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UTSA moved one step closer to bowl eligibility with an impressive 45-25 road win over Middle Tennessee. Jarveon Williams ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns, while the UTSA defense forced four turnovers. MTSU quarterback Brent Stockstill went down with an injury, and backup quarterback John Urzua threw three interceptions. UTSA led 28-10 at halftime, and stretched their lead to 42-17 heading into the third quarter. The Runners improve to 5-4 overall, and 4-2 in conference play and faces LA Tech on the road next week. Middle drops to 3-2 in conference play, and 6-3 overall with Marshall on the road next up.
In another upset involving an upstart program, Charlotte got down early, but finished strong gathering a huge road win at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles led 14-7 after a 78-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to Chase Whitehead. But the 49ers would roll off 31-straight points to grab a 38-14 lead after a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone for a score by Ed Rolle. Kalliff Phillips ran for 183 yards, while Robert Washington ran for another 94-yards in the win. Southern Miss turned it over three times, and drops to 5-4 overall, and 3-2 in the C-USA West and will face Old Dominion on the road next week. Charlotte will host Rice and improves to 4-5 overall, with a 3-2 mark in C-USA play.
FAU broke open a tie game late in the second quarter and never looked back in the battle of the Owls’. Devin Singletary ran for 252 yards and three touchdowns, leading an FAU rushing attack that piled up 336 yards on the ground. Jeff Driskel threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns helping FAU put up 657 total yards of offense. Rice’s dreadful seasons continues as they drop 1-8 overall. FAU snaps their losing skid for their second win of the season.
WKU took care of business at home in an easy rout of FIU. WKU running back Ace Wales ran for four touchdowns, the fourth put WKU ahead 49-7 early in the third quarter. The Tops put up 509 total yards of total offense, and forced three FIU turnovers including two interceptions. WKU holds a two game lead in the C-USA East with a 5-1 record, and will host North Texas next week. FIU has now lost three straight after winning three straight to open conference play and will enjoy a bye next week.
LA Tech 45 North Texas 24
LA Tech wide receiver Carlos Henderson scored five touchdowns for the second time this season helping LA Tech pull away from North Texas late in the second half. It was a back-and-forth first half, and the Bulldogs led 31-24 with 9:43 left in the third quarter. But LA Tech kept North Texas out of the end zone in the second half, and Henderson scored twice in the second half to put things away early in the fourth quarter. Henderson caught eight passes for 133 yards, four touchdowns, and added another rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs put up a balanced 479 yards of offense, and have now won six straight.
Ray Lawry ran wild, piling up 203 yards on the ground to lead Old Dominion to an easy win at home against reeling Marshall. Lawry ran for a 33-yard touchdown to put the Monarchs up 14-0, as they were in control throughout this one. ODU’s defense held Marshall to just 214 yards, and 3-for-12 clip on third downs. Marshall drops to 2-7 and 1-4 in conference play. Old Dominion (6-3, 4-1), will host Southern Miss next week.
UTEP 42 Houston Baptist 10
UTEP pushed around FCS Houston Baptist to keep their slim bowl hopes alive. Aaron Jones ran for 228 yards and two touchdowns leading the Miners ground game that piled up 323 yards on the ground. The Miner D forced five three-and-outs, and allowed just 3.8 yards per play. Ryan Metz threw for three touchdowns, while Hayden Plinke caught two of those and finished with 77 yards receiving. UTEP travels to FAU next week with a 3-6 overall record.