Boxscore

PINEVILLE, La. -  Hardin-Simmons went into the fourth quarter tied with Louisiana College, but the Cowboys executed for 16 points in the fourth quarter and held on for a 36-28 American Southwest Conference win Saturday night at Bates Stadium in Pineville.

HSU retook the lead with 13:59 to go in the game. Justin Feaster found Justice Baker on a broken play on a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys came right back and forced a punt from Louisiana College. HSU drove it inside the 10-yard line, but settled for Matt Fields' third field goal of the game, this time from 25 yards out with 8:54 to play to make it 30-20.  

The Cowboy defense came up big again when Anthony McKnight intercepted a pass on the next possession. It is his third straight game with a forced turnover. He also recovered a fumble earlier in the game. The Cowboys then milked 4:21 off the clock and drove 48 yards in eight plays. Feaster did the honors from 1-yard out with 3:21 to play to make it 36-20.

LC came back quickly to make it 36-28 Jordan Rideaux scored from Lewis on a 19-yard pass. The two-point conversion was made at the 2:08 mark. HSU recovered an onsides kick attempt by LC.

The Cowboys had two chances to take control of the game in the third quarter, but had to settle for field goals.

Baker had two long plays in a 9-play, 49-yard-drive that stalled on the Cowboys' second possession of the second half. Fields put the Cowboys ahead with a career-best 37-yard field goal at the 8:37 mark, 17-14.

On the ensuing possession, the Cowboys stripped a ball out and recovered a fumble and HSU again drove it inside the 10-yard line, before bogging down. Fields hit a 24-yard field goal to make it 20-14 with 6:16 to play in the third.

Louisiana College made the Cowboys pay with a 70-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the next possession as Lewis found Preston.  However, the Wildcats John MIchiels missed the extra point to keep the game tied at 20-20 with 5:59 to play in the third quarter.

Louisiana College got on the board first when Derek Lewis hit Marcus Preston on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The score capped a 6-play, 69-yard drive.

The Cowboys came back and drove 70 yards in seven plays to tie the game at 7-7. Justin Feaster capped the drive with a 1-yard sneak. LC scored :36 seconds later when Lewis hit Jordan Rideaux on a 20-yard touchdown pass.

HSU tied the game with 5:14 to play in the first half at 14 when Josh Stephens scored on a 4-yard pass from Feaster. It capped a 24-yard drive after a Ricky Poe interception.

Josh Stephens had his first career 100-yard game with 135 yards on 20 carries. Justice Baker and Mychal Carrillo each went over the 100-yard mark in receiving, Baker had seven catches for 138 yards and Carrillo had nine catches for 123 yards and Feaster had his fifth career 300-yard passing effort with 358 yards.  HSU had 581 yards of offense and ran 91 plays in the game.

The Cowboys (3-0, 1-0) will return home to play Mississippi College at 2 p.m. on Saturday. LC fell to 2-1, 0-1.