JACKSON, Miss. – Hardin-Simmons' eighth-ranked football team moved to 8-1 with a 61-13 win over Belhaven in American Southwest Conference action, Saturday afternoon at the Belhaven Bowl in Jackson, Miss.

The Cowboy defense came up big forcing four turnovers and recording four sacks and holding the Blazers to 136 yards. Dedrick Strambler had a pair of interceptions.

HSU had a pair of 91-yard drives on its first to drives to take an early 14-0 lead. Ty Hooper hit Bryson Hammonds on a 20-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive and he hit Kevi Evans on a 26-yard touchdown later in the first quarter when Evans made a leaping catch and run.

After the Evans touchdown, Strambler picked off Hunter McEachern and returned it 55 yards to the 10-yard line and Hooper hit Evans on a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0 with 1:27 to play in the first quarter.

Belhaven went three and out again and the Cowboys went 56 yards in 10 plays and Reese Childress scored on a direct snap. HSU then came up with a safety when Anthony Franklin had a strip sack in the end zone and Belhaven recovered it for the safety.

HSU drove after the safety free kick went out of bounds and went 50 yards in five plays with Kavan Johnson capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Belhaven got on the board late in the first half when Garrett Osborne picked off Hooper and returned it for a touchdown/ There was a block in the back on the return and BU took over at the HSU 20 and eventually scored on a 2-yard pass from McEachern to Brad Foley on fourth down.

Hammonds scored on the first play the Cowboys had the ball in the second half on a 62-yard run. Johnny Morales added a 6-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter to make it 51-7.

Gabriel Wilson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for Belhaven and Jamie Pogue added a 21-yard field goal for HSU.

The scoring was capped in the fourth quarter when Quay Stokes hit Evans for a 23-yard touchdown.

Hooper was 14-for-28 for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Hammonds ran for 175 yards and a touchdown and had a receiving touchdown. Evans had five catches for 92 yards and the three touchdowns.

Hunter Creasey had seven tackles to lead the defense and Kyle Zavala added five tackles and a sack.  

The Cowboys are 8-1 on the year and 7-1 in ASC action. Belhaven fell to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in league play. HSU will play McMurry for the Wilford Moore Trophy next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Shelton Stadium.  

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