Lamar seizes Southland lead over SFA

Aiden McCown threw three touchdown passes and Parker Jenkins rushed for three scores to lead Lamar to a 45-28 victory over second-ranked Stephen F. Austin on Saturday in Beaumont, Texas.

The Cardinals never trailed in the contest. McCown passed for 307 yards while Jenkins gained 138 yards on the ground. Blake Thomas added 120 receiving yards and one touchdown for the winning side.

Gavin Rutherford threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns for Stephen F. Austin, though he also intercepted the ball twice. Clayton Wayland caught two touchdown passes for 173 yards, and Bugs Mortimer had 124 receiving yards and a score.

Lamar entered the game ranked 13th in the Stats Perform FCS Poll. The team is now 8-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Stephen F. Austin dropped to 9-1 and 6-1 in the Southland Conference standings.

The Cardinals built a 17-0 lead in the first half. Andres Sandoval kicked a 27-yard field goal near the midway point of the first quarter. McCown then completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Davin Driskell with 2:03 remaining in the first quarter to extend the lead.

Jenkins capped a 60-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown to seal the 17-point margin. Rutherford threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Wayland with 25 seconds before halftime for the Lumberjacks' first points. Lamar leads by 10 at the break.