Jackets seek homecoming victory, second ASC win against Austin College

October 13, 2023 at 7:45 am Derrick Stuckly

The Howard Payne (4-1, 1-1) defense yields just 13 points and 286 yards per game, with 17 takeaways, heading into Saturday’s contest

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The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets will attempt to secure a second consecutive American Southwest Conference victory at 2 p.m. Saturday as the Austin College Kangaroos invade Gordon Wood Stadium on homecoming weekend.

“We’re excited about the game and a lot of exes coming to see what we’re about,” said HPU first-year head coach Kevin Bachtel. “Some of them haven’t seen us play all year so we’re excited because we have a good football team. We need to put everything together and keep rolling, and we’re bumping things back an hour so we’ll see how we handle that, but they’ve handle things pretty well all year. But we’re excited for the environment that’s going to happen on Saturday.”

Howard Payne (4-1, 1-1) is coming off a 28-14 home victory over East Texas Baptist, while Austin College (1-4, 0-2) was dealt a 49-7 defeat by Sul Ross last week.

Reflecting on last week’s win, Bachtel said, “We started off really strong but then I felt like we had a lull at the end of the second quarter and into the third. They started pressing us a little bit so we found a way to pick it back up. We didn’t play as crisp as I wanted us to play at this time of year, but sometimes that happens.”

The Yellow Jackets are averaging 41 points and 488 yards – 363 passing and 125 rushing – per contest, with just four turnovers.

ASC Offensive Player of the Week Landon McKinney (88 of 153 for 1,249 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs) is coming off a four-touchdown performance last week, while leading receiving threats include Gus Charles (29-544, 6 TDs), Jordan Carroll (23-357, 5 TDs), Deon Collins (15-204, 4 TDs), and Samuel Sims (13-184). Weapons out of the backfield for the Yellow Jackets include Javian Myles (317 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 14-127, TD receiving), Reece Rodgers (166 rushing yards, TD; 15-98 receiving), and Blessing Ngene (89 rushing yards, 3 TDs).

HPU’s defense is surrendering a mere 13 points and 286 yards – 200 through the air and only 86 on the ground – per outing, with 17 takeaways.

Standouts include ASC Defensive Player of the Week KJ Kelley (43 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 5 interceptions), who picked off two passes last week, along with Jessie Paris (33 tackles, 4.5 for loss), KD Bookman (24 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Jacob Korrodi (23 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception), KC Cornelius (20 tackles, 1 interception), and Peyton Lowe (19 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 sack).

“We’ve talked all week about the middle eight and that’s the last four minutes of the second quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter,” Bachtel said. “We’ve started pretty decent every game, but it seems like the first part of the third quarter we haven’t really put that together in any game. I want to see that moving forward and there’s a point of emphasis on that.”

Austin College heads to Brownwood averaging just 14 points and 273 yards – 172 through the air and 101 on the ground – per game, with eight turnovers.

Peyton Keily (33 of 69 for 535 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 92 rushing yards, TD) and Jaylon Talton (28 of 59 for 323 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 35 rushing yards) have shared time at quarterback, while top rushers include Christian Johnson (170 rushing yards, TD) and Ben Meraz (151 rushing yards). Receiving weapons for the Kangaroos are Colin Mushinksi (15-191), Dakota Lowery (13-230, 2 TDs), and Grant Yudizky (12-183, TD).

“Offensively they run some triple option stuff so thank goodness for us they’re back to running a more conventional offense to what you see in today’s game,” Bachtel said. “They run a lot of 12 personnel and some 10 and 11 personnel. They’re pretty good up front but skill wise I think we’re a little bit better than them and have the edge on that.”

The Kangaroo defense is giving up 29 points and 367 yards – 275 passing and 92 rushing – per outing, with three takeaways.

Leading the charge are Colton Gerken (48 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2 interceptions), Jarrett Pleasant (36 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 interception), Brady Dygert (27 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 interception), Jeremiah Contreras (22 tackles), and Eliel Sandoval (22 tackles).

“Defensively, they’re going to try and stop the run,” Bachtel said. “They’re going to pack the box and make you try and throw the ball and that doesn’t bother us a ton. That’s their mantra this year. They try and keep it pretty simple on both sides of the ball and try and shorten the game a little bit.”

HPU’s +13 turnover margin is among the best in the nation, and a key ingredient in the team’s successful start.

“It’s been phenomenal,” Bachtel said. “We work hard on turnovers defensively and we work hard on ball security offensively and I feel like that’s paid off for us. We’re halfway through the season and in the last half we need to continue to be productive in getting turnovers and securing the ball, no matter who we play. That’s been a huge factor.”