Box Score WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons rushed for 387 yards and held Nelson to just 137 total yards in a dominating 52-0 non-conference victory Saturday afternoon at Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie.
The Cowboys controlled the game from the opening possession and never let Nelson cross the goal line, thanks to a balanced rushing attack and a defense that produced five sacks and an interception.
Hardin-Simmons scored on its opening drive when
Cayden Jones capped a march with a 3-yard touchdown run and
Pedro Altamirano added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Altamirano later connected on field goals from 32, 35 and 22 yards as the Cowboys built a 24-0 halftime advantage.
Jones added his second touchdown on a 1-yard run late in the second quarter.
Kaden Turner found Altamirano for the successful two-point conversion to extend the lead to 21-0 before Altamirano's third field goal just before halftime.
The Cowboys continued to dominate after intermission. Quarterback
Ty Thompson scored on a 4-yard keeper early in the third quarter before
Guy Powell added an 11-yard touchdown run later in the period.
Keagan Ables scored from four yards out in the fourth quarter and
Tory Brooks broke free on a 42-yard touchdown run with 1:49 remaining to complete the scoring.
Hardin-Simmons outgained Nelson 559-137, recorded 27 first downs to Nelson's 11 and held the ball for more than 40 minutes. The Cowboys averaged 7.2 yards per rushing attempt and converted 9 of 14 third-down opportunities.
Jerrion Hall led the rushing attack with 83 yards on six carries, while Jones added 78 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. Terrance Scott rushed for 62 yards, Powell finished with 58 yards and a touchdown, and Thompson added 50 rushing yards to go with his touchdown score.
Through the air, Thompson completed 9 of 27 passes for 172 yards.
Harison Brockway paced the receiving corps with three catches for 88 yards.
The Hardin-Simmons defense was equally impressive.
Keyon House collected a team-high eight tackles, while
Chuks Ikwuemesi recorded two sacks. The Cowboys finished with five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
Phillip Meyers added an interception as HSU pitched its second shutout of the season.
Nelson quarterbacks Judah Holtzclaw and Elijah Bowman combined to complete 28 of 47 passes for 114 yards, but the Lions were limited to just 23 net rushing yards and failed to score despite 67 offensive plays.
Altamirano tied both the single-season and career field-goal records for HSU, with 11 makes this year and 21 in his career.
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