FRISCO, Texas — The eyes of the nation turned to Beaumont Saturday afternoon when Lamar hosted SFA. The game of the week across the FCS landscape more than delivered with Big Red prevailing and adding another notable win to what has become an ironclad Top 10 resume. With the calendar now in November, SFA and Lamar will head into the final weeks of the season looking for top eight seeds when the FCS Playoffs selections are announced in two weeks.
No. 13/12 Lamar 45, No. 2 SFA 28
In the marquee matchup of the Southland Football season, Lamar built a double-digit lead and withstood every counter punch thrown by SFA. Lamar’s defense capitalized on three Gavin Rutherford turnovers, including a fumble that would lead to Davin Driskell touchdown to give the Cardinals a 10-0 lead. Parker Jenkins added a three-yard touchdown run with 7:45 to go in the second, making it 17-0 Lamar. The ‘Jacks collected themselves in the final moments of the first half with Rutherford finding Clayton Wayland from 22 yards out, cutting the lead to a 17-7 margin at the break.
SFA used a JT Kitna touchdown run in the third to cut deeper into the deficit though Lamar answered right back with another Jenkins score. Wayland and Driskell would each find the end zone again in this frame, leaving the score 31-21 heading into the fourth. As soon as it semed Lamar was set to pull away, a missed field goal set up a 71-yard Bugs Mortimer touchdown grab, pulling SFA within 31-28 at 6:02. On the ensuing drive, the ‘Jacks had Lamar backed into a 3rd and 10 in their own territory. On that play, Aiden McCown floated a pass down the right sideline that initially fell in the grasp of an SFA defender but deflected into the lap of Blake Thomas who took it 62 yards for what was essentially a game-sealing touchdown.
RV/RV UIW 35, Southeastern 16
UIW ended its winless stretch in road games, controlling Southeastern for a crucial win in Hammond.Touchdown runs by Emmett Brown and Lontrell Turner helped the Cardinals built a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Brown would contribute to UIW’s scoring again in the second, finding Roy Alexander from 23 yards out to put the Cardinals up 21-3 going into halftime. The Lions would come out of the locker room on fire. Blake Smith returned the opening kickoff of the second half 97 yards for a Southeastern touchdown. Two Drew Talley field goals had the Lions within one score at 21-16 going into the fourth. But the Cardinals slammed the door on the rally, first tallying another Turner touchdown run before Jayden Hibbler ran one in himself, putting UIW up 35-16 with 7:13 to play.
Nicholls 32, East Texas A&M 31
Nicholls found itself in a 24-7 hole at halftime of its Homecoming game against East Texas A&M. However, the Colonels’ defense sparked a turnaround with a Kasai Jones fumble return score that pulled the difference within 10. With 4:37 to go in the third, Chase Richardson hit Greg Donaldson on a 37-yard connection that made the score 24-21. After Nicholls tied the score, EJ Oakmon vaulted the Lions back in front with a five-yard touchdown run with 3:36 to go. Nicholls had one more trick up its sleeve, engineering a 65-yard drive that ended with Richardson punching in a touchdown before Chantz Babineaux converted a two-point try, putting Nicholls ahead for good.
McNeese 10, HCU 0
The field conditions at Husky Stadium were much more favorable than those in Lake Charles a week ago, but the McNeese defense brought the same fervor in another low-scoring battle. HCU’s defense matched the Cowboys through the first 30 minutes as the teams went into halftime tied at 0-0. Camron Deaglan finally put the Pokes ahead with a 31-yard field goal at 3:34 in the third. Omiri would put the game out of reach for McNeese, sealing the Cowboys’ win with a 66-yard touchdown run with 2:22 to play.
UTRGV 52, Northwestern State 7
The Vaqueros turned in a dominant performance against the Demons, starting things off with a TJ Neal pick-six in the first minute of the game. Fabian Garcia and Jaydon Smith would add offensive scores to give UTRGV a 21-0 lead after the first. That lead ballooned to a 35-0 advantage after Alijah Prosser took another interception back 90 yards for the Vaqueros’ second defensive touchdown of the game.
Week 11 Outlook