PLAINVIEW, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons' football team got in the win column on Saturday with a 37-23 win over Wayland Baptist in front of a homecoming crowd in Plainview.

HSU jumped on the board in the first quarter when Bryce Johnson scored on a 20-yard touchdown run with 8:00 to play in the first quarter. HSU forced a quick punt and then Weston Garner found Jimmie Simpson on a 69-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 5:10 to play in the first quarter.

WBU cut into the deficit with a 9-play 75-yard drive that resulted in an Evan Hearn 5-yard touchdown run with 1:36 to play in the first quarter.

Punter Nico Francino had a huge play for the Cowboys early in the second quarter when he fielded a snap that was over his head, fended off a defender and unleashed a 51-yard punt to the WBU 3. The Pioneers then drove the field and James Place laid a stick on Hearn at the three yard line and Ryne Lewis picked it up and raced 97 yards for a touchdown.

WBU made it 21-14 when Mikorban Fields scored on a 2-yard run capping a 65-yard drive, with :23 to play in the first half.

The Pioneers tied it in the third quarter on a Fields 1-yard touchdown run after a short punt. The Cowboys answered right back with a 75-yard 15-play drive to retake the lead 27-21 with 5:04 to play in the third. Kerry Sloan capped the drive with a 2-yard TD run.

Wayland recorded a safety when another punt went over Ryan Breton's head and out of the end zone with 12:53 to play.

WBU drove to the HSU 21 but the Cowboys came up with a fourth-down stop. HSU responded with a 10-play 55-yard drive that took 4:18 off the clock and ended in a 39-yard Francino field goal. Holder Garrett Martin made a great play getting the ball down after a low snap.

HSU forced another stop and Sloan added a 13-yard touchdown run.

Weston Garner completed 16-of-32 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. Johnson had 80 yards rushing and Sloan had 56 yards rushing for the Cowboys. Jessie Ramos had eight catches for 115 yards and Simpson had five catches for 105 yards. It was the Cowboys first 100-yard receiver in 12 games.

The Cowboy defense tied a school record with nine sacks in the game. Lewis tied the school record with four sacks of his own to go along with a team-best 11 tackles and the 97-yard fumble return. James Place had 10 tackles and Korey Zavala had nine stops with 1.5 sacks. Keaton Trinkle had a pair of interceptions.

 The Cowboys are 1-1 on the year and Wayland Baptist fell to 1-3. HSU will return home to face Langston next week at 1 p.m.

--- www.hsuathletics.com ---