STANDINGS

Sul Ross State earned a top-25 upset win, Mary Hardin-Baylor prevailed on the road in a top-5 matchup and Hardin-Simmons got its first win of the season during Week 3 of American Southwest Conference football on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 7-8).
 
(Game recaps courtesy of sports information departments)
 
Sul Ross State 62, No. 11 Trinity 35
 
Box Score
 
ALPINE, Texas – Senior quarterback A.J. Springer tied a Sul Ross school record with 6 passing touchdowns as the Lobos defeated #11 ranked Trinity University 62-35 Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.

Although these two teams had not met since 1981, in which the Lobos scored two victories over Trinity that season, there was speculation as to what the final result would be since Sul Ross was 0-2 after losing two close games to Division II opponents and Trinity had was 2-0 after wins over Howard Payne and Texas Lutheran.

In the first quarter, both defenses contained their rival's highly poignant offense as each team would score just once. The Lobos struck first and marched 75 yards on 10 plays with Springer finding Xaiver Jefferson in the endzone for a 7-yard score with 11:25 on the clock. Exactly five minutes later, Trinity scored to tie the game 7-7 with 6:25 to play.

In the second quarter, both offenses showed their dominance.  The Tigers would take a 14-7 lead in the opening seconds of the second quarter after capping of a 12-play, 81-yard drive with 14:56 left in the half. Sul Ross answered on the following drive when a 4-yard run by Dominique Carson tied the game 14-14 with 13:02 remaining. Trinity then scored on their next posession to move ahead 21-14 with 13:02 to play in the half. The Lobos would answer again on the first play of their next drive when Springer connected with Carson for a 73-yard score to tie the game 21-21 with 9:31 on the clock. After Sul Ross's defense forced a three-and -out, Alex Lovan scored on a 4-yard run that sealed a 72-yard drive and allowed the Lobos to take 28-21 lead with 5:56 left to play in the half. The Lobos' defense would shine again, forcing Trinity to punt after just four plays. Sul Ross then added to their lead when Edward Mendez hit a 31-yard field goal moving the Lobos up 31-21 as the half ended.

The third quarted had not gone Sul Ross's way the past two games but the Lobos made sure this time would be different. Sul Ross continued where they left off in the first half scoring three touchdowns and allowing only one Tigers score to open up the game with a 52-28 lead. After a forced fumble by Kyle Alexander and fumble recovery by Casey Sonier ended Trinity's first drive of the half, Springer found Cordrick Mobley for a 36-yard score with 8:46 left in the third.The Tigers then turned the ball over again on the first play of their following drive when Job Mason snatched an interception. Sul Ross would not let up and scored again when Springer connected with Jerome Fellows for a 6-yard strike with 7:05 to play in the quarter. Trinity then found some momentum and scored cut the margin to 45-21 with 4:37 remaining. Springer would find Mobley again for 64-yard score with 3:11 on the clock.

After forcing another Trinity punt, Sul Ross would start with 1:16 left in the third quarter. They then drove 77 yards on 14 plays to increase the margin to 55-28 after a Mendez 24-yard field goal with 9:55 left in the fourth quarter. Trinity answered with a score on their next drive to trail 55-35 with 8:25 remaining. Both teams would then be stalled on their drives. The Lobos then added one more when Springer found Carson again for a15-yard score that put Sul Ross ahead 62-35 with 4:00 left in the game.  Johnny Fowler-Stewart would get an interception to halt the Tigers on their following drive. After forcing Sul Ross to punt, the Tigers had one last chance but time would expire before the Tigers saw the endzone.

A.J. Springer finished the game going 32 of 41for 481 yards and 6 touchdowns. Carson led the Lobos' running attack with 128 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Three receivers had over 100 yards. Cordrick Mobley had 7 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Dominique Carson had 5 receptions for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Calvon Henderson had 7 receptions for 102 yards. Xaiver Jefferson had 8 receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Johnny Fowler-Stewart led the team with 13 tackles while also recording a forced fumble and a  fumble recovery.  Kyle Alexander had 11 tackles and a forced fumble, while Casey Sonier had 10 tackles with 4 tackles for a loss of 23 yards, a fumble recovery, and 2 sacks for 11 yards.

