The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets will attempt to keep their flawless record intact as they play their second consecutive home game at 1 p.m. Saturday, welcoming the Lyon College Scots to Gordon Wood Stadium in their final outing prior to the start of the American Southwest Conference schedule.

Lyon College, an NCAA Division III program and member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference located in Batesville, Arkansas, is off to a 1-1 start as the Scots defeated Grinnell College, 18-12, in their season opener and lost to Belhaven University, 48-15, last week. The Scots are in the midst of their first season at the NCAA Division III level after competing in the NAIA ranks previously.

Howard Payne is coming off a 42-10 triumph over Southwestern Assemblies of God as the Yellow Jackets finished with 358 yards of total offense – 255 passing and 103 rushing – despite the loss of quarterback Landon McKinney, while the defense surrendered 281 yards – 197 through the air and 84 the ground – with four takeaways.

“I thought we were really physical last week on both sides of the ball,” said HPU first-year head coach Kevin Bachtel. “We were good on special teams again, we were 6 of 6 on extra points which is big for us. Our rush defense was unbelievable again. We strive to stop the run but I can’t explain 17 yards and then 84 yards rushing allowed in college football. Our guys fly around and tackle extremely well. The offense got clicking. They took Jordan (Carroll) away a little bit and we obviously showed we have weapons everywhere. I was really proud of how we overcame Landon (McKinney) being out. Tucker (Bridwell) came in and once he settled in we just rolled.”

Bachtel did not reveal which quarterback would start Saturday, but Bridwell connected on 11 of 22 passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns – two to Gus Charles who grabbed four passes for 86 yards, and two to Deon Collins who finished with three receptions for 52 yards. Javian Myles added a 27-yard touchdown catch and a 27-yard touchdown run and tallied a team-best 82 yards on the ground.

Regarding the depth displayed in the passing attack, Bachtel said, “It’s huge. The difference is in the past we rotated so many receivers, but (offensive coordinator) Coach (Brad) Wilson isn’t as big on rotating as many receivers so you don’t see as many people getting catches, but we were playing guys late that are really good football players. I don’t think people see that as much, but we have some depth at receiver and some big, young kids that are really talented.”

Defensively, Bachtel said of last week’s four-interception effort, “I’m going to be honest, I was really worried about our secondary coming in graduating four out of the five, but these guys – all but one – have been in our system so they understand what we’re doing and are playing exceptionally well. And then we have the transfer safety (KJ Kelley) who is everything I thought he was when we recruited him. They’re seeing things as well as any group that we’ve had.”

Through two games, the Yellow Jackets are generating 29.5 points and 412 yards – 313.5 passing and 98.5 rushing – per contest, with just two turnovers. McKinney (39 of 68 for 456 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions) started the season opener and played just over a quarter of the second game before giving way to Bridwell (12 of 23 for 165 yards with four touchdowns).

The rushing attack has been sparked by Myles (136 yards, TD), Brownwood grad Reece Rodgers (61 yards), and Blessing Ngene (34 yards, TD), while primary receiving threats include Charles (12-163, 2 TDs), Myles (11-96, TD), Carroll (9-126, TD), Samuel Sims (7-83), Rodgers (5-45), and Collins (4-72, 2 TDs).

Howard Payne’s defense surrenders just 6.5 points and 303.5 yards – 253 through the air and 50.5 on the ground – per outing, with seven takeaways, including five interceptions.

Leading the charge defensively are KJ Kelley (18 tackles, 2 interceptions), Jessie Paris (14 tackles, 1.5 for loss), KD Bookman (12 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Kale Shaw (11 tackles, 1 for loss), Peyton Lowe (10 tackles), and KC Cornelius (8 tackles, 1 interception).

Lyon College enters the contest averaging just 16.5 points and 279.5 yards – 225 through the air and 54.5 on the ground – per contest. Quarterback Brady Miller has thrown for 441 yards and three touchdowns while leading receivers include Reginald Brown II (10-153) and Karson Douglas (7-150, 3 TDs). Top ground gainers are Kamron Turner (41 yards), Jaylin Babers (33 yards), and Aedan Huntsman (33 yards).

“Offensively they’re going to play two quarterbacks,” Bachtel said. “They’re going to be a zone read, counter read team so this week we have to account for the quarterback as well. Their passing game, they have three pretty good receivers that can put you in a bind. They’re a little bit unorthodox in some of the things they do, like presenting some false reads for the backers, so we’re going to have really hone in on what their attack is early. We have a good understanding of what they’re trying to do, but how are they going to attack us?”

The Scots defense is allowing 30 points and 376 yards – 226 rushing and 150 passing – per contest, with two takeaways. Standouts include William Litton (19 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Jerrold Clear (16 tackles, 2 for loss), Micah Morrison (14 tackles, 1.5 for loss), Nate Sarver (14 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Michael Wingo (13 tackles, 1 for loss), John Stockton (11 tackles), Slayton Wheeler (9 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), and Keidrick Wooten (9 tackles, 2.5 for loss).

“Defensively, they run multiple fronts with multiple looks,” Bachtel said. “They’re going to bring four and five a lot of times. In the secondary, they want to keep things in front of them so they run a lot of cover three and try and make you earn the big play. Keep everything in front of you, take away the big play, and make you earn it all the way is their philosophy.”

As for the keys to emerging with a third straight victory, Bachtel said, “Our word of the week is work ethic. We’ve been displaced every day this week because of the rain, so how are we working through all that and how are we going to handle that on Saturday? During the week it’s about Lyon College, but on Saturday it’s about us. Can we outwork Lyon College on Saturday, that’s what I want to see, and if we do I think we’ll be OK.”