:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51469745/usa-today-9625900.0.jpg)
North Texas broke open a 14-10 halftime lead with three second half touchdowns by star running back Jeffery Wilson to drop Army on the road. Wilson ran for 160 yards and the three scores, while the Mean Green’s defense forced four Army turnovers. North Texas has now won back-to-back games, upping their record to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play and will travel to UTSA next week.
Rice picked up their first win of the season in an easy win against FCS Prairie View A&M. The Owls led 45-14 at halftime sparked by quarterback Tyler Stehling who threw for 407 yards and five touchdowns in the game. Rice racked up 634 yards of total offense and heads to LA Tech next week to resume their conference slate.
Middle Tennessee 51 Missouri 45
In perhaps the biggest win on Saturday, Middle Tennessee held off Missouri in a game full of yards and points, spoiling the Tigers homecoming game. Middle led 48-38 after a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brent Stockstill to Dennis Andrews with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. But the Raiders forced a pair of key turnovers, and ran for 300 yards. I’Tavius Mathers ran for 215 yards for the Raiders, while Stockstill threw four touchdown passes, and also ran for 70 yards. The Blue Raiders improve to 5-2 overall, and stay at 2-1 in conference play with a road trip to Florida looming next week to face FIU.
A Hassan Klugh 2-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the game was the difference in a 27-24 stunning Charlotte upset over Marshall. Charlotte running back Kaliff Phillips ran for 123 yards, but it was Charlotte’s defense that closed things out in the final eight minutes. Marshall only ran for 88 yards, and turned the ball over twice dropping their record to 2-5 overall, and 1-2 in C-USA play. Charlotte improves to 3-5 and and 2-2 in conference play. The Herd face Southern Miss. on the road next week, while Charlotte has a bye.
LA Tech stretched their winning streak to four games with solid run defense, and a huge special teams play for a road win at FIU. Ryan Higgins threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns, but a Carlos Henderson 92-yard kick off return with six minutes left in the fourth quarter finally put the Golden Panthers away. Trent Taylor caught 11 passes for 156 yards and touchdown. FIU quarterback Alex McGough threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, but the Panthers only ran for just 68 yards on 29 rushing attempts. LA Tech takes a full-game lead in the C-USA West with a 3-1 record and hosts Rice next week. FIU drops their first conference game in four tries and will play Middle Tennessee at home next week.
WKU’s offense put on a first half clinic in a drubbing of previously red-hot Old Dominion. WKU led 52-14 at halftime with Mike White throwing for 378 yards and a touchdown. Ace Wales ran for 157 yards as the Tops ran for 246 yards on the evening. WKU has put together back-to-back wins and is now 3-1 in conference play, and 5-2 overall and will hit the road to face FAU next week. ODU drops to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference with a road trip to UTEP on deck next week.
In a game that featured a handful of trick plays, an ejection, and everyone in attendance for both teams wearing orange, UTEP escaped San Antonio with a thrilling overtime win. UTSA jumped out to a 14-0 lead, and led 28-14 in the third quarter. But the Miners came up with timely scores, and big defensive stops to force the longest overtime game in C-USA history. Ryan Metz found fellow El Paso native Warren Redix for the game winning touchdown in the fifth overtime. UTSA ran for 278 yards led by Jarveon Williams who posted 104 yards, while Jalen Rhodes added 84 yards, and Dalton Sturm ran for 74 yards. Aaron Jones ran for 113 yards, and caught two touchdown passes with 56 yards receiving in the Miners win. UTEP improves to 2-5 overall and returns home to face ODU. UTSA drops to 3-4 overall, and 2-2 in conference play with North Texas coming into the Alamodome next week.