LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — Gavin Rutherford threw three touchdown passes to lead Stephen F. Austin to a 38-27 victory over McNeese State on Saturday at Navarre Stadium.

Rutherford completed 18 of 29 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns, also rushing nine times for 1 yard.

Stephen F. Austin (1-0) scored 10 in the first, 14 in the second and 14 in the third to build a 38-13 lead. McNeese State (0-1) answered with 14 in the fourth but couldn’t close the gap.

Devin Lippold completed 10 of 18 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown for McNeese State, adding 40 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Cowboys also got a 75-yard touchdown run from O. Wiggins in the third quarter, though the extra point was no good, and Elisha Edwards caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

SFA’s Jaiydyn Johnson had five tackles and a sack, Malachi Williams and Eli Ennis each had eight tackles.

McNeese State’s RJ Staten had seven tackles and a half-sack, Sean Dubose seven tackles and a quarterback hurry.