JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Season openers for evenly matched teams come down to who makes the fewest mistake.
For the second consecutive season, that wasn't the Miners, who once again are in an early hole after a coulda-won-it 17-14 loss to Jacksonville State on Saturday.
The Miners won the stats decisively, but had three turnovers while forcing zero, dropped two touchdown passes that were tough but catchable, missed a field goal, committed killer penalties and lost to a Gamecocks team that did not reciprocate the errors.
Down at the end
Through all that the Miners gave themselves a chance, driving to the 24-yard line to set up a 3rd-and-1 with 1:26 remaining.