FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference did a fine job of building its profile through the early stages of the season. Saturday saw the conference add a few more notches to that belt while providing a taste of the dramatics to come with the bulk of the conference season still on the horizon.
Southeastern 38, ULM 35
Southeastern has redirected course the last two weeks after two losses to start the season. The Lions never trailed against ULM, leading by as many as 18 in the team's first ever win over an FBS program and the first by a Southland Conference team since 2022. Quarterback Kyle Lowe had the Southeastern offense humming in the first half, guiding the Lions to a 24-13 lead at the break. While the offense slowed in the final 30 minutes, the Lions got a boost from their defense, scoring on a Richard McKneely pick-six to make the difference 38-20 with 14:44 to go in the fourth. The Warhawks had one last gasp in the final minutes, but Southeastern would force a turnover on downs from the ULM 36 to put a seal on the game.
Next: @Northwestern State, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.
No. 12/8 SFA 31, RV/RV Prairie View A&M 10
SFA dismantled a defending FCS conference champion for the second week in a row. This instance, the 'Jacks wasted no time getting started. QB Gavin Rutherford tossed two touchdowns in the first quarter to build a 14-0 lead and would find offensive dynamo Bugs Mortimer for his third and final score off the game with just under two minutes to play in the first half. SFA's defense was ironclad against the Panthers, keeping them out of the end zone until the fourth quarter and forcing nine punts in total.
Next: Northeastern State, Sept. 26, 5 p.m.
UIW 30, RV/RV HCU 23
There's no doubt the wildest game on the Southland Week 3 slate went down in San Antonio. UIW asserted itself in the first half, taking a 20-10 into halftime. HCU cut into that lead with a pair of field goals though the scoring went mostly dormant until the final minutes of the fourth. Maddox Kopp found a wide open Ja'Ryan Wallace on a catch and run that went for 53 yards to put HCU ahead 23-20 with 5:59 to go. UIW answered with a game-tying field goal with 2:24 to go. But the game turned on its head after the two-minute warning when the teams traded fumbles on ensuing drives to set up the overtime frame, including a Lontrell Turner cough up at the HCU nine with 16 seconds left in regulation. The Cardinals struck the first blow in overtime with a Emmett Brown touchdown run and would keep the Huskies out of the end zone to secure the win.
UIW Next: @Texas State, Sept. 26, 5 p.m.
HCU Next: @North Texas, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.
UTRGV 27, McNeese 10
The history of Vaqueros football is a limited one at this juncture, but there is one thing UTRGV has yet to do: lose at home. The Vaqueros enjoyed the return to the friendly confines of Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, handling McNeese in the Cowboys' first visit to the venue. QB Aiden Jakobsohn played a crucial role in helping UTRGV build its lead after a slow start, finding Kyran Lee from four yards out for a score late in the first before a seven-yard touchdown scamper of his own in the second. Another touchdown run with 10 seconds to play in the third put the Vaqueros up 24-3 and effectively out of reach despite a minimal rally from the Cowboys in the final frame.
UTRGV Next: Idle (@East Texas A&M on Oct. 3)
McNeese Next: vs. East Texas A&M, Sept. 26, 6 p.m.
OTHER RESULTS ACROSS THE SLC
Weber State 49, Northwestern State 20
Sam Houston 59, NR/RV Nicholls 0
Tulsa 42, East Texas A&M 0
Week 4 Outlook