A spectacular defensive effort in the second half and a career-best rushing performance by quarterback Zion Webb lifted Jax State past Western Kentucky 20-17 in a Conference USA showdown Tuesday night.

Alen Karajic booted a 41-yard field goal as time expired as the Gamecocks (6-2, 4-1) erased a fourth-quarter deficit before a crowd of 17,977 at Burgess-Snow Field and in the process became bowl eligible in their inaugural season in FBS.

Jax State moved 45 yards in 10 plays in the final 2½ minutes to set up Karajic, whose kick was the Gamecocks' first game-winning field goal on the final play in 11 years.

"We didn't play in the first half in any phase, but we hung around," said Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez. "I thought the defense was phenomenal in the second half. Our offense made some key plays when we had to.

"Our guys are certainly entertaining if nothing else."

Western Kentucky was held scoreless in the second half and gained only 69 yards after intermission.

"Getting six wins in your first year (in FBS) doesn't happen very often," Rodriguez said. "I'm happy more than anything for our players, especially our seniors."

Webb rushed for a career-high 146 yards as the Gamecocks ran 95 plays and outgained the Hilltoppers 484-339. Anwar Lewis, whose 26-yard TD run with under five minutes left tied it at 17-17, added 85 yards on the ground.

The Gamecocks only trailed 17-10 at intermission despite Western Kentucky having run 50% of its first-half plays from Jax State territory.

Hilltoppers QB Austin Reed, the FBS leader in passing yards a year ago, staked his team to a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dalvin Smith with 8:52 left in the first quarter. Western Kentucky (4-3, 2-1) later extended its lead to 10-0 with a 28-yard field goal at the 1:55 mark.

Webb found success on the ground on the ensuing drive, including a 32-yard carry to the Hilltoppers 25. Three J'Wan Evans runs moved the Gamecocks deep into Western Kentucky territory and Webb finished off Jax State's initial scoring drive by running left for a 10-yard TD with 12:45 remaining in the second quarter.

Karajic's extra point cut the deficit to 10-7.

Reed's second touchdown toss came after Jax State safety Fred Perry had intercepted a WKU pass and returned it to the 40, only to fumble and have the loose ball recovered by the Hilltoppers.

Western Kentucky took advantage and covered the distance to the end zone in five plays, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass for a 17-7 lead with 8:36 remaining in the second.

Karajic finished off the first-half scoring with a 23-yard field goal, the 42nd of his career.

The teams combined for nearly 500 total yards (WKU 270, Jax State 223) through the opening 30 minutes.

Next up for the Gamecocks is a road trip to Florida International on Wednesday, October 25. Jax State defeated FIU 19-10 in Miami during the abbreviated fall 2020 campaign, the only previous meeting between the programs.

Kickoff at FIU Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.