Southland Conference Week 6 Rundown: Road Wins, Rising Programs, and Defensive Dominance

Southeastern Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin each stayed perfect in Southland Conference play with commanding road victories, while Lamar, East Texas A&M, and UTRGV also secured league wins in impressive fashion. Here’s a look back at all the action from Week 6.

RV/RV Stephen F. Austin 31, No. 20/RV Incarnate Word 17

Stephen F. Austin controlled the game from start to finish in its 31–17 road win over No. 20 Incarnate Word at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, marking the Lumberjacks’ fourth straight victory and a 2–0 start in conference play. Quarterback Sam Vidlak was outstanding, going 19-of-26 for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, SFA tallied six sacks for the second consecutive week, led by Victor Idusuyi II, who set a career high with 2.5 sacks and made a critical fourth-quarter stop on fourth down. Linebacker Jaydon Southard matched his career best with 16 tackles (12 solo), adding 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

RV Southeastern Louisiana 38, McNeese 0

Southeastern Louisiana (4–2, 2–0 SLC) overwhelmed McNeese early, racing to a 38–0 halftime lead and never looking back for a shutout win at Cowboy Stadium. The Lions outgained the Cowboys 418–189 and handed McNeese its first home shutout since 2016. The victory also gave Southeastern a 26–25 edge in the all-time series. KK Reno anchored the defense with 11 tackles, while Joshua Randall and Peyton Anderson each recorded a sack. Ian Conerly-Goodlyreturned an interception for a touchdown, and Khamron Ford added his second interception of the season. The defense limited McNeese to just 37 passing yards and 10 first downs.

No. 25/20 Lamar 24, Nicholls 17

Lamar opened and closed strong in its 24–17 win over Nicholls, improving to 4–1 overall and 1–0 in Southland play. Aiden McCown completed 12-of-22 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown, including an 85-yard scoring strike early in the game. The decisive moment came late in the fourth quarter when Kyndon Fuselier returned a punt 88 yards for the go-ahead touchdown — just two yards shy of a school record. It was Fuselier’s second straight season returning a punt for a touchdown against Nicholls, sealing Lamar’s fourth consecutive victory.

UTRGV 27, Houston Christian 7

In front of a sellout crowd of 12,903 at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium, UTRGV earned its first-ever Southland Conference home win, defeating Houston Christian 27–7. The Vaqueros (5–1, 1–1 SLC) continued their remarkable debut season, matching the best six-game start by a first-year FCS program since 2015. Quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger led the way with 131 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Defensively, UTRGV racked up six sacks. Freshman Jaiden Haygood had 11 tackles and a pass breakup, while Ian Box added a career-best 1.5 sacks.

East Texas A&M 40, Northwestern State 10

East Texas A&M (1–5, 1–1 SLC) broke through for its first win of the season in dominant fashion, rolling past Northwestern State 40–10. The Lions outgained the Demons 532–190 and allowed just 10 points — their fewest since 2023. KJ Shankle led the rushing attack with 93 yards, while EJ Oakmon added 75 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ron Peace threw for 268 yards and a score. On defense, Kyree Anderson was disruptive with 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble, while CJ Garnett added an interception.

Week 7 Southland Schedule