ABILENE, Texas  — Hardin-Simmons' football team knocked off No. 25 and previously unbeaten Texas Lutheran, 73-44 on Saturday afternoon at Shelton Stadium.

HSU took an early 25-6 lead and TLU eventually closed the game to 42-37, before HSU finished the game off with a 31-point fourth quarter.

TLU took the opening kickoff and drove to the HSU 8-yard line before the drive stalled and Tyler Brandenburg had to settle for a 25-yard field goal. HSU fumbled the ensuing kickoff and again the defense forced TLU into a field goal and Brandenberg was good from 30 yards out to make it 6-0.

The Cowboys then went 77 yards in eight plays to take the lead 7-6. Tevin Mitchell capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, the first of his four TDs on the day.

On TLU's next two possessions they both ended in the same fashion, with a snap over the punter out of the end zone for a safety. HSU led 11-6 with 5:11 to play in the first quarter. HSU took the next possession and Mitchell capped the drive with a 50-yard touchdown run to make it 18-6.

HSU forced another punt and HSU went 43 yards in six plays and Josh Christian hit Ty Fisher for a 23-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter.

TLU drove 52 yards in 10 plays the next series but had to settle for another Brandeburg field goal, this time from 40 yards out. HSU went 62 yards in four plays and Mitchell scored from 27 yards out to make it 32-9.

The Bulldogs scored on a Domonique Hardaway 75-yard touchdown run and Jessie Ramos returned the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth career TD on a kick return to set a new school record. It was his third kickoff return for a score this season.

TLU answered with a 1-yard TD run by Hardaway to make the score 39-23 at halftime.

HSU opened the second half with a 14-play 74-yard drive to start the second half and Mike Hursh capped it with a 25-yard field goal.   

TLU answered with a 12-play 68-yard drive and Brent Peavy scored from one yard out. Christian then was intercepted by Ty Johnson and he returned it 37 yards for a score and it was 42-37 with 4:48 to play in the third.

After that it was all Cowboys.

Christian hit Trei Lewis on a 74-yard touchdown and then Ryne Lewis intercepted a Peavy pass and returned it to the TLU 6. Mitchell scored on the next play. On the next series Jonathan Petty forced a fumble that Lewis recovered. HSU turned it into a 32-yard field goal by Hursh to make it 59-37.

Bryce Johnson scored on a 20-yard TD run after a TLU punt and then the Bulldogs scored on a 62-yard pass from Peavy to his twin brother Brent. HSU closed the scoring on a 2-yard TD run by Stehl Ratliff.  

HSU had 584 yards of total offense in the game and rushed for 297. Josh Christian threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchell rushed for 197 yards and four scores.

The Cowboy defense forced three turnovers and sacked Peavy eight times.

Jonathan Wilder had 10 tackles including two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and went over the 100 tackle mark for the season. Ryne Lewis had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered another fumble and intercepted a pass. Korey Zavala and JW Barnes each had two sacks for HSU.

Hardaway rushed for 130 yards and A.J. Saucedo had 103 rushing for TLU. Pevy had 250 yards passing. Cameron Peavy had seven catches for 128 yards.

HSU is now 4-5 on the year and TLU fell to 7-1. HSU will close the season next week against Louisiana College.