UTRGV junior wide receiver Jayden Smith catches the pass in the air Saturday, during the game against Southeastern Louisiana Lions at the Robert and Janet Vakar Stadium in Edinburg. Smith’s catch put up a 13-3 score to end the night with a victory. Adrian Hernandez/ THE RIDER
UTRGV Football maintained the home winning streak against Southeastern Louisiana University 13-3 on Saturday at the Robert & Vackar Stadium.
The Vaqueros “Valley voodoo” referenced a few weeks ago by head coach Travis Bush struck again with the team earning their first-ranked win in program history.
Bush said the home advantage crowd is a powerful force, with it being an excitement that “you could feel in the game.”
“It got loud in there, you know everybody is screaming on the 3rd down, and trying to be loud while our defense is on the field,” he said. “You could tell everybody was into it, you could feel the excitement in our plays.”
With the first half closing, senior kicker Brysen Gardner kicked off a 51-yard late field goal leading into half time, adding 3-0 onto the scoreboard.
Later in the third quarter, Southeastern Lion sophomore kicker Drew Talley scored a 36-yard field goal leaving the quarter with 3-3.
Junior linebacker Jaiden Haygood took what turned into a game-stealing interception at the end zone during the fourth quarter with UTRGV keeping a 6-3 lead. This marked his second interception of the season, which rallied the Vaquero crowd enough to put the confidence in the team to seal the game.
Following this drive, junior quarterback Aidan Jakobsohn threw a late pass to junior wide receiver Jaydon Smith for a 16-yard touchdown.
To end the night, fifth-year defensive back TJ Neal found his second interception of the game during Southeastern’s final drive, which led to a career breaking 51-yard return.
Jakobsohn held a 23 of 27 with a career-high of 244 passing yards. He marked one touchdown and one interception during the game.
Also in the offense, Smith netted 70 receiving yards and one touchdown, and junior running back Brennan Carroll also gained 48 rushing yards.
Smith totaled six catches for 70-yards, with a touchdown to close the night. Senior wide receiver Braden Baize had five catches and 52-yards, a career-high for both players.
Beginning the fourth quarter Gardner scored a 36-yard field goal, securing his second complete field goal of the game.
The Vaqueros will take on the University of the Incarnate Word Oct. 17 in San Antonio.
