Oct. 20, 2007

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - For the first time since 1991, Hardin-Simmons has lost four games in a season as the Cowboys lost 48-47 in overtime to previously winless Howard Payne in Homecoming action Saturday afternoon at Shelton Stadium.

The game ruined a big offensive day for the Cowboys as Justin Feaster completed 21-of-28 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns and Quinton Jones ran 22 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns and Mychal Carrillo had 10 catches for 126 yards. HSU had 502 yards of total offense.

The game was back and forth throughout. HPU scored on a Zack Howard 46-yard run in the first minute of the game. HSU responded on the first play with a 39 yard touchdown pass from Feaster to Justice Baker. HSU then got a stop and scored in three plays as Carrillo scored on a 27-yard pass from Feaster, at the 10:21 mark of the first quarter.

Howard scored again on a 2-yard run at the 12:38 mark of the second quarter. Quinton Jones then had a pair of touchdown runs for the Cowboys from four and 14 yards. The second made it 27-14 with 2:36 to play in the half as Colt Williamson's point after touchdown was no good. HPU struck right back on a 22-yard pass from Jason Lovvorn to Jordan Beard with :57 to play in the first half to make it 27-21 at halftime.

Howard Payne won the opening kickoff and deferred to the second half. HSU elected to kick with the wind in the first quarter. HPU then took the ball again in the second half and also had the wind in the fourth quarter.

HPU took the lead at 28-27 when Lovorron and Beard hooked up from 35 yards out to cap a six-play 71-yard drive. HSU came right back and scored on the first play when Quinton Jones busted off a 59-yard touchdown run, his third of the game a 2-point PAT pass was knocked away and HSU led 33-28 with 2:11 to play in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter Howard scored his third touchdown of the game with a 26-yard run, the PAT run failed and HPU led 34-33. HSU came right back with a 12-play 80-yard drive that lasted 6:00 and Feaster capped it with a 1-yard quarterback sneak and a 2-point pass to Travis Watson gave the Cowboys a 41-34 lead with 8:51 to play.

HPU came right back with a 11-play 74-yard drive that Nice Sellers capped with a 25-yard touchdown reception from Lovvorn to tie the game at 41. The game went to overtime and HPU won the toss and elected to play defense. On HSU's first play Fesater found Watson on a 25-yard touchdown pass, but Williamson missed the PAT. HPU ran into Williamson and he had another shot to knock it through but again missed wide right. HPU scored on the second play on a Howard 3-yard run.

The win was the first in the series for Howard Payne since 2002. HSU has now lost four games in a season for the first time since 1991, when the Cowboys went 5-5 in the second year of the Jimmie Keeling era.

Lovvorn completed 29-of-43 passes for 349 yards and Howard had 117 yards and four TDs. HSU linebacker Eric Daniels had a career-best 16 tackles in the game.

Jones moved to second all-time on the rushing touchdown list with 27 and he is nearing third on the career rushing charts.

HSU is 3-4 on the year and 3-2 in league play. Howard Payne is 1-6 overall and 1-4 in conference action. HSU plays at Sul Ross State next week.