McNeese State Upsets No. 2 Appalachian State, 40-35
No. 16 McNeese State 40, No. 2 Appalachian State 35
BOONE, N.C. - Freshman Josh Lewis kicked an 18 yard field goal with four seconds left and the Cowboys added a safety as time ran out with McNeese State upsetting No. 2 ranked Appalachian State 40-35 here Saturday.
The victory was the first for the Cowboys against this high a ranked team and it ran their record to 2-0 on the season. Appalachian State, which lost for only the third time in 47 games at home, fell to 0-2.
McNeese had come into the game ranked No. 16 in the nation but is expected to jump into the top 10 in the coming week.
Quarterback Derrick Fourroux, tailback Toddrick Pendland and tight end Corday Clark paced a McNeese team that totaled 522 yards in the game, 181 rushing and 341 passing.
"This is a big time win," Cowboy head coach Matt Viator said. "Right now I can't put it into words. I can't say enough about our players. It was a big time effort by a ll of our players.
"It was a game that looked like the last team with the ball was going to win."
McNeese had the ball the last time and the Cowboys did get the win.
Having one of his best games at quarterback for McNeese, Fourroux completed 25 of 34 passes for a career high 341 yards and he tossed touchdown shots of nine and 31 yards to Pendland and a five yarder to Clark.
The Cowboy senior, who is now 26-10 as a starter for McNeese, also rushed for 44 yards and he scored on a two yard run. His 385 total yards was just shy of the school record for total offense he had set last year.
Pendland produced his second straight 100 yard rushing game as he ran for 127 yards and also caught 10 passes for 121 yards. Besides his two td catches he also got off a 24 yard touchdown run,
Clark scored his first collegiate touchdown as he had six catches for 137 yards.
McNeese had gone into halftime with a 14-7 lead but trailed 28-27 after three quarters as the Mountaineers scored 21 third quarter points and even though scoring a pair of touchdowns themselves, the Cowboys were down by one after Lewis had missed a PAT attempt.
With 4:50 left in the game, McNeese moved back into the lead on a 16 play, 95 yard drive that gave the Cowboys a 35-28 lead when Fourroux went over from two yards out and Pendland scored on a two point PAT attempt.
Appalachian State came back to tie the game with two minutes left and that set up the game winner for the Cowboys.
McNeese took over on its own 20 after a touchback and Fourroux led his team to the Mountaineer two with only eight seconds left. IN that drive the Cowboys converted a key fourth and seventh play with Fourroux hitting Pendland
for a 12 yard gain and then he hit Clark with a 27 yarder to put the ball at the two.
At that point, rookie Lewis booted his first collegiate field goal from 18 yards out.
Appalachian State tried a razzle dazzle on the kickoff with numerous handoffs, backward flips and passes but it only resultled in a Cowboyy safety when linebacker Kentrell Butler tackled Tavaris Cadet in the end zone.
A total of 1,015 yards were produced in the game, 522 for the Cowboys and 493 for the Mountaineers.
Defensive backs Darrell Jenkins, Malcolm Bronson and Seth Thomas led the Cowboys in tackles with nine, eight and seven each while Josh Ellison had six tackles that included a sack and two tackles for a loss. Jenkins forced a fumble and Thomas recovered it and returned it 20 yards to halt a Mountaineer td drive
McNeese had walked off the field with the first half lead, a 14-7 edge with Pendland accounting for both scores. The Cowboys had two possessions in the first quarter and could have scored on both of them.
They took the opening kickoff and drove to the Mountaineer 28 before Josh Lewis missed on a 45 yard field goal. On the next possession the Cowboys went 70 yards for the game's first score with Pendland going the final 24 yards.
In the second quarter the Cowboys got their second touchdown, this time Pendland catching a nine yard td toss from Fourroux to cap a 56 yard drive.
That first half had McNeese with 224 total yards, Fourroux completing 11 of 16 passes for 154 yards and the score and Pendland running for 44 yards and a score and catching four passes for 33 yards and a td. Appalachian State had 227 yards with Edwards passing for 137 and Devon Moore rushing for 70 yards and the Mountaineer touchdown, a 12 yard run.
