed only five of 17 passes, but three were for touchdowns of 50, 20, and 39 yards. The Gamecocks, who won only one game last year, are 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Southland action. Sam Houston drops to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in SFL play. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Bearkats, SHSU's longest losing streak since 1994. Aaron Walters and Matt Buss split time at quarterback for the Bearkats. Walters completed 10 of 21 passes for 90 yards, while Buss hit 11 of 20 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Matt Dominguez caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score. Joe Rauls led the Kats in rushing with 15 carries for 67 yards, while Elmore Armstrong added 15 carries for 48 yards and a score. Sam Houston drew first blood, driving 79 yards in 14 plays after the opening kickoff to the one-yard line before having to settle for a 17-yard field goal by James Dummer. The Bearkats' third punt block of the 1998 season set up SHSU's first touchdown of the game. Bubba Pokluda blocked John Howard's punt from the Gamecock end zone. Fabian Johnson fell on the ball at the four-yard line. Two plays later, Armstrong scored from the three to tie the game at 10 with 11 minutes to play in the second quarter. A Ryan Klaus punt that rolled out of bounds at the one yard line forced Jacksonville State to give up a safety. The Gamecocks snapped the ball out of the end zone rather than risk another punt block and a touchdown. Matt Dominguez ended a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 17-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Buss with 3:05 to play in the game.

Scoring Summary
SH - James Dummeer 17 fiield goal 1Q - 8:33
JS - Ronald Bonner 50 pass from Montressa Kirby (Brad Hopkins) 1Q - 8:12
JS - Brad Hopkins 47 field goal 1Q - 3:40
SH - Elmore Armstrong 3 run (Dummer kick) 2Q - 11:00
JS - Jake Carlton 20 pass from Kirby (Hopkins kick) 2Q - 3:54
JS - Joey Hamilton 39 pass from Kirby (Hopkins kick) 4Q - 14:15
JS - Eurosius Parker 13 fumble return (Hopkins kick) 4Q - 11:59
SH - Safety (punt snapped out of end zone) 4Q - 7:22
SH - Matt Dominguez 17 pass from Matt Bauss (Dummer kick) 4Q - 3:05

Jacksonville State 31, Sam Houston 19

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Players Mentioned

Elmore Armstrong

Matt Buss

Matt Dominguez

James Dummer

Fabian Johnson

Ryan Klaus

Joe Rauls

Aaron Walters

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