The Lobos are now 1-2 on the season and will host University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in their ASC opener on September 29th at 1pm at Jackson Field.
 
No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor 32, No. 3 Wesley 25
 
Box Score
 
DOVER, Del. – A match-up of top five teams lived up to its billing as the #4 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team held on to an early lead on the way to a 32-25 victory over #3 Wesley College. UMHB avenges back-to-back NCAA National Quarterfinals to the Wolverines and improves to 2-0 on the year with the victory. The loss drops Wesley to 2-1 on the year.
 
The Cru took a 3-0 lead on Chad Peevey's 22-yard field goal with 9:14 remaining in the first quarter. Justin Sottilare hit Matt Barile with a 14-yard scoring pass to give Wesley a 6-3 lead with 5:06 on the clock in the first period. UMHB would retake the lead on LiDarral Bailey's two-yard TD run eight seconds into the second quarter and pushed the lead to 12-6 on a safety with 11:51 left in the first half. Bailey hit Darius Wilson with a 16-yard scoring pass to make it 19-6 with 2:37 to go in the first half. Wesley would close to 19-13 on Sottilare's 22-yard strike to Steven Koudossou with just 1:07 left in the half.
 
Chris Cummins would score on a one-yard run early in the third to tie the game at 19, but a missed extra point kept the Wolverines from taking the lead. Wilson and Bailey hooked up for a 13-yard TD with 8:27 left in the third and Bailey's one-yard run on fourth down gave the Cru a 32-19 lead with 2:31 left in the third. Wesley would cut it to 32-25 on Sottilare's 15-yard pass to Barile with 8:24 left to play. UMHB would force a turnover and two punts from there to preserve the victory.
 
Bailey finished 16-26 for 138 yards and two scores and Wilson ran for 84 yards on 24 totes. Wilson also caught six passes for 76 yards and two TD's. Javicz Jones led the Cru with eight tackles and Silvio Diaz added 3.0 sacks. UMHB held Wesley to -4 rushing yards and 290 yards of total offense.
 
Sottilare was 27-44 for 294 yards and three scores. Koudossou caught eight passes for 117 yards and Barile caught seven balls for 115. Wesley turned the ball over twice and gave up 320 yards of offense to the Cru.
 
The Cru will return to action with a 6:00 PM kickoff at Trinity University next Saturday in San Antonio. Wesley will travel to Pineville, Louisiana to face Louisiana College next Saturday night.  
 
Hardin-Simmons 57, Texas College 21
 
Box Score
 
ABILENE, Texas – Logan Turner tied the Hardin-Simmons football single-game passing touchdown record with seven to lead the Cowboys to a 57-21 win over Texas College on Saturday afternoon at Shelton Stadium on Saturday. 

Turner completed 19-of-32 passes for 420 yards and seven touchdowns in just three quarters of action. He found sophomore slot back Jimmie Simpson for four touchdowns in the first half.

After both teams exchanged punts on each team's opening drive the Cowboys found the end zone on their second drive. Tevin Mitchell scored from four yards out, but the big play was when Turner hit Pat Flanagin on a 36-yard pass on fourth-and-six.

The Cowboy defense forced a punt on the next possession and Turner hit Simpson on a 67-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 4:38 to play in the first quarter. Texas College responded when Vincent McNeil hit Jamaal Johnson on a 24-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-20.

Turner then connected with Simpson on a 24-yard touchdown pass over the middle to make it 21-7 and after forcing another punt the Cowboys went 70 yards in seven plays with Turner finding Simpson on a 39-yard touchdown pass.

