We Speak College Football

South Carolina’s Defense Pitches a Touchdown Shutout in a 17-9 Win Over Texas A&M

Published

1 hour ago

November 8, 2026

South Carolina players celebrate after beating Texas A&M

South Carolina celebrates the win over Texas A&M at Williams-Brice Stadium. Photo via South Carolina Football.

Texas A&M gained 457 yards, picked up 26 first downs and never scored a touchdown. That stat line, reported as a first in college football history when paired with zero turnovers, explains how No. 21 South Carolina beat the Aggies 17-9 at Williams-Brice Stadium in a game its defense owned from start to finish.

After a scoreless first quarter, LaNorris Sellers put South Carolina in front with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Mazeo Bennett Jr. in the second quarter. Texas A&M answered with field goals of 40 and 46 yards from David Olano and trailed only 7-6 at halftime. Olano struck again in the third quarter, connecting from 44 yards to give the Aggies a 9-7 lead and put the home crowd on edge.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Gamecocks. Malik Orsan’s 43 yard field goal with 8:14 left pushed South Carolina back in front 10-9, and Sellers sealed it with a 41 yard touchdown run inside the final 90 seconds. Sellers completed 20 of 31 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown and ran for 34 yards and the closing score, gutting through an ankle injury scare that included a strip sack and a trip for X-rays before he returned to finish the game.

Texas A&M had one last chance. Marcel Reed drove the Aggies to the South Carolina 10 in the final minute, but two incompletions ended the threat and the game. Rueben Owens ran for 137 yards for the Aggies, production that, like everything else in maroon on Saturday, stopped short of the end zone.

South Carolina improves to 6-3 and 4-3 in the SEC with a defensive performance that will travel anywhere. Texas A&M falls to 4-5 and 1-5 in the league, still searching for a way to turn yards into points.

Statement In Beaumont: No. 12 Lamar Knocks Off No. 2 Stephen F. Austin 45-28 In The FCS Game Of The Week

Published

19 minutes ago

November 8, 2026

Julie Isbell

Lamar quarterback Aiden McCown hands the ball off to running back Parker Jenkins against Stephen F. Austin at Provost Umphrey Stadium

Lamar quarterback Aiden McCown hands off to Parker Jenkins against Stephen F. Austin at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont. Photo by Julie Isbell.

This was the biggest game in the FCS this weekend, and it played like it. On Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, No. 12 Lamar beat No. 2 Stephen F. Austin 45-28 in the STATS Perform FCS Game of the Week, a showdown between the top two teams in the Southland Conference. The Cardinals never trailed, answered every Lumberjacks comeback, and pulled into a tie for first place in the Southland with two weeks left in the regular season. Photographer Julie Isbell was on the sideline for We Speak Media.

The Fast Start

Lamar opened the game like a team that had been waiting for it. Andres Sandoval kicked a 27 yard field goal, Aiden McCown found Davin Driskell for a 7 yard touchdown late in the first quarter, and Parker Jenkins added a 3 yard touchdown run in the second quarter to build a 17-0 lead. Stephen F. Austin finally answered just before halftime, when Gavin Rutherford hit Clayton Wayland for a 22 yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half.

Every Answer

*Stephen F. Austin quarterback Gavin Rutherford throws against Lamar. Photo by Julie Isbell.*

The second half turned into a heavyweight exchange. Stephen F. Austin cut the Lamar lead to three points three separate times, and every time the Cardinals answered with a touchdown of their own. Jenkins capped an eight play, 75 yard drive with a 13 yard touchdown run, and McCown connected with Driskell again to push the lead back to ten. The loudest moment came late: JT Kitna found Bugs Mortimer for a 71 yard touchdown that pulled the Lumberjacks within 31-28. On the next Lamar possession, McCown hit Blake Thomas for a 62 yard touchdown strike with 4:45 remaining to make it 38-28.

The Close

The defense finished it. Alexandre Dedieu strip sacked the quarterback on Stephen F. Austin’s next play and Lamar recovered, setting up Jenkins’ third rushing touchdown of the night, a 4 yard run that sealed the 45-28 final.

By The Numbers

*The Stephen F. Austin offense huddles its ground game against Lamar. Photo by Julie Isbell.*

McCown completed 17 of 29 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Jenkins carried 30 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns in a career night. Lamar rolled up 488 total yards, including 181 on the ground, scored on all five of its red zone trips, and held the ball for 12 minutes longer than the Lumberjacks. Stephen F. Austin turned the ball over four times, two fumbles and two interceptions, including picks by Bryce McDonald and Mar Mar Evans, and Lamar turned those mistakes into 17 points. For the Lumberjacks, Wayland caught nine passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Quarter by quarter: Lamar led 10-0 after the first, 17-7 at the half, and the teams traded 14 points each in the third before Lamar closed the fourth quarter 14-7.

What It Means

The loss is Stephen F. Austin’s first of the season, ending a 19 game regular season winning streak that was the longest active run across the FBS and FCS. The Lumberjacks fall to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Southland. Lamar improves to 8-2 and 6-1, and now owns the head to head tiebreaker in the race for the Southland’s automatic playoff bid. The Cardinals are home again on Saturday, November 14, hosting East Texas A&M, while Stephen F. Austin travels to UT Rio Grande Valley.