No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor 36, Redlands 0 - Box Score
BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team dominated defensively and did more than enough on offense to make it stand up as the Cru knocked off the University of Redlands 36-0 in the 2014 home opener. UMHB, ranked second in the nation by D3football.com, is now 2-0 on the season. The Bulldogs drop to 0-1 on the year with the loss.
 
The two teams traded punts through most of the first quarter before Baylor Mullins pinned Redlands at its own one-yard line with a kick late in the period. The Bulldogs were called for holding in the end zone on the next play leading to a safety and a 2-0 UMHB lead with 1:45 remaining in the quarter. The Cru marched 62 yards in 11 plays after the ensuing free kick and Blake Jackson scored on a three-yard run to push it to 9-0.
 
UMHB forced a punt on the next Redlands possession and drove 44 yards before Michael Carpenter bulled in from five yards out to stretch the lead to 16-0. It would stay that way into the second half. UMHB took the opening possession of the third quarter 51 yards and Jackson fired a 23-yard strike to Kamray Runnels to make it 23-0 Cru. Jackson then added a nine-yard scamper with 2:11 left in the third quarter to give UMHB a 30-0 edge. Jacob O'Neill hit field goals from 45 and 33 yards in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
 
The Cru defense held Redlands to five rushing yards and 155 yards of total offense while recording its 16th all-time shutout. UMHB rolled up 209 rushing yards and 513 yards of total offense despite turning the ball over three times in the game.
 
Runnels finished with a career-high 133 yards receiving on nine catches. Zach Anderson was 22-of-37 for 259 yards passing and Carpenter led the Cru ground game with 46 yards on 11 carries. Mullins had a team-high nine tackles and added an interception for UMHB. Oliver Stone recorded a career-high three tackles for loss.
 
Kevin Russell was 13-of-25 passing for Redlands for 116 yards and James Ramirez caught six passes for 72 yards. Curran Fudge topped the Bulldog defense with 16 tackles and Mitch Shepherd added 14 stops.  
 
UMHB lost junior defensive tackle Lamar Seels to a serious leg injury on the game's first offensive play. The Cru stretched its regular season winning streak to 46 consecutive games and UMHB has won 36 straight regular season home games, dating back to a 2006 home loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Cru now leads the all-time series with Redlands 4-0.
 
Mary Hardin-Baylor will return to action with a 6:00 p.m. road game at Wisconsin-La Crosse next Saturday. UMHB leads the all-time series with the Eagles 2-0. UWL is 1-1 on the season following a 46-0 loss to #11 St. Thomas on Saturday.


Howard Payne 27, Wayland Baptist 21 - Box Score
PLAINVIEW, Texas – The Howard Payne defense picked off Wayland Baptist three times in a 27-21 road victory for the Yellow Jackets Saturday afternoon in nonconference play.
 
Howard Payne's Jordan Shaw picked off Wayland's Campuzano with 1:35 left in the game to secure the win for the Yellow Jackets. The HPU defense held Wayland to just 80 yards rushing on 35 attempts.
 
WBU scored on their second drive of the game on a 36-yard TD pass with 12:07 remaining in the first.
 
The Jackets would score on the next possession when Richard Young found Cameron Wong for a 39-yard TD strike. The TD capped an eight-play 68-yard drive for the Jackets.
 
WBU gained the lead back with 4:16 left in the first with a 54-yard TD pass to make the game 14-7 Wayland.
 
Both offenses would stale out in the second quarter but the Jackets were able to capitalize off a Jason Disney interception at the HPU five-yard line.
 
Disney returned the interception 78 yards to the Wayland 17 yard line in the closing minute of the half for a scoring opportunity. A HPU holding call forced the Jackets to a 44 yard Joshua Martinez field goal with 27 second left in the first half giving WBU a 14-10 halftime lead.
 
Howard Payne would take the lead with 5:25 left in the third on a two-yard run by Richard Porche. It was a 10-play 75 yard drive for the Jackets that took 4:01 off the clock in the third quarter.
 
On their next possession Martinez hit a 36-yard field goal to extend the HPU lead to 20-14 with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter.
 
