SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Iowa State 42,
Southeast Missouri 10
@#12 Eastern Washington 36,
Tennessee State 29
@Texas Tech 63,
Murray State 10
IOWA STATE 42, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10
AMES, Iowa - Paxton DeLaurent threw for 222 yards and one touchdown and ran for 74 yards as Southeast Missouri (0-1) dropped a 42-10 decision to Big 12 Conference member Iowa State (1-0) Saturday afternoon in the season-opener for both teams.
In his first career NCAA Division I start, DeLaurent completed 19-of-38 passes and averaged over six yards (6.2) per carry as SEMO's top rusher against the Cyclones.
SEMO put together a strong opening drive covering 60 yards in 15 plays to get to ISU's 12-yard line. DeLaurent converted on a fourth-and-1 to keep the Redhawks possession alive.
The Redhawks later elected to go for it on another fourth-and-1, but Colby Reeder tipped DeLaurent's pass which was then intercepted by Tyler Onyedim at the Cyclones' 15-yard line.
ISU responded by scoring on three-straight drives resulting in touchdown passes from Hunter Dekkers to Xavier Hutchinson.
Dekkers, a left-handed quarterback, threw consecutive 33-yard passes to Hutchinson that put the Cyclones ahead 14-0.
On ISU's next possession, Dekkers delivered an 8-yard strike to Hutchinson extending the Cyclones lead to 21-0 with 7:54 remaining in the second quarter.
SEMO closed out the first half strong by scoring 10 points in the final 2:27.
First-year Redhawk receiver Ryan Flournoy made a spectacular catch on a 41-yard toss from DeLaurent to get SEMO to the ISU 11-yard line. Flournoy's reception set up the Redhawks first touchdown of the season which came on an 11-yard pass from DeLaurent to former Missouri State receiver Damoriea Vick two plays later.
On the second play of ISU's ensuing drive, Joedrick Lewis picked off Dekkert and ran his first career interception 27 yards to the Cyclone 7. The turnover led to a 23-yard field goal by DC Pippin that narrowed ISU's lead to 21-10 at the half.
For Pippin, it was the first field goal of his career.
ISU scored three more times in the second half, including once in the third and twice in the fourth quarter to finish off its season-opening victory.
DeLaurent completed 50 percent of his passes, while Flournoy led SEMO with 56 yards on nine receptions. Vick added 45 receiving yards, as well.
As a team, the Redhawks finished with 320 yards of total offense to ISU's 469.
Dekkers threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns, and Hutchinson had 128 receiving yards to go along with his three scores. Jirehl Brock ran for a game-high 104 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Lawrence Johnson matched a career-high with 12 tackles.
#12 EASTERN WASHINGTON 36, TENNESSEE STATE 29
CHENEY, Wash. - Eastern Washington mounted an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown reception with 2:39 remaining in the ballgame, as Tennessee State lost 36-29 in heartbreaking fashion to No. 12 EWU on Saturday afternoon at Roos Field .
Draylen Ellis led TSU's passing attack with 257 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception. The signal caller also added 82 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Ellis had a strong first half as he was 9-of-13 with 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Devon Starling led all TSU rushers with 207 yards and one touchdown in the contest, picking up 8.3 yards per carry.
Ellis' most prolific target in the ballgame was Zack Dobson, who caught five passes for 132 yards and one score. Cam Wyche got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in eight balls for 95 yards and one touchdown.
Jashon Watkins showed out for the Tennessee State defense, recording four tackles and one recovered fumble. Davion Nash added three tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one sack.
Tennessee State also had an outstanding day offensively, racking up 547 total yards, 290 on the ground and 257 through the air, while averaging 6.8 yards per play and out-gaining Eastern Washington.
Tennessee State's defense held up fairly well against the run, limiting Eastern Washington to 126 yards on the ground.
The Tigers drew first blood as they scored on their first play of the season from scrimmage. Zack Dobson caught a pop pass from Ellis that he took 67 yards to the house for the score. EWU responded and went up 8-7 before the TSU scored again on a 57-yard touchdown reception from Ellis to Wyche to jump back ahead 13-8.
The Eagles then grabbed a 15-13 lead, but TSU scored again at the :51 remaining mark in the first quarter with a 43-yard touchdown run from Starling to jump back ahead 19-15. Eastern Washington fought back to take a 29-19 lead, but TSU scored again to narrow the gap and make it a 29-22 game as Kaleb Mosley connected on a 32-yard field goal.
Tennessee State followed with another score with 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, a four-yard touchdown run from Ellis, and tied it at 29-29. Tennessee State didn't score again and Eastern Washington added seven more points to finish off the game.
TEXAS TECH 63, MURRAY STATE 10
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Murray State football team fell in its 2022 season opener, 63-10, to Texas Tech Saturday night at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
Quarterback DJ Williams was 8-for-16 in the game for 207 yards with one touchdown. His two big passes on the night were a 51-yard strike to LaMartez Brooks and 53-yard heave to Jacob Bell for a touchdown.
Jaylon Bolden led the Murray State defense on the night with five tackles, while Jamari Dailey and Justus Johnson followed with four each. Transfer Cam Brown had MSU’s lone sack of the night, while Lawaun Powell had a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup and Tre Allen had a forced fumble.
With his 51-yard catch Saturday, Brook moved into the career top 10 in receiving yards for Murray State with 1,855.
Aaron Baum was 1-for-1 on both field goals and PATs Saturday giving him 100 career points and moving him to 11th all-time in career field goals with 20. Baum is now 20-for-29 on field goals in his career as a Racer.