Turnarounds underway for Maryville, McMurry
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Maryville surprised Millsaps in Jackson, Miss., 28-20, winning on the road for the first time since 2000. After Millsaps jumped out to a 13-7 lead, the Fighting Scots put together a 13-play, 99-yard drive to take a 14-13 lead. Maryville scored late in the half to take a 21-7 lead to the locker room, extended the lead to 28-13 on a short drive after a fumble recovery, and the defense held on for the win as neither team could score in the fourth quarter. The defensive performance is impressive considering that Maryville turned the ball over five times to just three by Millsaps.
McMurry also experienced its first road win since 2000 with a back-and-forth 42-39 win at Texas Lutheran. Although TLU had faced No. 20 Trinity, No. 21 Hardin-Simmons, and No. 5 UHMB in successive weeks, the Bulldog defense found itself unable to stop McMurry, who scored the most points of any TLU opponent this season. The McMurry defense returned the favor, allowing TLU 510 yards of total offense. Indian running back Richard Lavallais returned from injury and gained a career-high 153 yards on 14 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run. TLU’s Sean Salinas had a field day, completing 30 of 42 passes for 402 yards and four scores, but two fourth-quarter interceptions proved costly. With just over a minute left, McMurry’s Anthony Brown broke up a fourth-down pass attempt deep in Indian territory to preserve the win.
A third victory seems within McMurry’s grasp, as Louisiana College (1-3, 1-2 ASC) comes to town for homecoming. Maryville will face a harder task when it entertains 3-1 Case Western at home.
No change at the top of the SCAC
Trinity (Texas) (4-1, 2-0 SCAC) put on its best all-around performance of the season in defeating the much-improved Rose-Hulman Engineers (3-2, 1-1) 42-14. The Tigers sprinted out to a 21-0 lead on the strength of a 1-yard sneak from Dan DesPlaines (16-for-23 for 232 yards and two touchdowns), a 22-yard pass on a fake field goal, and a 7-yard pass from DesPlaines to Jason Mendivil. The Engineers scored on a 10-yard pass from Cameron Hummel (12-for-17 for 45 yards and one touchdown) to Matt Horn at the end of the half to get within two touchdowns. That was as close as RHIT would get as Trinity would blitz the Engineers for three more scores in the third quarter. Sophomore Ray Valencia rushed for 97 yards and two scores in relief of injured starter Matt Federle.
Centre (4-1, 2-0) maintained pace with Trinity by defeating Sewanee 21-16 on the road, despite an average day from quarterback Brian Behrendt (13-for-24 for 149 yards, 1 interception, and 2 touchdowns). After staking themselves to a 21-3 lead, the Colonels could seemingly only watch as Sewanee closed the gap to 21-16 after a 75-yard Matt Taylor punt return and a 2-yard run by Justin Askew with 2:45 left. Centre recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt. Sewanee held and got the ball back, driving into Centre territory. Wes Satterfield’s Hail Mary was picked off by Centre’s Jeremy Ware as the clock ended, the fourth Colonel interception on the day. Centre’s Lorenzo Engleman led all rushers with 105 yards on 20 carries.
DePauw (3-2, 1-1) destroyed Chicago with a 51-10 pasting on Family Weekend. The Tigers 505 yards of offense were the definition of balanced, with one more yard rushing (253) than passing (252). Andy Yoder was 10-for-13 for 192 yards, one score and one interception, Ross Weithoff was 6-for-9 for 60 yards and rushed for 48 more and 2 scores. Jackson Rust added 91 yards and a score.
Centre can take sole possession of the SCAC lead with a win at home against winless Millsaps.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before
No. 5 Mary Hardin-Baylor, No. 23 Hardin-Simmons, and East Texas Baptist all won this weekend to stay undefeated in conference play. Howard Payne kept its slim conference hopes alive as well.
The Crusaders (4-0, 3-0) simply dominated all facets of a 37-14 win at Louisiana College (1-3, 1-2). The offense rolled up a school-record 534 net yards, and the defense held LC to 218 yards, including -21 yards on the ground. Wide receiver P. J. Williams had five catches for 170 yards, and Cody Fredenburg ran for a game-high 88 yards on eight carries, and threw for two scores on 9-for-16 passing for 217 yards, with one interception. MHB’s Ryan McCabe had 12 tackles (11 solo), 1 sack, 4 tackles for loss, and defended four passes to lead the defensive charge for the Cru’. Next up: a home contest against Mississippi College (2-2, 1-2).
Hardin-Simmons (3-1, 3-0) also dominated, holding Mississippi College scoreless in the Cowboys’ 21-0 victory. HSU rolled up 476 yards of offense, with 289 yards on the ground. Lance Moore led the way with 102 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. He was ably assisted by Donta’ Hayward (14 carries, 84 yards) and Dustin Bookout (8 carries, 70 yards). MC was unable to get unto the Cowboys’ red zone, and in fact could not even get to the HSU 30. The Choctaws’ deepest penetration stalled out on downs at the HSU 31, that midway through the first quarter.