Wayland then took a 21-20 lead on a 32-yard TD pass with 11:59 left in the game.
 
The Jackets would answer back on their next drive as Young hit Brandon Simpson coming out of the backfield who then rolled down the sideline for the 45-yard TD reception giving the Jackets a 27-21 lead.
 
A fourth down stop and an interception by HPU safety Jordan Shaw with 1:35 left to play secured the victory for the Jackets.
 
Young was 19-of- 40 passing for 221 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Wong had three receptions for 62 yards and a score. Zarron Dove had 64 yards on 13 carries.
 
Disney led the HPU defense with 12 tackles (nine solo), one for loss and added an interception. Adrian Hopkins followed with 11 tackles (seven solo).
 
Howard Payne is now 2-0 and Wayland Baptist falls to 1-2. The Yellow Jackets will play next week at home versus Southwestern Assemblies of God. Kick off Gordon Wood Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 
 
East Texas Baptist 43, Austin College 27 - Box Score
MARSHALL, Texas – Winning makes everything better and in the home opener at Ornelas Stadium the East Texas Baptist University football team put away a loss last week capping it with a 43-27 victory over Austin College.  The win at Ornelas Stadium was the first for head football coach Joshua Eargle as ETBU went 0-4 last year at home.
 
Josh Warbington had another strong passing night recording his second career 400-yard game finishing with 408 yards on a 27-of-38 performance with three touchdowns.  Roy Butler also posted a career night with nine receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown.  For the second consecutive week, Stephen Alfred had over 100-yards receiving grabbing four passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, Toi Glover came out and punched through the line for two touchdowns while gaining 67 yards on eight carries.
 
David Jaynes led the emotional defense earning a safety and forcing a fumble with the recovery. Five players finished with seven tackles and Jaynes, Caleb Taylor, Garrett Hood and Xavier Davis each recorded sacks.
 
Austin College struck first in the first quarter after ETBU went three-and-out on their first possession. The Kangaroos took almost seven minutes off the clock using 14-plays finishing off with a two-yard run at the 6:54 mark. It only took ETBU one play to counter Austin College’s 14 after the kickoff as Warbington went 43-yards to Butler tying the game at seven. With 3:25 left in the first quarter, Warbington had his longest pass of the night to Alfred in stride as ETBU took the lead 14-7 on a 63-yard pass to the endzone.
 
Just 55 seconds into the second quarter, Austin College tied up the game on a 21-yard pass from Jesko to Trentman.  ETBU was forced to punt on their next drive but downed the ball at the Austin College four-yard line. Two plays into the AC possession, Jaynes brought down the running back three-yards deep in the endzone for a safety. This score gave ETBU a two-point lead, 16-14, and they did not ever give up the lead again.
 
Glover would take over the rushing game the rest of the second quarter pushing into the endzone at the 9:44 and 5:38 time marks on the clock for a 29-14 lead at the half. His first score came on the possession following the safety as ETBU went 60-yards in seven plays running the ball in five plays. Forcing Austin College to turn the ball over on downs ETBU took over with 6:41 left in the half on their own 40-yard line. Five plays later, Glover went roaring in from eight-yards out making it 29-14.
 
A third rushing touchdown took place in the third quarter when Jordan McNeill cruised in from five-yards out just under four minutes into the new period. That drive only took 1:36 as ETBU moved their lead to 36-14. Austin College scored the next two touchdowns to pull within nine, 36-27. Their final score came at the beginning of the fourth quarter on a two-play drive ending with a 58-yard pass to Crawford from Jesko.
 
Answering right back, ETBU finished the score on a 25-yard pass from Warbington to Bates making it 43-27.
 
ETBU finished with 616 yards of total offense as 445 yards came in the air and 171 on the ground. Austin College finished with 520 yards of total offense as 293 came in the air.
 
ETBU will host Southwestern University on Saturday, Sept.20th, at 7:00 p.m. in their next home game. 
 
 
Southwestern 27, Sul Ross State 20 - Box Score
GEORGETOWN, Texas - Sul Ross State University's football team battled host Southwestern right down to the wire in their nonconference football game at the Georgetown Independent School District's Birkelbach Field.
 
