ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' football team opened American Southwest Conference play with a 53-29 win over Sul Ross State at Shelton Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Lobos struck first in the game when quarterback James Davis got free and ran 71 yards for a touchdown and the PAT was no good making it 6-0 four minutes into the contest. The Cowboys took the lead when Jaquan Hemphill scored from one yard out with 4:25 to play in the first quarter.

Sul Ross State struck again on the second play of its next drive when Davis again broke free on a quarterback run and went 75 yards for a touchdown and the Lobos converted a two-point play to make it 14-7. Weston Garner then scored on a 1-yard run with one second to play in the first quarter to make it 14-13 after Tyler Smith's PAT was no good.

The Cowboys took the lead on another short TD run by Hemphill but the Lobos answered with a 29 yard touchdown pass from Davis to Wesley Moss to make it 21-20. HSU retook the lead at 26-21 with :52 to play in the half on a four-yard pass from Garner to Hemphill.

The Lobos took the lead early in the third quarter when Davis hit Edgar Hinojosa on a 26-yard pass and Jeremy Reed caught a two-point conversion to make it 29-26.

It was all Cowboys after that. Alex Bell scored on a 25-yard pass from Garner and Devonte' Walker scored on an 18-yard pass from Garner to make it 39-29 with 1:56 to play in the third quarter.

Luke Bishop scored on a 34-yard run with 12:09 to play and Garner found Childress with a 5-yard touchdown with 7:14 to play to put the game away.

Garner, who was starting in place of injured starter Ryan Breton, completed 28-of-38 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Childress had 10 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.  Davis ran 14 times for 183 yards and threw for 187 yards and two more scores.

Josh White led the defense with nine tackles on the day and Cory Ward, Conlan Aguirre and Phillip Fuentes each had interceptions for the Cowboys. Jacob Castaneda led Sul Ross State with 11 tackles.

The Cowboys are now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in ASC play. Sul Ross State fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in league action. HSU will play at Louisiana College at 6 p.m. next Saturday.