Jay Wise intercepted McNeil on the next possession and HSU turned it into a 32-yard touchdown pass from Turner to Simpson. HSU forced another three-and-out and Turner hit freshman Jessie Ramos on a 41-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-7 with 2:11 to play in the first half.

The Cowboy defense forced five punts and picked off a pass in the first half, holding the Steers to 134 yards and just seven points.

TC again scored on fourth and long, as McNeil hit Johnson from 18 yards out to make it 42-14. HSU responded with a quick 64-yard touchdown pass from Turner to Garret Avalos to make it 48-14 after the PAT was blocked.

After a turnover on downs by the Steers, Turner hit Devin Carver on a six-yard touchdown pass to make it 55-14 with 1:30 to play in the third quarter. TC scored another touchdown on fourth down as McNeil eluded a would-be sack and scampered 38 yards for a touchdown.

The final points of the game came on a safety for the Cowboys when Steven Lugo and Jacob Pierson combined for a sack in the end zone.

HSU had 571 yards of offense and the defense had its best day of the year holding the Steers to 347 yards. Tevin Mitchell had 110 yards rushing and Simpson had five catches for 172 yards.

Jonathan Wilder had a huge day for the Cowboys in his first start of the season as he had 12 tackles (nine solos), 3.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. HSU's defense recorded seven sacks and Undra Hendrix had 1.5 to give him 4.5 on the season. Jay Wise had an interception and broke up three passes. HSU had three interceptions in the game.

Demetrious Ward had 10 tackles for TC, and McNeil led the offense with 131 yards rushing and he completed 18-of-35 passes for 178 yards.

The Cowboys are 1-2 on the year and have next week off before a Sept. 29 American Southwest Conference opener against Mississippi College at home at 6 p.m. Texas College fell to 0-4 on the year.  
 
Wayland Baptist 27, Howard Payne 23
 
Box Score
 
PLAINVIEW, Texas – Howard Payne held a nine point fourth quarter lead only to have Wayland Baptist score 14 straight points to defeat the Yellow Jackets 27-23 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.

After Wayland Baptist scored on their opening drive, the Yellow Jackets settled down and went on to hold a 10-7 halftime lead.

Thomas Head would score on a 6-yard run with 14:52 left in the first. Then with just 17 seconds left in the first half, a Joshua Martinez 20 yard field goal made it 10-7 Jackets at the half. The field goal was the first of Martinez's college career. The Jacket drive took 15 plays over 91 yards taking 6:02 off the clock.

Wayland would go ahead 14-10 with 3:45 left in the third on a 16 yard run. The Jackets answered back scoring on a 27 yard pass by Head to John Williams, 17-14 Jackets. HPU then forced and recovered a Wayland fumble on the kickoff return. That would set up another Yellow Jacket TD, this time it was a Thomas Head 5 yard run, his second in the game. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the score was 23-14 Howard Payne.

Both teams would then punt the ball away until Wayland scored on a 1 yard run with 3:47 to play in the fourth quarter.

Wayland would hold the Jackets and force a punt. Josh Eppler's punt would go off the side of his foot giving Wayland good field position. Wayland then scored on a 2 yard run with 48 second left in the fourth to go up 27-23.

A Thomas Head interception on the Jackets next drive would clinch the win for Wayland 27-23.

Adrian Lighteard had 19 rushes for 100 yards. Thomas Head was 18 of 21 passing for 161 yards, one TD, two rushing. Tristian Fuentes had 3 catches for 76 yards and a TD. JD King led the HPU defense with 9.5 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a sack.

The Jackets are now 0-3 on the year and will be open next week before playing Louisiana College on the road September 29th at 1:00 pm.
 
West Alabama 41, Mississippi College 3
 
Box Score
 
LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Mississippi College football team came up short in a 41-3 loss to Division II West Alabama Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers (2-1) got things going early with two drives of 79 yards or more and took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.