The Lobos' late comeback fell just short with 27 seconds remaining, and the Pirates held on for a 27-20 victory.
 
Trailing, 27-13, in the fourth quarter, Sul Ross State drove 50 yards in six plays, scoring on a three-yard run by sophomore quarterback Derrick Bernard with 1:11 remaining to cut the SU lead to 27-20.
 
Freshman kicker Adomaitis Valenzuela whose extra point cut Southwestern's lead to seven points, then executed a successful onside kick, with the Lobos recovering at the Pirate 41 yard line.
 
Bernard picked up six yards on a second down run, but a fourth down incomplete pass gave SU the ball at their own 35 yard line with 27 seconds left, and the Pirates ran out the clock.
 
The Lobos grabbed the early lead after they took over at the Southwestern 17 yard line following a botched punt with 4:58 left in the first quarter. Bernard connected with senior wide receiver Cordrick Mobley on the first play to put SRSU ahead, 6-0. The extra point was blocked.
 
SU took the lead in the second quarter, after taking over at the Lobo 36 yard line when Bernard was sacked and Alex Lee recovered his fumble. Pirate quarterback Bryan Hicks threw the first of his four touchdown passes, a 14-yarder to Micah Sherman, and the extra point put Southwestern ahead, 7-6.
 
Later in the second quarter, Hicks fumbled at his own 34, and the Lobos' Sterling Jones recovered. Three plays later, Bernard hit freshman wide receiver Dylan Hooper from 32 yards out to put SRSU ahead 13-7.
 
The Pirates took the lead on the ensuing possession, driving 63 yards in six plays to score on Hicks' 26-yard pass to wide receiver Matt Gillen. The PAT gave SU a 14-13 halftime lead.
 
SU took advantage of a turnover early in the third quarter. Bernard's first pass of the second half was intercepted by Tanner Rogers and returned to the SRSU 21. On second down, Hicks connected with Dante Smith from 21 yards out, and SU led 21-13.
 
Midway through the third quarter, SU took over at the SRSU 38 after the Lobos failed on fourth down. Hicks hit Justin Pelt for 20 yards and a score to make it 27-13 and set the stage for Sul Ross State's late comeback.
 
The Lobos outgained the Pirates, 361 yards to 294, but turned the ball over seven times as opposed to twice for SU.
 
Bernard carried the ball 22 times for 75 yards, and completed 23 of 41 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Junior receiver Calvon Henderson caught five passes for 64 yards. For SU, Hicks was 14-of-37 for 185 yards, Pelt rushed 15 times for 106 yards, and Smith caught six passes for 63 yards.
 
Senior linebacker Earl Hines led the Lobos defensively, making eight tackles (seven unassisted), and 2.5 tackles for six yards of lost yardage. Rogers led Southwestern with 11 stops, including six unassisted tackles, four tackles for 29 yards in lost yardage, a sack, and an interception.
 
The Pirates improved to 1-0 with the victory, while the Lobos fell to 0-1. Sul Ross State will return to action when they host Trinity (Texas) in their home opener Saturday. Southwestern will visit East Texas Baptist.
 
 
Texas Lutheran 37, Hardin-Simmons 14 - Box Score
ABILENE, Texas – The Hardin-Simmons football team dropped its season and home opener 37-14 to Texas Lutheran on Saturday afternoon in the first game on the new turf at Shelton Stadium.
 
Texas Lutheran took the opening kickoff and went 64 yards in 14 plays for a Marquis Barrolle 2-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs scored on their next possession on a 2-yard run by Trenton White to cap a four-play 11-yard drive that was set up by a Drake Dowling 48-yard punt return.
 
The Cowboys got on the board with 25 seconds left to play in the first quarter on a 13-yard touchdown run by Bryce Johnson, on his first carry of the season.
 
A.J Saucedo made it 21-7 with a three-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left to play in the first half, capping a 70-yard, six-play drive.
 
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Jeremy Harris scored on a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 21-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Cowboy defense then forced a punt and the Cowboys were driving when Dowling picked off a Weston Garner pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-14 with 10:51 to play.
 
