Jacksonville St. cruises into FCS title game

(STATS) -- Jacksonville State left no doubt about its credentials for the FCS championship game. Troymaine Pope rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns and the top-seeded Gamecocks shut down Sam Houston State's potent offense in a 62-10 rout in Saturday's semifinal. Jacksonville State (13-1) earned a spot opposite four-time defending champion North Dakota State in the Jan. 9 title game in Frisco, Texas, by dominating the mistake-prone Bearkats in all facets. The Gamecocks piled up 639 total yards, including 360 on the ground, and held the FCS leader in total offense to a season-low 259. The Gamecocks, whose lone loss came in double overtime at Auburn on Sept. 12, added five sacks and forced four first-half turnovers in avenging a 37-26 loss to Sam Houston State (11-4) in last year's second round.