Choctaws roll over HSU
| Hardin-Simmons fumbled four
times and threw an interception in its loss. Mississippi College athletics photo |
No. 8 Hardin-Simmons' struggles to hold onto the football came back to bite the Cowboys in a game under the lights at Mississippi College. The Choctaws returned an interception into the red zone and took a 21-14 lead shortly before halftime and did not look back on the way to a 45-28 win.
Third-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor got 30 carries and 222 yards from Darius Wilson and survived a late comeback attempt from McMurry 28-27. The War Hawks were one of three teams to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt against a Top 25 team and fail.
No. 10 Montclair State needed to stop Morrisville State's two-point conversion and recover an onside kick to hang on for the victory over the Mustangs, 20-19. Morrisvlle State quarterback Lemar Johnson threw a touchdown pass to Josh Powell with 21 seconds left to draw the Mustangs within one point at 20-19. Instead of going for the tie, the Mustangs went for the win, but Johnson's rushing attempt was stopped and the Redhawks recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.
No. 12 Ohio Northern scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point to take a 34-27 lead on Otterbein in overtime. On the Cardinals' extra possession, Austin Schlosser found Brock Burzanko for the touchdown. Instead of going for the tie, the Cardinals went for two and the win. Schlosser's pass was incomplete and the the Polar Bears hung on for the 34-33 victory.
One week after upsetting Wesley, No. 18 Kean picked up another big win, this time on the road. The Cougars defeated No. 11 Cortland State 21-16 thanks to an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown by Will Evans.
Top-ranked UW-Whitewater won its 33rd consecutive game, having little trouble with Campbellsville, 54-14. Campbellsville was ranked No. 17 in the NAIA's coaches poll. Levell Coppage and Desmin Ward combined for 209 rushing yards and quarterback Matt Blanchard was out before halftime in the win. Jeremy Murray ran for 254 yards on 20 carries as No. 2 Mount Union rolled past John Carroll 58-7.
| Connor Warye is upended in
the red zone but did lead Wittenberg in rushing with 68 yards in a
20-17 win. Photo by Nathaniel Margolies at BearMoments.com |
No. 22 Trine got a trio of big plays to beat UW-River Falls 42-20. Ja Vonte Hence returned a kick 89 yards for a touchdown, Myron Puryear returned a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown and Kent Biller ran 94 yards for a score in the Thunder victory. The Falcons gained 461 yards in the loss. No. 19 Cal Lutheran bounced back from its season-opening loss to down Pacific Lutheran 28-17 behind 552 yards of total offense, 281 rushing.
No. 21 Wittenberg extended its regular season winning streak to 23 games by beating Washington U. 20-17. Fellow NCAC member Wabash, ranked one spot higher, scored three touchdowns on its first four possessions, rushing for 126 yards in the first quarter of a 28-7 win against Ohio Wesleyan.
No. 4 St. Thomas had no trouble with St. Olaf, jumping out to a 35-0 lead behind four first-half touchdowns from Colin Tobin and cruising to a 49-14 win. Fifth-ranked Bethel got off to a slow start but scored twice in the fourth quarter to finish off Carleton 27-9. The MAC also opened conference play as No. 25 Delaware Valley took care of Lebanon Valley 34-10. Alfred defeated St. Lawrence for the 19th consecutive time, dropping the Saints 36-12. Kyle Vance had 14 catches for 228 yards as No. 23 Hampden-Sydney rolled past Ferrum 38-14. Domonique Hayden scored four touchdowns to lead No. 9 Thomas More to a 41-6 win against Geneva. No. 14 North Central crushed Olivet 86-14, handing the Comets their 30th consecutive loss.
