Saturday, Sept. 7
Oklahoma State 56, Texas-SanAntonio 35
J.W. Walsh had a fantastic showing in his first start: 24-of-27 passing for 322 yards and four touchdowns. Yes, that’s four TDs and three incompletions. Four OSU receivers had at least 70 yards receiving, led by Josh Stewart who had 97 yards and a TD. Although it was outmatched, UTSA didn’t lay down. The Roadrunners kept close to the Pokes in some stat categories, the biggest of which was the 503 total yards for UTSA and 608 total yards for OSU. Clint Chelf had a fair afternoon as well with 192 yards passing and two TD tosses.
St. Mary 36, Oklahoma Baptist 30
The key play in this one came right before halftime. With about a half minute remaining and OBU trailing 17-14 and driving toward a tying or go-ahead score, Cale Grauer was picked off by Ukpono Uni and returned 99 yards for the touchdown. OBU blocked the extra point attempt and took it back for two points, but the damage was done with the likely 11-point swing. The rushing game showed improvement, though. Jordan Barnes led the way again with 80 yards and Darryl Fields had 65 yards and two rushing TDs.
Henderson State 82, Southern Nazarene 10
HSU’s Harlan Hill candidate, quarterback Kevin Rodgers, was 17 of 25 passing for 468 yards and six touchdowns. This took place in the first half. It was a long day for the Crimson Storm.
Oklahoma 16, West Virginia 7
Trevor Knight was 10 of 20 passing for 119 yards, with one TD and two INTs. Good/bad enough that Blake Bell made an appearance. The running game was better exemplified by Brennan Clay, who had 170 yards on 22 carries. WVU scored midway through the first quarter, but once the Sooner defense settled in, West Virginia was held in check. The Sooners have given up only seven points in two games.
Pittsburg State 45, Northeastern State 6
PSU got off to a 28-0 halftime lead and did not look back. RiverHawk backup QB Thor Long came in for an injured Johnny Deaton and went 6 of 16 passing for 103 yards. Long also had NSU’s only score, a 1-yard keeper. Joel Rockmore nearly reached the century mark with 19 carries for 99 yards. Meanwhile, Gorilla quarter Anthony Abenoja passed for 228 yards and three TDs and rushed for 86 yards and a TD.
Tulsa 30, Colorado State 27
Trey Watts got on track this week and rushed for 154 yards on 22 carries. The Golden Hurricane had 215 rushing yards total and that was balanced by the 215 passing yards amassed. Cody Green was 21 of 39 through the air with three passing TDs. It came down to the final drive which Tulsa started at its own 24 with 1:24 remaining. On third-and-1 in Tulsa territory, Watts broke open for a 45-yard run. This set up Carl Salazar to hit the 34-yard field goal as time expired.
East Central 46, Arkansas-Monticello 22
Qumain Black had two of the Tigers’ four interceptions and the secondary shone brightly. Black also gained 138 return yards accompanying those INTs. The offense had bright points as well with JoJo Snell picking up 101 yards on 16 carries and Justin Todd right behind him rushing for 97 yards and had to touchdowns. ECU had only 73 yards passing on the night, but that didn’t seem to matter with the rushing attack strong and the defense forcing five turnovers and putting the offense in good field position.
Panhandle State 35, Sterling 13
Northwestern (Iowa) 55, Bacone 37
Thursday, Sept. 5
Missouri Southern 52, Central 38
MSSU put up more than 300 yards in the first half on the way to a 35-14 lead at the intermission. The Lions’ offensive attack was strong and balanced – 241 passing, 232 rushing. But Joshua Birmingham continued to rack up big numbers. He had 169 yards rushing and four TDs on the ground. Birmingham also set a UCO single-game record with eight kickoff returns for 114 yards. With 30 receiving yards, that adds up to 303 all-purpose yards, which ranks third on the Bronchos’ list in that category.
Arkansas Tech 38, Northwestern 10
The young Rangers failed to show up in the second half, picking up only 94 yards of offense after the break. Redshirt freshman Reid Miller got his first start at quarterback, passing for 83 yards, but running for a team-high 46 yards. Javari Liggins picked up only 30 yards on the ground. It was a cleanly played game with few penalties and no turnovers. Arkansas Tech had 11 receivers with at least one reception for 303 yards through the air.
Southeastern 56, Southern Arkansas 50
SOSU redshirt freshman Devlon Wortham burst onto the scene for 220 yards rushing, good enough for eighth on the school’s all-time single-game rushing list, and the Storm was able to hang for a hard-fought victory against a very tough Mulerider team. Trailing 10-0 to start the game, Southeastern scored 21 straight with a pick six by Chad Tucker capping it off. It was back and forth throughout the remainder of the game. Both teams scored four touchdowns in the second half.
Southwestern 27, Harding 23
Harding was up 20-7 early in the second half, but the Bulldogs were patient at home and able to stifle the Bisons’ triple option down the stretch. SWOSU quarterback Dustin Stenta was 20-34 passing for 240 yards and 2 TDs, but he ran it in from eight yards out for the game-winning score with 1:54 remaining. Both of Stenta’s touchdown passes went to Teverick Boyd, who had seven receptions for 69 yards.