Stephen F. Austin 92, Texas College 0
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team scored a school-record 92 points to defeat Texas College, 92-0, Saturday evening in Homer Bryce Stadium. The Lumberjacks (1-1) overpowered the Steers with four first quarter touchdowns and never looked back.
"I'm very proud of our execution and focus," said SFA head coach J.C. Harper "We've been preaching that since November. I thought our guys maintained their focus throughout the game. I was also happy with only having five penalties."
SFA racked up 603 yards of total offense, while the Lumberjack defense held Texas College to 92 yards. Texas College put together an impressive drive on the first series of the game only to see senior Cory Barlow make an impressive play to intercept the football at the three-yard line to thwart the drive. Four plays later sophomore Jeremy Moses found freshman Gralyn Crawford for a 65-yard scoring strike and the rout was on.
Moses finished the night a perfect 12-of-12 for 285 yards, and tied a career-high with six touchdown passes. Moses threw TD passes to five different receivers including Dustin Kempf, the team's deep snapper, who recorded his first-career touchdown reception. Sophomore Dalton Williams completed 6-of-7 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
The Lumberjack defensive effort was led by freshman linebacker Ryan Epperson who posted 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss. SFA defense, which held Texas College to -29 yards rushing, recorded nine sacks and 14 tackles for losses. Dwane Davis also added a career-high six tackles. Barlow, who recorded an interception in his second consecutive game, finished the night with five tackles.
SFA recorded 165 yards on the ground, led by freshman Romonte Hampton who carried the ball 10 times for 88 yards. He also added three TD runs. Seven different Lumberjacks caught touchdown passes on the night, including two athletes who caught their first career touchdown pass (Kempf and Cordell Roberson). Senior Duane Brooks caught four passes for 146 yards and two scores. His 74-yard reception from Moses was a career-long for both Moses and Brooks.
The Lumberjacks return to action Saturday, Sept. 19, when they travel to Macomb, Ill., to take on Western Illinois. The game against the Leathernecks is slated to begin at 6 p.m.
Nicholls 14, Duquesne 7
THIBODAUX, La. - An early defensive struggle gave way to a fourth-quarter shootout as the Nicholls State University football team (1-1) held on for a 14-7 win over the Duquesne Dukes (1-1) in the Colonels' 2009 home opener.
The Colonel defense totaled eight sacks, three turnovers and a blocked field goal on the day and a fourth quarter fake punt touchdown run provided the winning margin as the Colonels rebounded from an opening weekend loss at Air Force and handed the Dukes their first defeat of the season.
"I've got to give hats off to our defense. They really played with a lot of pride today," head coach Jay Thomas said. "We made that (fake punt) call and the opposing team knew it was coming. They just didn't know exactly where it was going to. Earvin was able to get past the first line of defense, made a move and was able to score. I felt like our offense made some progress today, but we are still very young and just need more experience."
Both defenses were busy early on as the Colonels' forced and recovered a fumble on the opening drive of the game. Marquis Russell sacked Duquesne quarterback Kevin Rombach to force a fumble on third and eight. Russell fell on it to give Nicholls the ball on the Duquesne 41.
However, the Dukes got the ball back just two plays later as Duquesne linebacker Nathan Totino forced a fumble of his own. Brandon Johnson coughed it up for Nicholls and Devin Duggan recovered for Duquesne.
Fortunately, for the Colonels, the Duquesne drive stalled and Duke punter Charlie Leventry's first punt of the day traveled just four yards to give the Colonels the ball back at the Duquesne 43.
With excellent field position, the Colonels engineered a ten-play drive for the first score of the game. The Colonels traveled the 43 yards in 3:50.
A 20-yard run by freshman quarterback Jacob Witt on a third-and-seven draw play kept the drive going. Five plays later, fullback Trey Hopson rumbled in from three yards out for the Colonels' first touchdown of the season to make it 7-0 where it stayed for the rest of the half.
Nicholls recorded four of its eight sacks in the first half. Unfortunately, for the Colonels, the Dukes proved equally adept on defense by limiting Nicholls to just five first downs in the first half and forcing a pair of turnovers. The Colonels took a 7-0 lead into the half, and neither side could break through in the third.
