SMU QB throws 7 TDs in blowout

DALLAS — Tanner Mordecai threw a schoolrecord seven touchdowns — five coming in the first half — and SMU broke it open in the second quarter and went on to beat Abilene Christian 56-9 on Saturday in a season opener.

A transfer from Oklahoma, Mordecai’s seven touchdowns tied the American Athletic Conference record.

Mordecai threw scoring passes of 21 and 8 yards to Grant Calcaterra in the first quarter, and early in the second, for a 14-0 lead.

Later, in the second, he connected with Danny Gray on scoring plays of 30 and 27 yards. Then, with 29 seconds before halftime, Mordecai threw a 30-yard score to Rashee Rice and the Mustangs led 35-3 at intermission.

Mordecai completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 317 yards while seven different ball carriers tallied 171 yards on the ground.

Stone Earle threw for

176 yards and a touchdown

for the Wildcats.

UTSA 37, ILLINOIS 30

In Champaign, Ill., quarterback Frank Harris was 20-of-32 passing for 280 yards for the Roadrunners (1-0), who earned their first victory over a Big Ten program and never trailed in the game.

Running back Sincere McCormick rushed 31 times for 117 yards, and wide receiver Zakhari Franklin had 10 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 20 TARLETON ST. 10

Trae Self passed for 235 yards with a touchdown, Miles Reed rushed for 71 yards and a score, Chris Campos kicked two field goals and Stephen F. Austin rallied to defeat Tarleton State 20-10 on Saturday night in a season opener for both teams.

The Lumberjacks fell into a 10-0 hole but then scored 20 unanswered points over the final 37 minutes.

Self found Xavier Gipson for a 35-yard score to make it 10-7 with 6:44 left in the first half.

Campos knotted the game at 10-10 with a 22yard field goal late in the third, added a 43-yarder in the fourth, and Reed scored from the 2.

Tarleton’s Steven Duncan was 21-for-33 passing for 242 yards and a TD, but was picked off three times.

NORTH TEXAS 44 NORTHWESTERN ST. 44

DeAndre Torrey rushed 25 times for 244 yards and scored three touchdowns in Denton as the Mean Green shut out the Demons in the second half after taking a 24-14 halftime lead. Roderic Burns had six catches for 114 yards and a touchdown for North Texas.