STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State’s senior tailback Roderick Smith had four rushing touchdowns at halftime, aiding the Texans to a 45-16 victory over the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team in the 2009 season opener for both squads.

The Texans (1-0) finished the game with 245 yards rushing on 36 carries and limited the Gulf South Conference’s best rushing team in 2008, UAM (0-1), to only 82 yards on the ground on 39 carries.

Junior preseason All-GSC quarterback Scott Buisson was also shut down by the TSU defense, gaining only six yards on 14 attempts. Buisson was sacked three times for a loss of 31 yards. Through the air, the Metairie, La. native connected on 17 of 27 pass attempts for 176 yards, including one touchdown pass for 46 yards to senior Spenser Garrison with 9:20 left in the second half. That touchdown drive of three plays and 70 yards lasted only 59 seconds.

Down 14-7, UAM allowed Roderick Smith to score two more rushing touchdowns over the next five minutes to create a 28-7 lead for the Texans at halftime. Smith finished the game with 11 carries for 80 yards. His touchdown runs were from distances of 32, 13, 10 and two yards, all in the first half.

In the second half, TSU relied more on the passing game and had two touchdown tosses from junior Scott Grantham to increase its lead to 42-7 heading into the fourth and final quarter. Grantham finished the contest with eight completions on 14 attempts for 160 yards.

True freshman kicker Joe Lamoureux created the next score for the Weevils, connecting on a 22-yard field goal with 12:48 left in the game to cap off a 17-play, 87-yard drive that used 8:42.

Senior back-up quarterback Casey Cathcart added UAM’s other touchdown with a 39-yard touchdown pass to junior Nate Jones with 4:33 left in the game, ending a six-play, 80-yard drive, using 3:11. A failed two-point conversion left the Weevils with a game total of 16 points.

The Weevils have more than a week to prepare for their next opponent, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Last season, UAM upset the Golden Lions to open the season with a 21-7 victory. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 5 at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff. It is UAPB's season opener.