Aiden McCown throws for 3 TDs and Lamar defeats Abilene Christian 21-14 in opener

Beaumont, Texas (AP) — Quarterback Aiden McCown achieved a remarkable performance in the season opener for both Lamar and Abilene Christian, throwing three touchdown passes to help his team secure a 21-14 victory. Among his three touchdowns, two were successfully completed to wide receiver Davin Driskill. The Cardinals took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to McCown's 5-yard scoring pass to Driskill.

Their lead expanded to 14-7 in the final minute of the second quarter after McCown connected with Blake Thomas for a 33-yard touchdown. McCown further increased the Cardinals' lead to 21-7 in the beginning of the fourth quarter with another 5-yard touchdown pass to Driskill. However, Lamar's John David Black managed to close the gap, scoring a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cristian Driver with 3:12 remaining.

Despite Black's efforts, Abilene Christian fell short of the victory after driving the Lamar 10-yard line on their final possession. McCown finished the game with 17 completions out of 32 passes for 183 yards, while Black completed 11 passes out of 25 for 142 yards, including two touchdowns. Ranked 20th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, McCown showcased his skills for the Cardinals.

Black, a redshirt sophomore, entered the game in the second quarter after starter Tucker Parks was intercepted twice. This matchup was a rematch of last year's FCS playoff game, where Abilene Christian emerged victorious over Lamar 38-20. Looking ahead, Abilene Christian faces Texas Tech on Saturday, while Lamar will tackle Louisiana-Lafayette in a similar contest.