Hardin-Simmons, Mississippi College, Louisiana College and Mary Hardin-Baylor all went on the road and collected victories Saturday (Oct. 23) during Week 8 of the American Southwest Conference football season. All four squads scored more than 30 points each. Only McMury was idle.
Hardin-Simmons 63, Texas Lutheran 17: Justin Feaster went 22-for-26 for 270 yards and four touchdowns without and interception and also ran for two more scores – all in the first half – as the nationally-ranked Cowboys rolled in Seguin, Texas. HSU (7-1, 5-1 ASC) built up a 42-10 lead at halftime – scoring on all six possessions – and Feaster never took another snap. TLU (3-4, 2-3 ASC) lost at home for the first time this season. ZaVious Robbins caught eight passes for 122 yards and a score, while Thomas Labian became the first player in the league this season to have four receiving TDs in a game to also lead HSU. Garrison Hardin and Hank Hornsby each had a sack to lead the Cowboys’ defense. Allen Cain kicked a 34-yard field goal and Brandon Thomas had nine tackles to lead TLU.
Mississippi College 42, Howard Payne 27: Dustin Retherford became the first player in the conference this season to record three interceptions in a single game – two came on consecutive drives in the second quarter – as the Choctaws broke a four-game losing streak with a victory in Brownwood, Texas. In a game that was delayed by lightning in the first half for nearly two hours, MC (3-4, 1-4 ASC) held off a stingy HPU (2-6, 1-5 ASC) team that cut the lead down to 29-27 with just under eight minutes to play. The Choctaws responded with two TDs – one receiving from Randall Pharr and one rushing from Austin Divinity – to put the game away. Pharr finished with seven catches for 119 yards, while Divinity had 112 yards on 18 carries. Cody Hambrick caught 10 balls for 106 yards and a score to lead the Yellow Jackets. Luke Petitto had 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one INT to also chip in for the MC defense. Demetrius Cody had 12 tackles and Joey Lewis had 10 stops and two sacks for HPU.
Louisiana College 56, Sul Ross State 46: Ben McLaughlin threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns – three to Jordan Rideaux – and CerDerrick Tyson ran for 112 yards and a score to lead the Wildcats to a shootout win in Alpine, Texas. The two teams combined for 1,052 yards of offense. LC (4-3, 4-1 ASC) never trailed, but SRSU (1-5, 1-4 ASC) scored three straight touchdowns over the final 10 minutes to keep the heat on. Monte Morales threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 75 yards and another score to lead the Lobos. SRSU’s Lee Caruthers (118) and B.J. Vickers (102) each went over 100 yards receiving and combined for three TDs. Rideaux finished with 11 catches for 162 yards and Darnell Williams added six grabs for 132 yards. LC’s Nate Janzen (16) and SRSU’s Jural Hickman (10) each had double-digit tackles.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 34, East Texas Baptist 28 (OT): Quincy Daniels’ 11-yard run for a touchdown in overtime provided the difference for the nationally-ranked Cru in Marshall, Texas. UMHB (7-0, 5-0 ASC) led by as many as 11 points with just under 8 minutes remaining before ETBU (3-5, 2-4 ASC) stormed back to tie it 28-28 at the end of regulation. Al Lewis hauled in a 71-yard TD pass from receiver Kwame Spikes and Brett Peddicord hit a 28-yard field goal to force overtime. UMHB’s defense, led by Ty Dooley (12 tackles, forced fumble, half sack) and Javicz Jones (12 tackles), came up with a stop that resulted in a missed FG by Peddicord on the first overtime possession. UMHB then put together a quick four-play drive that ended with Daniel’s winner. Daniels finished with 110 yards on 28 carries, LiDarral Bailey passed 175 yards and ran for 78 more and Damian Davis caught five passes for 110 yards to lead UMHB. ETBU got 212 passing yards and 106 on the ground from Sed Harris.