East Texas Baptist (3-1, 3-0) ... dominated ... in a 33-0 victory at winless Austin (0-4, 0-3). The struggling ’Roos were held to just 73 yards of total offense. Tiger defensive end Roger Sutterfield single-handedly outscored Austin, with a safety in the first quarter and a 14-yard fumble return in the second. RoShawn Johnson had 18 carries for 100 yards and a score; Brandon Nelson was 12-of-21 for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns.
And, finally, Howard Payne (2-2, 2-1) (insert your favorite verb here) winless Sul Ross State 58-21, but not before the visiting Lobos had closed to within 3 after the Yellow Jackets stormed to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter. Adam King (20-for-34 for 278 yards) threw for five touchdowns and added another on the ground; WR Walter Hays collected three touchdown passes. The ‘Jacket defense held the Lobos to minus-22 yards rushing, picked off three passes, and recovered two fumbles.
Letters, we get letters
A number of you noticed my subtle plea for feedback at the bottom of last column, and sent a line or two — thanks. Two noted that I didn’t provide enough coverage for Occidental and Washington University.
Well, at least Wash U. (2-3, 0-0 UAA) is in the NCAA’s South Region ... but is not one of the teams this column regularly covers (head Midwest). For what it’s worth, the Bears have a tough game on the road this week against Trinity. One WashU person sent me a note stating “we are very pumped to get our record back to .500 and destroy Trinity’s home game winning streak.” Sounds like a challenge to me...
Tidbits
The ASC’s number of winless teams will decrease by one this week, when Texas Lutheran and Austin (0-4, 0-3) face off in Sherman. The all-time series is tied, 10-10.
If ETBU can defeat Sul Ross, the school will set a record for most consecutive wins (four).
UMHB has a 14-game conference winning streak dating to 2001, and a 15-game regular season streak during that time.
DePauw’s 51 points were the most points scored by the Greencastle squad since defeating Manchester 52-34 on Oct. 24, 1992 .
Despite ranking last in the conference in rushing offense (125.0 yds/game), Trinity leads the SCAC in total offense (457.2), points scored (36.2) and points allowed (17.4). Centre leads the conference in total defense, allowing 269.6 yards per contest.
Around the ASC
Offensive POW: Adam King, QB, Jr., Howard Payne: threw for five touchdowns, scored a sixth on the ground during HPU’s 58-21 triumph over Sul Ross. King was 20-for-34 for 278 yards and one interception.
Defensive POW: Roger Sutterfield, DE, Soph., East Texas Baptist: Recorded a safety on a sack and scored a touchdown on a 14-yard fumble return. He added five tackles including two of ETBU’s team-record nine sacks as the Tigers recorded only the second shutout in team history.
Special Teams POW: Dorian Gentry, SB, Soph., McMurry: His blocked punt in the third quarter set up McMurry’s go-ahead touchdown. Gentry also recorded seven tackles in the win.
Around the SCAC
Offensive POW: Dan DesPlaines, QB, Sr., Trinity: 16-24-0-232, 2TDs, and scored a third on a 1-yard QB sneak. Honorable mention: Matt Dement, WR, Rhodes: 14 receptions for 170 yards, setting a school record for receptions
Defensive POW: John Ortega, DB, Sr., Centre: 15 tackles (11 solo) including two for loss as Centre held Sewanee to 197 yards of total offense. Honorable mention: Nick Yatsula, LB, Rhodes: 17 tackles (6 solo)
Games of the Week (times local)
Howard Payne (2-2, 1-1 ASC) at No. 21 Hardin-Simmons (3-1, 2-0), Abilene, Texas, 2 p.m.: These guys just don’t like each other very much. HPU knocked HSU off the ASC throne last year, and the Cowboys would like nothing better than to prove it was a fluke. The Jackets’ Adam King faces a Cowboy defense anchored by All-American defensive back Alex Hansen, who leads the conference with five interceptions already this season. It’s a match up of the ASC’s best pass offense (HPU) and pass defense (HSU).
Louisiana College (1-3, 1-2 ASC) at McMurry (2-2, 2-1), Abilene, Texas, 2 p.m.: Can the Indians get their third win in a row at this week’s Homecoming? The Wildcats have struggled to put points on the board (10.5 ppg) and to keep opponents out of the end zone (39.8), and Steve Keenum’s team is riding high after last week’s road win.
Comments? Complaints? Praise? Have an interesting story idea for an upcoming column? Think your team isn’t getting enough coverage? If so, contact me: ron.boerger@d3football.com.