FRISCO, Texas — Saturday marked the first game day of the season with all 10 Southland teams in action against one another. SFA maintained its high level of performance sustained through its first six games while Southeastern capitalized on a massive opportunity for an upset win, taking out a ranked Lamar squad in the Commissioner's Game of the Week. Elsewhere, HCU, McNeese and UIW all picked up key wins in their pushes to keep pace in the SLC table.
RV/RV Southeastern 34, No. 10/8 Lamar 31
The Lions put their offensive struggles behind them in their return to Strawberry Stadium, posting 34 points while totaling 224 rushing yards against the Cardinals. Kyree Paul broke away for a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Two more rushing touchdowns from the Lions' offense put Southeastern up 21-6 before a Jojo Uga touchdown cut the deficit to 21-13 at halftime. They would keep a distance from Big Red until Lamar pulled the score within eight at 31-23 and forced the Lions' offense off the field late in the fourth. But a costly muffed punt gave the ball back to Southeastern who would kick a field goal to re-extend its lead to 34-23 which proved too steep for Lamar to overcome.
SLU Next: @SFA, Oct. 24, 5 p.m.
LU Next: HCU, Oct. 24, 3 p.m.
No. 3/3 SFA 56, Nicholls 0
SFA looked all the part of one of the top team's in the country, dominating Nicholls wire-to-wire. Quarterback Gavin Ruthterford turned in another strong performance under center, tossing for 233 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those four went to wide receiver Bugs Mortimer who had a career day on the outside. Mortimer's first two touchdown grabs put SFA up 21-0 early in the second before a highlight grab in the end zone made it a 35-0 advantage. The Lumberjacks' reserves enjoyed plenty of action the rest of the way, including JT Kitna whose 94-yard touchdown scamper marked the longest run in program history. SFA's 7-0 start matches the best start in program history and its first shutout of a Southland opponnent in 15 years.
SFA Next: SLU, Oct. 24, 5 p.m.
Nicholls Next: @HCU, Oct. 24, 2 p.m.
HCU 43, East Texas A&M 24
The Huskies and Lions traded blows through the first half though the scoring was scarce early on. Quarterback Cutter Stewart registered an 11-yard touchdown scamper, making the score 10-3 heading into halftime. However, East Texas A&M not only answered out of the break, but scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the third to go up 17-10. They would hold off the HCU long enough to take a 24-16 lead going into the fourth, but Stewart and the Huskies would not be contained. HCU rattled off 27 unanswered in the final 15 minutes, including a Jevon Bejarano pick-six to put a bow on the victory. Stewart finished with 298 total yards and five touchdowns, highlighting his most productive game with the Huskies.
HCU Next: @Lamar, Oct. 24, 3 p.m.
ETAMU Next: Prairie View A&M, Oct. 24, 6 p.m.
UIW 41, UTRGV 16
Following two heartbreaking losses on the road to ranked opponents, UIW returned home looking to return to the win column facing a UTRGV team riding its own wave of momentum. The Cardinals overwhelmed the Vaqueros in all phases, building a lead after capitlaizing on three UTRGV interceptions, two of which came inside the UIW 10 yard line. Emmett Brown powered the Cardinals' attack, throwing for 193 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards and scoring two more touchdowns.
UIW Next: McNeese Oct. 24, 4 p.m.
UTRGV Next: @Central Arkansas, Oct. 24, 4 p.m.
McNeese 24, Northwestern State 21
The Cowboys started slow, trailing 7-3 at halftime. But Matt Viator's team was quick to find adjustments out of the locker room, scoring twice in the first four minutes of the third thanks to scores from Omiri Wiggins and Kevin Rideau. McNeese's lead ballooned to a 24-7 margin with 14:52 to play and they would keep the Demons at enough distance to hold on for their second straight win in Southland action.
MCN Next: @UIW, Oct. 24 ,4 p.m.
NSU Next: Nicholls, Oct. 24, 2 p.m.
Week 8 Outlook