Both offenses broke through in the final ten minutes as Duquesne tied things up with a big-play. Dukes' backup QB Connor Dixon found former Michigan State wide receiver Dave Williams down the right sideline for an 83-yard catch-and-run for the touchdown, tying things up at 7-7.
However, the Colonels wasted no time reclaiming the lead. After the Nicholls' drive stalled on the next possession, the Colonels sent out the punt team. A direct-snap to upback Earvin Moore made for an effective fake as the junior transfer sprung loose down the left side for a 63-yard run for a touchdown to put Nicholls up 14-7 with just over eight minutes left.
The Dukes threatened to even up the score once again on their next drive. A 42-yard kickoff return by Duquesne's Willie Milhouse put the Dukes on their own 45 yard line. Duquesne tried to capitalize on that field position by advancing to Nicholls' 25 yard line, however, the Colonels came up with another big stop as A.J. Carter recovered another Dixon fumble.
After going three-and-out in their next series, the Colonels were forced to punt, and the Dukes tried to put together one last drive. However, after Duquesne reached their 19-yard line, the Colonel defense stiffened. A sack on third and seven, the eighth and final one of the day for the Colonels, led to a fourth and long completion just shy of the first down marker to give Nicholls the ball on downs with just over one minute left.
Seven different Colonels combined for 208 yards rushing on 42 attempts in Nicholls' first game of the season at John L. Guidry Stadium.
Nicholls will return to action when they hit the road to take on Louisiana Tech on Sept. 19 kickoff is set for. The Colonels will return to Thibodaux to take on Jacksonville State on Sept. 26.
Sam Houston State 48, North Dakota State 45
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - True freshman Miguel Antonio kicked a 24-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining to give Sam Houston State a 48-45 non-conference victory over North Dakota State Saturday before 6,048 fans at Bowers Stadium.
Sam Houston drove 72 yards in 10 plays for the game-winning score.
Down 31-17, the Bison fought back to tie the game 45-45 on a Nick Mertens one-yard run with 2:43 to play. A 27-yard interception return by Kyle Belmont set up the tying score.
Sam Houston quarterback Blake Joseph completed 24 of 36 passes for 482 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bearkats to the win. Wide receiver Jason Madkins caught six passes for 239 yards and one TD.
The victory marked only the second time in 10 games that North Dakota State has lost to a Southland Conference opponent.
Bearkat running back James Aston had touchdown runs of one and two yards and caught an 18-yard TD pass from Joseph.
North Dakota State quarterback Nick Mertins completed 14 of 26 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bearkats opened the game with an eight-play 73-yard drive as James Aston scored on a one-yard run at the 11:15 mark. A 49-yard pass from Blake Joseph to Jason Madkins gave Sam Houston a first down on the Bison 22-yard line.
Two possessions later, North Dakota tied the contest 7-7 as Nick Mertens threw to Bruhn Garrett for a 10-yard score with 31 seconds to play in the first quarter to complete a 10-yard 53-yard drive.
Joseph hit Aston for an 18-yard scoring pass with 11:59 to play in the second quarter. Big play in the nine-play 80-yard drive was a 39-yard throw from Joseph to Madkins to put the Kats on the North Dakota State 34.
Chris Poullard scored from the three at 4:08 to finish a nine-play 87-yard drive to put Sam Houston up 21-7. Miguel Antonio added a 48-yard field goal 1:05 to go before halftime.
Three plays into the second half, Pat Paschall ran 51 yards for a touchdown, cutting the SHSU lead to 24-14 at 13:44.
Joseph hit Brian Closner for a 40-yard pass, then Darnell Jones for a 44-yard gain to set up a two-yard TD by Aston as SHSU went up 31-14 with 11:16 to go in the third quarter.
North Dakota State added a 32-yard field goal by Shawn Bibeau and Mertens hit Titus Mack for a 63-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 31-24 with 4:50 to play in the third quarter.
Grambling 38, Northwestern State 17
GRAMBLING, La. - Against Northwestern State Saturday night, the best offense for Grambling State was the Tigers' defense.
Grambling erased a two-touchdown deficit by notching three defensive touchdowns in a 6:33 span sandwiched around halftime, roaring to a 38-17 turnaround triumph over the visiting Demons at damp Robinson Stadium.
