The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets will attempt to end a three-game skid and conclude their first winning campaign since 2005 on a positive note as they welcome the Austin College Kangaroos to Gordon Wood Stadium for Saturday’s 1 p.m. American Southwest Conference and season finale.

“Knowing that the season is coming to an end and there’s not a likelihood of moving on, you always want to try and end that season with a win,” said HPU first-year head coach Jason Bachtel. “It sets you up for success going into the offseason and it sets a positive tone for what we’re trying to build on. A 7-3 record and a 6-4 record are so different. It’s a huge difference, and some people say it’s only one game, but it’s winning 70 percent or 60 percent. We definitely want to win this one because it sets you up for the future.”

Howard Payne (6-3, 5-3) is coming off a 59-14 loss to No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor, a game in which the Yellow Jackets tallied the first two touchdowns before a strong finish by the reigning American Southwest Conference champions.

“We knew that we had some stuff offensively where we were going to take some shots early and either hit them big or fail miserably, and we hit them big,” Bachtel said. “Defensively, we played really well for the first two or three drives and we had all the momentum in the game. What you saw, I feel, is a Mary Hardin-Baylor team that thought we were the old Howard Payne and our kids came out with the thought that we were going to go in and fight our tails off. We were up 14-0 but you felt the shift in the game when you saw their sideline reacting negatively and getting fired up ready to go and you saw our sideline kind of relax. At that point, we did some good things offensively and defensively, but it wasn’t enough to sustain the 14-0 lead, and Mary Hardin-Baylor showed they are the No. 2 team in the nation for a reason.”

Austin College (1-7, 1-7) carries a six-game losing streak into Saturday’s season finale and the Kangaroos are a bit of mystery to prepare for, according to Bachtel.

“What concerns us the most is they are so multiple,” Bachtel said. “We haven’t really got a good feel for who it is or why it is, but multiple formations, multiple offenses, and then defensively it’s multiple fronts. Pretty much the only thing that stays the same is their secondary coverages. They give you so many different looks that it’s hard to prepare for all of it adequately. We don’t know if it’s a matter of who it is they play, or different fronts they see, so that’s been hard to prepare for.”

The Kangaroos generate just 14 points and 250 yards – 138 passing and 112 rushing – with eight turnovers. Defensively Austin College gives up 41 points and 453 yards – 235 through the air and 218 on the ground – with five takeaways.

Quarterback Tyler James has thrown for 1,104 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Aaron Rideaux (36-459, 4 TDs), Xavier Maxwell (29-189, TD), Kennon Magers (13-81, TD) and Maurice Reed (10-86) are the top receivers. On the ground, Devon Rideaux (426 yards, 2 TDs) and James (133 yards, 2 TDs) lead the charge.

Defensively for Austin College, top tacklers are Jarrett Pleasant (48 tackles), Grady Harper (43 tackles, 2 for loss), Rylan Ritch (34 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 FR), Richard Johnson (32 tackles, 1.5 for loss), Colton Gerken (31 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), and Jarius Williams (30 tackles).

The Yellow Jackets counter with an offense that averages 36 points and 478 yards – 328 passing and 150 rushing – per game, with 18 turnovers.

Quarterback Landon McKinney has connected on 142 of 247 passes for 2,443 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Nick Infante has completed 29 of 48 passes for 413 yards with four scoring tosses and three picks.

Primary receiving threats include Jake Parker (45-951, 11 TDs), Otis Lanier (42-667, 7 TDs), Selah Smith (12-184, 2 TDs), Hunter Cheek (11-148, 2 TDs), Tyler Vann (10-110), and Javonte Russell (9-98, TD).

Tauren Bradley (499 yards, TD), Stephen Willis (326 yards), Derrick Berry (165, 2 TDs), McKinney (96 yards, 3 TDs) and Parker (90 yards, TD) are the top ground gainers.

Defensively, Howard Payne allows 31 points and 418 yards – 247 through the air and 171 on the ground – per outing, with 15 takeaways.

Standouts include Dai’Shawn Fisher (60 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 FR), Kyle Bell (58 tackles, 1 INT), Peyton Lowe (54 tackles, 10 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 FRs), James Jakubowski (50 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 FR), Aaron Alderete (38 tackles, 2 for loss, 1.5 sacks), Jarett Brown (38 tackles, 1 for loss), and Carson Padilla (37 tackles, 5 for loss, 2.5 sacks).

Regarding the keys to a season-ending win for the Jackets, Bachtel said, “I want to see four quarters. I want to see us be consistent in all phases of the ball game. We have to eliminate turnovers and we have to create turnovers, and that’s been a constant over the last three ball games. Nobody has turned the ball over to us like we have to them. And we’ve also given up big special teams plays where we haven’t had those plays.”

American Southwest Conference		Conference Wins	Conference Losses	Overall Wins	Overall Losses
Mary Hardin-Baylor		8	0	9	0
Hardin-Simmons		7	1	8	1
Belhaven		5	3	6	3
Howard Payne		5	3	6	3
East Texas Baptist		4	4	5	4
Southwestern		3	5	3	6
Texas Lutheran		3	5	3	6
Sul Ross		2	6	2	6
McMurry		2	6	2	6
Austin College		1	7	1	7

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Week 10 Games

Mary Hardin-Baylor 59, Howard Payne 14

East Texas Baptist 31, Sul Ross 28

Belhaven 35, McMurry 20

Hardin-Simmons 56, Austin College 14

Southwestern 24, Texas Lutheran 14

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Week 11 Games

Austin College at Howard Payne

Belhaven at East Texas Baptist

Mary Hardin-Baylor at McMurry

Texas Lutheran at Hardin-Simmons

Sul Ross at Southwestern