Three Southland Conference teams took wins in week one of the 2022 football season. Texas A&M Commerce found their first win as a Division I school against Northern Colorado. No. 14 Incarnate Word dominated No. 9 Southern Illinois in a beatdown with new head coach G.J. Kine at the helm. Houston Baptist survived a late scare as they beat Northern Colorado 46-34. With week one in the books, here are some of the highlights from this weekend’s action.
Texas A&M Commerce wins first Division I game, beats Lincoln (CA) 52-7
Playing its first game as a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team thumped the Lincoln (Calif.) Oaklanders, 52-7, on a damp night at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium. Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Armstrong scored the first touchdown in the Division I era and totaled 134 received yards as well as three touchdowns, which ties the program record. Sophomore quarterback Eric Rodriguez tossed five touchdowns and 269 yards in just 16 attempts. Rodriguez’s five touchdown passes are tied for second in program history.
The Lions outgained the Oaklanders, 432-165 yards in the game. Defensively for A&M-Commerce, Warren Robinson made eight tackles. Defensive lineman Clifford Funderburk and defensive back Daryion Taylor posted one sack each. With Thursday night’s win, the Lions have won nine straight season openers, which is the longest such streak in program history.
No. 14 UIW takes down No. 9 Southern Illinois 64-29
The University of the Incarnate Word football team was chomping at the bit to face No. 9 Southern Illinois University. Head Coach G.J. Kinne made a statement in his first win as a head coach, defeating a higher-ranked FCS opponent by 35 points. On the opposite side of the ball, the defensive line put in work, coming up three minutes shy of three full quarters on the field. The Cardinals came out the gate with a 66-yard receiving touchdown from wide receiver Taylor Grimes just two minutes into the game.
On his second catch of the night, Grimes caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. for his second touchdown in eight minutes, totaling 121 yards. With under a minute left in the first, Scott Jr. did a somersault into the endzone as the Cardinals took a dominating, 22-0 lead. Kicker Carson Mohr solidified the 7-0 start that led to a 64-29 Cardinal victory.
Houston Baptist survives late scare, defeats Northern Colorado 46-34
Houston Baptist’s consistency gave the Huskies the 46-34 win over Northern Colorado. HBU freshman defensive end Jacoby Brass forced a fumble on a sack, then linebacker Jalyx Hunt scooped it up and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to seal the Huskies’ 46-34 victory over Northern Colorado in the FCS season-opener Saturday afternoon at Nottingham Field. HBU freshman running back Ismael Mahdi rushed 21 times for 177 yards and a touchdown, including a 78-yard score, and made two catches for 75 yards, wiht a 74-yard touchdown catch for the Huskies (1-0). Sophomore quarterback Justin Fomby completed 12-of-25 passes for 275 yards four touchdowns and an interception.
Junior wide receiver Karl Reynolds had seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore wide receiver Ismael Fuller and freshman Anthony Harris also added touchdown receptions. Safety Isaiah Cash and cornerback Devion Hargrove led the Huskies with 10 tackles each and safety Xavier Toliver added eight stops and a 30-yard interception return. Hunt finished with seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and the fumble return for a touchdown.
Here is the schedule for next week’s games in the Southland:
Sept. 10 Games
UIW @ Nevada, 4:30 p.m.
Southeastern Louisiana @ Florida Atlantic, 5:00 p.m., ESPN +
Northwestern State @ Grambling, 6:00 p.m.
Texas A&M-Commerce @ Tennessee Tech, ESPN +
Lindenwood @ HBU, 6:00 p.m.
Lamar @ SMU, 6:00 p.m., ESPN +
McNeese @ Rice, 6:30 p.m., ESPN 3
Nicholls @ ULM, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
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