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ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team
executed a last-minute drive for its second consecutive late-game
rally as they defeated Linfield (Ore.), 29-22, in front of 2,777
fans at Shelton Stadium on a muggy day in Abilene.
The Cowboys seemed to be in control of the game leading, 21-10
heading into the fourth quarter. However, Linfield scored 12
straight points to take a 22-21 lead with 4:57 to play.
Hardin-Simmons junior quarterback Justin Feaster calmly led the
Cowboys 80 yards in eight plays to take the lead 27-22, when Josh
Stephens capped off the run with a 2-yard run. Feaster found
Mycahal Carrillo in the end zone for the two-point conversion.
Linfield had 1:17 to mount a drive and after the kickoff went
out of bounds started the drive at their own 40-yard line. The
Cowboys however held for four downs to preserve the win.
HSU got on the scoreboard first in the game when Feaster capped
a 10-play, 56-yard drive with a 2-yard dive into the endzone Matt
Fields extra point made it 7-0 with 1:35 to play in the first
quarter.
Feaster then found his favorite target Mychal Carrillo on a
32-yard touchdown pass one play into the second quarter to make it
14-0. Anthony McKnight had given the Cowboys the ball back with a
big hit that caused a fumble and he recovered it.
Linfield got on the scoreboard to make it 14-7 when Simon Lason
capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive with 9:56 to play in the first
half with a 4-yard touchdown run.
HSU answered when Feaster laced a perfect 9-yard touchdown pass
between a pair of defenders to a sliding Carrillo with :38 to play
in the first half.
Both defenses played well in the third quarter as the Cowboys
had 60 yards and four first downs and Linfield had only 48 yards
and only one first down in the quarter. Linfield's Scot Birkhofer
kicked a 26-yard field goal with 5:19 to play in the third quarter
for the only points.
Linfield then took advantage of a strong north wind and the
shifty running of back-up Cole Franklin to score to touchdowns in
the fourth quarter. Travis Masters had the first at 10-11 to cut it
to a 21-16 game and then Franklin found Masters on a 9-yard pass to
give the Wildcats a 22-21 lead. The Cowboys stopped two-point tries
after each touchdown.
Carrillo had nine catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns and
Justice Baker caught four passes for 94 yards. Stephens had 73
yards on 18 carries in his first start for the Cowboys. Feaster was
19-for-27 for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Richard Carlisle led the HSU defensive unit with 13 tackles and
Matt Warnasch added 11. Tyler McCann had 12 tackles to lead
Linfield.
HSU has not committed a turnover in two games and has come up
with six opponent miscues.
The Cowboys are 2-0 on the year and both wins came against teams
they lost to last season. HSU opens conference play next Saturday
at Louisiana College at 6 p.m.
--- HSU ---