The Tigers (1-1) were dominated in the first half but trailed only 14-7 thanks to three squandered red zone trips by the Demons (0-2) and a late 37-yard fumble return by Desmond Lenard to get Grambling on the board 1:57 before halftime.
Grambling soared ahead thanks to two straight interceptions, on opposite sides of the field, by senior defensive end Christian Anthony, both returned for touchdowns and a 21-14 lead less than five minutes into the second half.
Both times, Anthony snatched underthrown screen passes from Demons quarterback John Hundley. On the first, he dodged NSU players and flipped a lateral to defensive back Nigel Copleand, who took it the last 10 yards to complete a 24-yard scoring return to tie the game at 14.
Anthony repeated his feat on the next NSU pass attempt, in front of the Grambling bench, and this time he didn't need any help to outrun Hundley for a 25-yard interception runback and a 21-14 lead less than a minute later, just 4:26 into the second half.
True freshman kicker Ari Johnson booted a 30-yard field goal 37 seconds before the disaster-filled third-quarter ended to lift the Tigers into a two-score advantage, 24-14. The stage was set for the score after NSU true freshman quarterback Paul Harris had a shotgun snap slip through his hands on a fourth-and -2 gamble at the Demons' 41, and he was tackled for a 13-yard loss back at the 28. Grambling quarterback Greg Dillon pushed up the middle and converted his own fourth-and-two from the NSU 20 to keep the Tigers in business before they had to settle for Johnson's crucial kick.
The Demons' true freshman kicker, John Shaughnessy, narrowly missed field goals of 28 and 38 yards on the Demons' first two possessions and a bungled snap spoiled a third field goal try as NSU wasted early scoring opportunities.
Shaughnessy steadied himself with 9:08 left to chip through a 27-yarder from the same right hash that was the location for his earlier wide-right misses. The make, which followed Wesley Eckles' second interception of the night to give NSU possession at the Grambling 43, drew the Demons back within a score at 24-17.
It didn't last long, only 66 seconds. On first down from the Tigers' 15, Frank Warren burst clear up the middle and rolled 82 yards, tugged down at the NSU 3. Two snaps later, the Demons forced a fumble just shy of the goalline, but Grambling offensive tackle Victor Phillips pounced on the fumble in the end zone with 8:02 remaining to vault the Tigers ahead 31-17.
Northwestern had to punt on its next possession and Grambling salted away the decision with a 10-play, 72-yard drive winding up with Cornelius Walker's 5-yard run with 1:42 remaining.
"You have to give Grambling credit for turning it around with the plays they made on defense," said Demons coach Bradley Dale Peveto. "I thought we dominated the first half and didn't have enough to show for it. I can't remember seeing a team score three defensive touchdowns, but they made those plays tonight and my hat is off to them.
"Christian Anthony is a great player. We knew that coming in and anybody who didn't know, saw tonight. He made some big-time plays that not a lot of other guys would have a shot at," said Peveto.
While the Demons frittered away their early chances, Grambling struggled to sustain anything against the Purple Swarm defense, while suffering three first-quarter turnovers that NSU failed to convert into points despite taking over at the Tigers' 39, 27 and 37 and reaching Grambling's 11, 21 and 6.
The fourth Grambling miscue, an air-mailed punt snap for a 34-yard loss, quickly led to the Demons finally cashing in. New Demon tailback Quentin Castille dashed 25 yards over left tackle on the first snap and two plays later cracked in from the 3 for a 7-0 NSU edge 11:01 before halftime.
The Nebraska transfer had an awe-inspiring 59-yard run to trigger NSU's second TD. On the Demons' next possession, he burst free over the right side and ran over a tackler some 35 yards downfield, rambling to the Tigers' 22. William Griffin took it from there on three carries, the last a 4-yard sweep right for a 14-0 lead at the 6:03 mark.
The game tightened 1:57 before halftime when Castille lost the ball while fighting for yardage after picking up a third down-conversion on a flare pass, and Grambling's Lenard scooped it up and returned the fumble 37 yards for a TD and a 14-7 score.
"Scoring on a sudden change is worth a lot more than six points. It swings momentum," said Peveto. "We took three big blows in a row there. We kept playing hard but we stopped making plays. Grambling's defense had a lot to do with that and I want to give them the credit."