Rutherford tosses 3 TDs, and Stephen F. Austin beats McNeese 38-27

Gavin Rutherford delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 302 yards and three touchdowns, as Stephen F. Austin defeated McNeese 38-27 in their season and Southland Conference opener on Saturday. The game marked the first annual payment for both teams. Rutherford completed 18 of 29 passes, connecting with Bugs Mortimer, Clayton Wayland, and Stetson Sarratt on the scoring attempts.

Mortimer caught two passes for 72 yards, while Wayland amassed 45 receiving yards, and Sarratt contributed 43 receiving yards. Stephen F. Austin, entering the game ranked No. 13 in the FCS Stats Perform Top 25, overcame an early 7-0 deficit to score 24 unanswered points. Jaylen Jenkins scored on a 1-yard run and returned a Jake Strong interception for another touchdown, leading the team to a 24-7 halftime lead.

Rutherford extended the lead in the third quarter with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Wayland and followed it up with a 33-yard strike to Sarratt, pushing the score to 38-13. McNeese managed to score twice in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to narrow the gap. Omiri Wiggins rushed for 126 yards on 12 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown, while Jenkins led Stephen F. Austin with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.