HPU (2-7, 0-5) has yet to find the win column in conference play as facing Mary Hardin-Baylor (5-3, 3-2), East Texas Baptist (5-3, 2-3) and No. 3 Hardin-Simmons (9-0, 5-0) more than once has proved to be a daunting challenge.
“Our conference is really good top to bottom, and we knew that, but as you play them again, people get better,” Bachtel said. “We’re not bad, but our record doesn’t show that. It’s just a different preparation. Everyone does something different the second time you play them, so it’s hard to game plan for that. We’ve made adjustments at the beginning of every game for the teams we played twice, and so have they”
The Yellow Jackets are coming off 38-17 loss at home to East Texas Baptist last week, a game in which HPU gave up the first three touchdowns, trailed 21-3 at halftime, and didn’t reach the end zone until the fourth quarter.
“We were down 21-0 and then we started playing,” Bachtel said. “I thought we played well defensively most of the game, at the end we gave up some things, but you can’t turn the ball over and we did. At the end we gained some momentum and got back within 14, kicked an unbelievable onside kick but it was just too far. The guys played hard and never gave up, but we’ve got to be better early in games and not turn the ball over.”
In the first meeting between Howard Payne and Mary Hardin-Baylor – the Yellow Jackets’ homecoming game – UMHB cruised to a 41-0 victory as HPU managed just 186 yards, committed three turnovers and the Cru collected a pair of safeties to go along with their 484 yards of total offense.
“We were also in a hole that first game with UMHB immediately,” Bachtel said. “We’ve done that the last two times we’ve played them, started off down in a hole, then we start playing a little bit. We have to try and find a way to move the ball and slow the game down. We’re beat up on offense so we’re going to try and get the ball to some playmakers and see what we can do, and hopefully play great defense and be solid on special teams.”
Entering the season finale, the Yellow Jackets are generating 21 points and 338 yards – 273 passing and 65 rushing – per game, with 18 turnovers.
The offense is led by quarterback Zy Gravitt (141 of 254 for 2,095 yards, 15 TDs, 11 INTs) and receivers Gus Charles (50-914, 5 TDs) – the reigning ASC Offensive Player of the Week – Jackson Meller (17-332, 3 TDs), Ellis Myers (13-192, 2 TDs), Kristopher Creel (13-180), Mateo Hernandez (12-220, TD), and Kylderion Campbell (10-121, 2 TDs). Leading rushers include Ngene Blessing (268 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Kiante Stoker (220 rushing yards, 3 TDs).
HPU’s defense is surrendering 35 points and 398 yards – 228 passing and 170 rushing – per contest, with 11 takeaways.
Standouts include Kale Shaw (63 tackles, 2.5 for loss), Jacob Korrodi (51 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions), Peyton Lowe (46 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), and KC Cornelius (43 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 interception).
UMHB heads into the contest averaging 28 points and 368 yards – 212 passing and 156 rushing – per outing, with 19 turnovers.
Jake Wright (879 passing yards, 6 TDs, 4 INTs) took over the reins at quarterback midway through the season, while primary receiving threats include TJ Rope (23-237, TD), Jerry Cephus (15-261, TD), Christopher Gacayan (13-188, 3 TDs), AJ Williams (11-220, 2 TDs), and Jerry Day (11-137). Leading rushers are Kamerin Ferguson (462 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Asa Osbourn (326 rushing yards, TD), and Daunte Blake (208 rushing yards, 3 TDs).
Defensively, the Cru allows 21 points and 315 yards – 211 passing and 104 rushing – per game, with 21 takeaways
Leading the charge are Durand Hill (59 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries), Da’Marion Morris (41 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 2 interceptions), Gavin Brzezinski (30 tackles, 1 interception), Joey Johnson (27 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Samuel Steffe (27 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception), and Mason Cavness (23 tackles, 6 for loss).
Reflecting on the 2024 campaign heading into the final game, Bachtel said, “I’m really not happy with our win-loss record, but I feel like our team has come together and will play hard. It’s hard to play a double round robin, but I don’t know if there’s a future in site where that changes. We’ll play for our seniors this last game, then jump into recruiting, but we’ll have to get better going forward and that’s the key.”
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|
American Southwest Conference |
Conference Wins |
Conference Losses |
Overall Wins |
Overall Losses |
|
Hardin-Simmons |
5 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
|
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
|
East Texas Baptist |
2 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
|
Howard Payne |
0 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
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Nov. 16 Games
Howard Payne at Mary Hardin-Baylor
Hardin-Simmons at East Texas Baptist
—
Nov. 9 Games
East Texas Baptist 31, Howard Payne 10
Hardin-Simmons 27, Mary Hardin-Baylor 19