Life University and Lindenwood both won convincingly in Mid-South action this weekend to take a big initial step forward in conference play.

Life defeated Arkansas State 67-5, and Lindenwood took down Clemson 62-10.

While this was the first conference game of the season for Life against Arkansas State, ASU had played, and beaten, Davenport in the fall. Likewise, Lindenwood was taking the team's first conference run-out for the season, but against Clemson, who had played, and lost to, Davenport in the fall.

Life's support play at the breakdown was superb, and the Running Eagles punished Arkansas State mistakes repeatedly, usually sending two or three players to support any breakaway.

Duncan van Schalkwyk slotted an early penalty for Life, and then converted Austin White. Van Schalkwyk then blocked a kick that allowed Keegan Sparks to score, and that made it an early 17-0.

Brian Muntanga thundered over after a long period of Life pressure, and Sebastian Banos capped off a 31-5 first half for Life. 

Harley Wheeler and Daemon Torres scored early and then Muntanga got his second. Life's scrum was clicking nicely and a big drive near the ASU line forced a penalty try, and then Sean Coughling capped off the scoring 67-5. It was a somewhat surprising result in that these two teams are usually very close, but the Running Eagles were executing much better than the Red Wolves.

Lindenwood got a hat trick from Sam Chapman to pace the Lions to a dominant performance over the Tigers of Clemson.

That moves Life and Lindenwood to 1-0 in the Mid-South. Davenport leads with a 1-1 record thanks to more bonus points.

Link To All Mid-South Scores And Standings