Cowboys too much for Golden Lions

SOUTHLAND/SWAC MCNEESE STATE 58, ARK-PINE BLUFF 14

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Marcus Wiltz ran for three touchdowns and Cody Stroud threw for two as McNeese State rolled past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 58-14 on Saturday night at Cowboy Stadium.

Wiltz scored his three touchdowns in the first half as the Cowboys (2-0) opened a 37-14 lead. He finished with 115 yards on 12 carries.

Stroud threw both touchdown passes in the third quarter, 33 yards to Ernest Celestie and 12 yards to Dylan Long. Stroud completed 21 of 30 passes for 251 yards.

McNeese State had 528 yards of offense while holding the Golden Lions (0-2) to 216 yards. UAPB has been outscored 120-25 in two games, including a 62-11 setback at Arkansas State on Aug. 31.

UAPB was without 12 players against Arkansas State because of NCAA certification concerns, but welcomed back running back Walter Ashley, receiver Isiah Ferguson and linebackers Antonio Jenkins and Charles Williams III against McNeese State.

The Golden Lions tied the game at 14-14 on a 2-yard run by Jeremiah Young in the opening minute of the second quarter.

UAPB quarterback Ben Anderson completed 13 of 25 passes for 110 yards and threw 2 interceptions. He also had 15 yards on 9 carries and was sacked 3 times.

Running back Jamie Smith, starting in place of Justin Billings, had 90 rushing yards on 15 carries and a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

JACKSON STATE 30, ALABAMA STATE 23

JACKSON, Miss. — Clayton Moore scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to give Jackson State the cushion it needed to defeat Alabama State.

After Moore’s score, Myles Everett returned the kickoff for a touchdown for the Hornets (0-2, 0-1 SWAC), who failed to convert the two-point conversion.

Moore threw a scoring pass to Zachary Pendleton with 21 seconds left in the first half to give the Tigers (1-1, 1-0) a 21-17 lead. Pendleton finished with 177 yards, a career high.

Alabama State’s Isaiah Crowell scored on a career-long 83-yard run in the first half and finished with 179 yards.