FRISCO – In a week when many teams were on bye, Lamar and HCU delivered absolute conference thrillers. Here’s the Week 7 Rundown.
#20/24 Lamar 33, East Texas A&M 23
Lamar University led for exactly three seconds of game time — but fortunately for Big Red, they were the final three seconds — as
Aiden McCown found
Kyndon Fuselier cutting across the middle for the game-winner. East Texas A&M attempted a lateral on the ensuing kickoff, but the toss was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by
Ronnie Hamrick, sealing a 33-23 victory for the Cardinals on Saturday evening at Commerce Memorial Stadium. It marked the second straight season that Lamar has gone into Commerce and scored the decisive touchdown in the final minute before tacking on a final score following a Lions turnover. The Cardinals have reached the midway point of the season at 5-1 overall and are now in a three-way tie for first place in the Southland standings at 2-0. It’s Big Red’s first 5-1 start since 1974. Lamar finished with 348 yards of total offense, outgaining East Texas A&M (348-329). The majority of the production came through the air, as McCown completed 24-of-33 passes (72.7%) for 285 yards and a touchdown.
HCU 20, Northwestern State 17
Houston Christian University earned a hard-fought win, holding off visiting Northwestern State 20-17 in Southland Conference action on Saturday evening at Husky Stadium. The Huskies rushed for 242 yards as a team, highlighted by redshirt freshman
Xai'Shaun Edwards, who came close to the single-game school record with 214 yards and two touchdowns to help HCU snap a four-game losing streak. Defensively, redshirt senior
Zayteak McGhee led the way with a career-high 17 tackles (eight solo).
Thio Georges and
Jayven Anderson each recorded interceptions for the Huskies, who lead the Southland with nine on the year. Northwestern State (1-5, 0-2) was led by quarterback
Abram Johnston, who threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards on 11 carries.
Myion Hicks added 69 yards on 12 carries, and Kolbe Burrell contributed 58 yards on 13 attempts for the Demons.