Jessie Ramos took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back by an illegal block. The Cowboys were driving, when Darian Candler stripped the ball away from Stehl Ratlifff and the Bulldogs cashed it in for a field goal to make it 31-14 with 6:17 to play. Another punt return gave TLU a short field and Barrolle scored on an 18-yard run to make it 37-14.
 
Barrolle finished the day with 215 yards rushing on 45 carries. The Bulldogs had 333 yards of total offense on 85 plays in the game. HSU managed 293 yards on 63 plays.
 
Garner was 20-for-35 with two interceptions and 174 yards in his first career start.
 
James Place led the Cowboys with 13 tackles and Ryne Lewis had 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. Trent Walker had a pair of sacks.
 
HSU is now 0-1 and will play at Wayland Baptist next Saturday at 2 p.m. TLU improved to 2-0 on the year.
 
 
Alcorn State 52, Louisiana College 10 - Box Score
LORMAN, Miss. - The final score read 52-10, but don't be deceived. Alcorn State's win over Louisiana College Saturday in Lorman, Mississippi didn't come quite that easily.
 
In its first matchup against a Division I school, the Wildcats had the home crowd of 6,999 at Spinks-Casem stadium a little nervous when they jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
 
After getting a 20-yard field goal from senior Adan Olivares to score first in the game, the Wildcats defense, which had already forced a fumble, made another huge play when senior cornerback Ira Jewitt tipped a John Gibbs, Jr. pass and then gained control for an interception. Jewitt worked his way to the sideline and returned the pass 56 yards for a touchdown to give LC the 10-0 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.
 
Unfortunately, for the Wildcats, it was momentum they could not sustain. The Wildcats offense, which played brilliantly at times in the season-opening win over Huntingdon College, struggled to move the ball consistently against the speedy Alcorn State defense. LC finished with only 145 yards on 60 plays and had just 14 first downs.
 
Nearly half those yards came on LC's best offensive effort of the game - a 13-play 77-yard drive early in the first quarter that was capped by the Olivares field goal. The Wildcats had come within a yard of scoring a touchdown before having to settle for the kick. After that, however, the longest drive the Wildcats would put together was 16 yards.
 
Coming off one of the best performances of his young career, sophomore quarterback Easton Melancon struggled against the Braves. He finished 18-of-34 for 136 yards with no touchdowns and a costly interception. Melancon was sacked six times for a loss of 51 yards – a big reason why the Wildcats managed just nine yards net rushing for the game. Alcorn State's pressure, especially in the second half, took its toll on the LC quarterback who would be replaced by Matt Bridges on the game's final drive.
 
Melancon's interception came late in the first quarter with the Wildcats leading 10-3. Alcorn State linebacker Damon Watkins stepped in front of the Melancon pass at the LC 32 and returned it 24 yards to the eight-yard line. As the second quarter got underway, ASU tied the game on a five-yard score by running back Anthony Williams.
 
The Braves took the lead for good later in the second quarter on a big special teams play. LC junior Tim Willett's punt was fielded by Anthony Williams, Jr. at his own 18-yard line. Williams made several Wildcats miss their tackles as he returned the punt 82 yards for a touchdown that put Alcorn State up for good (17-10). Williams finished the game with four returns for 149 yards – but that long return marked a big momentum change in the contest.
 
The Braves would add two more scores in the first half – the most painful, perhaps, coming on Gibbs' pass to the end zone from 34 yards out as time expired. LC cornerback Richard Jefferson battled Alcorn receiver Jordan Payne for the football before Payne came away with it for the touchdown to give his team a 31-10 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, the Wildcats were completely shut down – touching the ball for just four possessions and gaining just 21 total yards. Alcorn State added three more touchdowns to give them the final margin of victory. 
 
The Wildcats defense, which did force two turnovers, saw a strong start turn into a long afternoon on the field. Alcorn State ran 17 more plays and kept the ball nearly six more minutes than LC. Senior linebacker Beau Brewer finished as the Wildcats leading tackler with 10. He also forced a fumble and broke up two passes.
 
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 1-1 on the season, though this game will not factor into any future Division III playoff scenarios. What will factor is LC's next game, Saturday, Sept. 13 when they host Texas Lutheran University at 1:00 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Pineville.