Sul Ross State, Hardin-Simmons, Texas Lutheran and Mary Hardin-Baylor all started American Southwest Conference play on the right foot with victories on Saturday (Sept. 18) during the third week of football action in the league. Louisiana College was the only team idle. It was the first wins of the season for SRSU and TLU, which also snapped a 14-game skid. HSU and UMHB are now the only unbeaten teams in the ASC, creating an even bigger stage for next week’s 6 p.m. clash in Belton, Texas.
Sul Ross State 37, Howard Payne 30: Monty Morales connected with BJ Vickers on a 43-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds to play to lift the Lobos to their first win of the season in Alpine, Texas. Down 30-16 early in the fourth quarter, Howard Payne (1-2, 0-1 ASC) rallied with a scoring run and pass from Zach Hubbard to tie it up with 1:15 to play. But three straight completions over 60 yards by Morales on the next drive sealed it for the Lobos (1-1, 1-0 ASC). Morales threw for four TDs, with two of them going to Lee Carothers (eight catches, 155 yards). Hubbard accounted for four scores (two passing, two rushing) and Andre Dean had game-highs of nine catches and 196 yards to lead HPU, who also got 15 tackles from Demetrius Cody.
Hardin-Simmons 45, Mississippi College 10: The Cowboys rolled up 552 yards of offense while their defense clamped down and made three interceptions in a rout of the Choctaws in a battle between two nationally-ranked and unbeaten teams in Abilene, Texas. HSU (3-0, 1-0 ASC) never trailed and built up a 24-3 lead at halftime. Justin Feaster passed for 335 yards, ZaVious Robbins had 10 catches for 141 yards and Colton Brew had five catches for 100 yards to lead the Cowboys on offense. Cooper Haralson (13) and Caleb Christian (11) had double-digit tackles while Hank Hornsby recorded two sacks to pace HSU on defense. Austin Divinity ran for 84 yards and scored the only TD for MC (2-1, 0-1 ASC).
Click here to watch HSU's ZaVious Robbins talk about the win and being 3-0.
Texas Lutheran 17, East Texas Baptist 14: Mitchell Bunger ran for 98 yards and a touchdown and Vernon Hughes came up with a clutch fourth-quarter interception to help the Bulldogs snap a 14-game losing streak in Seguin, Texas. TLU (1-1, 1-0 ASC) also gave head coach Danny Padron his first collegiate victory. An Allen Cain 34-yard field goal gave the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead they would never relinquish. Trailing 17-14 with just 4 minutes remaining, ETBU (1-2, 0-1 ASC) drove down to the TLU 24-yard line before Hughes intercepted a Seth Hubbard pass to seal it. Jack Moses made 12 tackles for TLU. Kwame Spikes caught seven balls for 117 yards and a TD to lead ETBU, which got 13 tackles from Jordan Hayes and two sacks from Matt Tarver.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 43, McMurry 31: The Cru’s special teams play resulted in a touchdown on a kickoff fumble recovery, a kickoff return for a score, a safety, two blocked field goals and another stuff on an extra-point attempt to fuel a win over a pesky McMurry squad in Abilene, Texas. Nationally-ranked UMHB (2-0, 1-0 ASC) jumped out to a 22-0 lead at the end of the first quarter before McMurry (2-1, 0-1 ASC) mounted a furious rally and eventually took a 25-22 lead late in the third quarter. The Cru then responded with three consecutive TDs – Darius Williams’ 90-yard kickoff return, a Quincy Daniels 8-yard scamper and a Chad Morales interception return – to ice the game. UMHB overcame 11 penalties for 163 yards and just 240 yards of offense – 25 passing. Javicz Jones (13) and Ty Dooley (11) made double digit tackles to lead the Cru. Jones had one of UMHB’s six sacks. McMurry’s Jake Mullin, who threw his first INT of the year, was 39-for-61 for 498 yards and five TDs. Marcus Franklin (11 catches for 185 yards and a score) and R.J. Long (four catches for 110 yards and two TDs) also led McMurry’s ariel attack, while Ricky Jiminez (11 tackles) and Corey Hall (10 tackles) led the defense.
Click here to watch UMHB's Micah Spicer talk about the win and having to come back in two straight games.