Football in the Sun Belt Conference continues to captivate fans and the national media, with dramatic finishes in week 3. Here is a recap of the performances in the SBC in week 3.
Sun Belt Football Week 3
Baylor 42 – Texas State 7
The Bobcats had a rough day against the Bears as they only gained just 268 total yards on the day. A bright spot for Texas State was WR Ashtyn Hawkins, who caught 13 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Coastal Carolina 38 – Buffalo 26
It wasn’t pretty, as Coastal Carolina committed four turnovers. But a win is a win. The Chanticleers gained 504 yards of total offense on the day. and held Buffalo to just 59 yards on the ground.
QB Grayson McCall was 16 of 24 (66%) for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and no INTs. WR Sam Pinckney caught five passes for 103 yards. RB CJ Beasley carried nine times for 89 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he gained 74 yards receiving and caught a TD pass.
On defense, the Chanticleers racked up five sacks and 13 tackles for loss. In addition, D’Jordan Strong and Jacob Proche each snagged an INT for Coastal Carolina. CCU held Buffalo to just 59 yards rushing. Tre Pinkney and JT Killen combined for 22 tackles.
Virginia 16 – Old Dominion 14
ODU’s Jennings III- Sun Belt Football Leader in Receiving
With one minute left in the game, The Monarchs scored to take a 14-13 lead. The Cavaliers drove down the field and kicked a game-winning 26-yard field goal as time expired to snatch victory away from ODU.
ODU QB Hayden Wolff passed for 235 yards and two TDs. WR Ali Jennings III caught seven passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. On defense, LB Jason Henderson made 12 tackles and a tackle for loss for the Monarchs.
UCLA 32 – South Alabama 31
The Jaguars held a 31-29 lead in the 4th quarter, but the Bruins drove down the field and converted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to steal a win in the Rose Bowl.
QB Carter Bradley was 26 of 36 for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an INT. RB LaDamian Webb rushed for 124 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.
Appalachian State 32 – Troy 28 (Sun Belt Clash)
Troy held a slim 28-26 lead after a Troy safety with 0:20 left on the clock. On 4th down and 10 with just 0:02 seconds left, Mountaineers QB Chase Brice scrambled out of the pocket and heaved a 53-yard Hail Mary pass downfield and short of the end zone. Troy defenders lept in the air to knock the pass down. Instead of knocking it down, the ball deflected off the defenders and was caught by Appalachian State WR Christian Horn who ran it in for the winning touchdown.
Brice passed for 278 yards and 2 TDs. Horn caught 5 passes for 98 yards and the game-winning score. On defense, Nick Ross and Andrew Parker combined for 22 tackles. They held Troy to 46 yards rushing. Troy QB Gunnar Watson passed for 302 yards, but couldn’t find the endzone.
It was a big day in Boone on Saturday as ESPN College GameDay broadcast its pregame show there on Saturday.
UAB 35 – Georgia Southern 21
Blazers RB DeWayne McBride carried 28 times for 223 yards (8-yard average) and four touchdowns. For Georgia Southern, RB Jalen White rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Alabama 63 – ULM 7
Bryce Young showed he was human, after all. He threw two INTs against the War Hawks in the 56-point Crimson Tide victory. ULM’s Deuce Mayberry and Tristan Diggers both recorded interceptions which was the lone bright spot for the War Hawks.
Bowling Green 34 – Marshall 31
Marshall’s Laborn-Sun Belt Football Leader in Rushing
Coming off an upset win last week over Notre Dame, the Thundering Herd fought hard against Bowling Green, sending the game into overtime. Marshall kicked a field goal in the extra period to take a 31-28 lead. On the ensuing possession, Bowling Green scored on a TD pass to win the game.
Marshall QB Henry Colombi was 23 of 34 (68%) for 338 yards and 2 TDs and an INT. RB Khalan Laborn rushed 24 times for 157 yards (6-yard average) and 2 touchdowns. WRs Corey Gammage and Caleb McMillan combined for 9 catches for 192 yards and two TDs.
Memphis 44 – Arkansas State 32
For the Red Wolves, QB James Blackmon completed 25 of 34 passes (74%) and 2 touchdowns, and zero INTs. RB Brian Snead rushed for two touchdowns. WR Seydou Traore caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Southern Miss 64 – Northwestern State 10
The Golden Eagles get into the win column for the first time this season with a dominating win over the Demons of Northwestern State. Southern Miss gained 588 yards of total offense and gained 21 first downs. The Golden Eagles defense held the Demons to just eight first downs and 16 yards rushing. In addition, the Golden Eagles forced two Northwestern State turnovers.
Southern Miss QB Ty Keyes passed for 192 yards and 3 TDs. He also added a rushing touchdown. RB Frank Gore, Jr. rushed seven times for 82 yards and a score. WRs Jakarius Caston, Jalen May, and Zay Franks each caught TD passes. On defense, LB Swayze Bozeman made 8 tackles, q sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss. In addition, he also recovered a fumble.
Charlotte 42 – Georgia State 41
This is another game that went down to the wire. With 0:17 left on the clock, Charlotte QB Chris Reynolds tossed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Grant DuBose for the winning touchdown.
For Charlotte, QB Chris Reynolds was 31 of 43 (72%) for 401 yards, 5 TDs, and an INT. Elijah Spencer, Henry Rutledge, Grant DuBose, and Victor Tucker combined to catch 20 passes for 269 yards and 4 TDs.
Georgia State QB Darren Grainger completed 22 of 34 passes (65%) for 343 yards, four TDs, and an INT. RB Tucker Gregg rushed for 100 yards and 3 TD. WR Jamari Thrash caught 10 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown.
Rice 33 – Louisiana 21
For the Ragin’ Cajuns, Chris Smith and Terrence Williams each scored touchdowns, and CB Caleb Anderson recorded a 54-yard pick-six. Lousiana gained only nine first downs and committed three turnovers. In addition, the Rice offense was just too much. The Owls gained 303 yards through the air and 146 yards on the ground.
Sun Belt Football Week 3-A.K.A The Fun Belt
Appalachian State continues to be the media darling of the 2022 college football season. They almost beat North Carolina in week one, they took down then #6 Texas A&M last week and then came back in dramatic fashion to beat Troy on a Hail Mary play on Saturday. The Mountaineers host James Madison next Saturday.
Week Four in the Sun Belt begins on Thursday with Coastal Carolina traveling to play Georgia State.
Thanks for reading.
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