UAB nails down Conference USA title game berth
DENTON — TD Marshall returned an interception 76 yards for a third-quarter touchdown that lifted UAB to a win over the host Mean Green that cemented a second straight Conference USA West Division title for the Blazers.
The Blazers (9-3, 6-2) came into the game needing to win and have Florida Atlantic beat Southern Mississippi to claim the title. FAU won its game, 34-17. UAB will next face FAU on Dec. 7 in Boca Raton, Fla., for the C-USA championship.
Mason Fine threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jaelon Darden to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive that put North Texas in front, 21-20 with 6:24 left.
After forcing a UAB three-and-out, a Mean Green drive stalled at the UAB 29. On fourth-and-1, the Blazers’ defense pressured Fine into a full retreat and a forced pass that was picked off by Marshall at the 24-yard line. Marshall threaded his way to the sideline and raced for a 76-yard touchdown that put UAB in front, 26-21.
Spencer Brown carried 19 times for 111 yards and a touchdown for UAB (9-3, 6-2).
Mason Fine finished 22-of-34 for 268 yards passing for North Texas (4-8, 3-5) but was picked off twice.
SMU 37, TULANE 20
Shane Buechele passed for three touchdowns, Xavier Jones ran for two scores, and the Mustangs closed the regular season with a win over the Green Wave in Dallas.
Buechele threw a 26yard touchdown pass to James Proche with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter, and Jones ran for a 25-yard touchdown less than three minutes later, giving the Mustangs (10-2, 6-2 American Athletic Conference) a 34-17 lead.
Tulane (6-6, 3-5) and
SMU traded field goals in the final five minutes.
Buechele was 15-of-27 for 180 yards with an interception. He had touchdown passes of 30 yards to Myron Gailliard and 8 yards to Kylen Granson to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Jones ran 18 times for 125 yards. His first touchdown run made it 21-7 with 2:32 left in the first half.
Justin McMillan completed 22 of 37 passes for 242 yards for the Green Wave.
COASTAL CAROLINA 24 TEXAS STATE 21
Bobcats quarterback Tyler Vitt threw for 285 yards and two scores, but Texas State struggled to establish a running game, closing the season with a loss to the Chanticleers in Conway, S.C.
Texas State (3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt) ran for 36 yards on 17 carries while Coastal Carolina (5-7, 2-6) controlled the game on the ground, picking up 223 yards on 53 attempts to rack up more than 40 minutes in time of possession.
Vitt completed 23 of 33 passes with one interception. He connected with Mason Hays for a 64-yard score and linked up with Jacoby Hopkins for an 18-yard touchdown in the closing minutes. Vitt also had an 8-yard touchdown catch from receiver Hutch White on a trick play.
Senior linebacker Bryan London II recorded 14 tackles, moving him to 456 for his career to set a new Texas State record in his final game.
LOUISIANA TECH 41 UTSA 27
J’Mar Smith threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score as the Bulldogs defeated the visiting Roadrunners.
Sincere McCormick led UTSA (4-8, 3-5 C-USA) with a touchdown reception and 119 rushing yards.