OXFORD, Miss. -- Jacksonville State quarterback Coty Blanchard completed a 2-point conversion pass to Calvin Middleton in double overtime as the Gamecocks pulled off a stunning 49-48 victory over Mississippi on Saturday.
"The coaches called a shovel pass," Middleton said. "I don't even know if [Blanchard] saw me, but I knew if I could catch it I was deep enough in the end zone to score.
"This means everything."
Blanchard threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kevyn Cooper on fourth-and-15 to pull within 48-47 in the second overtime. Then, the Gamecocks made the call to go for the win in the season opener for both teams.
Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision team from the Ohio Valley Conference, trailed 31-10 at halftime but outscored Ole Miss 21-3 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
Jeremiah Masoli made his much-anticipated debut for Mississippi after being cleared by the NCAA on Friday. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards and one interception.
Ole Miss is 6-6 all-time in overtime games.
It's the first time Jacksonville State has beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team since Sept. 27, 2001, when the Gamecocks beat Arkansas State.