SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' football team fell 20-6 in the NCAA Division III Football playoffs to Trinity on Saturday afternoon in San Antonio.
 
Tucker Horn hit Ryan Merrifield on a pair of touchdown passes in the first half to give the Tigers are 14-0 lead at halftime. Horn hit Merrifield on third-down for a 15-yard touchdown with 6:52 to play in the first quarter.
 
The second touchdown came on a third-and-13 and Merrifield made a play in front of a couple of Cowboy defenders. Trinity was 6-for-8 on third-down in the first half.
 
HSU, down three starting offensive linemen including ASC offensive lineman of the year Miguel Valdez and first-team all-ASC tackle Bryce Hernandez, had trouble moving the ball against the veteran Tiger defense. HSU finished the day with -3 yards rushing and 186 yards of offense.
 
"They are really good defensively, that's why we had trouble getting going." said HSU head coach Jesse Burleson. "They had 10 seniors starters on that side of the ball and a lot of those guys were fifth year guys. Trinity played great and anything we didn't do today is 100 percent on me. I am responsible and we did not do enough things well enough to win the game in all three phases. That is on me, not my coaches, not my players that is on me. "  
 
The Cowboys had the ball inside the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter and the Tigers stopped them on downs. HSU was 3-for-11 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down.
 
Gaylon Glynn hit K.J. Peoples on a 3-yard touchdown pass with :44 to play to put the Cowboys on the board.
 
Cade Michna led the defense with 12 tackles. Glynn was 26-of-40 for 189 yards in the air in his final game as the Cowboy starter.
 
The Cowboys closed the season with a record of 9-2. Trinity moves to 10-1 on the year and will play top-ranked and defending national champion North Central next weekend.  
 
 
--- www.hsuathletics.com ---