The Choctaws (1-2) would bow their neck defensively from there, only allowing 13 points in the second quarter to trail 27-0 at halftime.  Juniors Keith Villafranco and Stephen Miner each forced turnovers in the frame.

To open the second half, MC came out of the gate and put points on the board with a 42-yard field goal by senior Chris Campbell.  After the score, Miner picked off his second pass of the season and returned the ball to the West Alabama 21-yard line.  The Tigers stepped up defensively and forced a missed field goal by the Choctaws.

After a solid punt return by Malik Lofton, the Tigers would push the lead to 34-3 to end the 3rd quarter on a run by sophomore quarterback Kyle Caldwell.

The Tigers used their size and strength up front to rush for 353 yards on 51 carries, led by Matt Willis with 101 yards.

Freshman Denzel Dabon led the Choctaws with 47 yards on 17 carries in his collegiate debut.

Miner and Villafranco led MC defensively with 19 combined tackles and four forced turnovers.

The Choctaws will be back in action in two weeks when they travel to Abilene to open conference play at Hardin-Simmons at 6:00 p.m.
 
Willamette 38, East Texas Baptist 24
 
Box Score
 
SALEM, Ore. – It was a tale of two halves for both teams in Oregon with a rare Friday night college football game as Willamette University held off a surging East Texas Baptist (1-2)  team 38-24.  Willamette scored the majority of their points in the first half with a 21-point second quarter taking a 28-3 lead at the half but East Texas Baptist roared back in the second half outscoring the Bearcats, 21-10. 
 
Down 25 points at the half, 28-3, East Texas Baptist put together two strong quarters to take the second half.   The Tigers scored a safety and touchdown in the third quarter for eight points and then added 13 more points in the fourth quarter to pull within 11 points with seven minutes to go in the game. 
 
Seth Hubbard and Kwame’ Spikes set career highs, again, in week three of the season.  Hubbard threw for 317 yards completing 29-of-52 passes for two touchdowns.  Spikes was Hubbard’s go-to receiver grabbing 14 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns all for career highs. 
 
East Texas Baptist and Willamette were even across the board in every offensive category as they both averaged 2.4 yards per rush, 4.7 yards per pass, and was just 35 seconds difference in time of possession.  East Texas Baptist had 24 first downs and Willamette produced 25 first downs and both teams had five turnovers. 
 
For the third week in a row, Collin Bieschke brought in an interception as the defense had two sacks, too, from Jordan Hayes and Ja’Kory Hunter.  Jordan Hayes led the team with 11 tackles and Mark Gray followed with nine tackles.   Hunter nabbed the quarterback for one of the two sacks on the night for East Texas Baptist. 
 
Willamette struck first with seven minutes left in the first quarter, when Josh Dean lofted a pass to Jake Weischedel from seven-yards out.  Almost seven minutes later, the Bearcats struck again on a Dyrell Jones two-yard pass as Willamette jumped out to a 14-0 lead.  With 10:35 left in the second quarter, Brian Nolan split the uprights for East Texas Baptist as they cut the lead to 11, 14-3.  Over the next 10 minutes, Willamette would find the endzone, twice, on two passes from Mead that were 19-yards and 16-yards for the 28-3 advantage.
 
It was a different team the second half for East Texas Baptist they put up 21 points.  Roy Denbow was the first Tiger to cross the plain with 6:11 left to play and then the defense picked up two points on a safety to make it 35-11. 
 
In the fourth quarter, with the help of the defense forcing five overall fumbles, East Texas Baptist added two touchdowns at 14:20 and 12:55.  Spikes was on the receiving end of both passes from Hubbard with an eight-yard pass and a 27-yard pass to move within 11, 35-24.  Willamette hit a field goal with one minute left in the game to put the final score 38-24.
 
East Texas Baptist University will have a bye week next week before opening up ASC play vs. Texas Lutheran in Sequin, Texas, on September 29th.
 
 
Idle: Louisiana College, Texas Lutheran
 
 
 
 
 
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