Despite the loss, which snapped a five-game conference win streak for Howard Payne (6-2, 5-1), the Yellow Jackets still have an outside shot at a share of the ASC title if they can upset No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (7-1, 6-0), which had its bye Saturday, when the Cru visits Gordon Wood Stadium at 1 p.m. next Saturday in HPU’s home finale.
Saturday against Hardin-Simmons (7-1, 5-1), the Yellow Jackets built a 19-7 halftime advantage.
The Yellow Jackets struck first just 2:54 into the contest as Landon McKinney connected with Hunter Cheek on a 49-yard scoring strike, capping a seven-play, 75-yard march that staked Howard Payne to a 7-0 lead.
The score remained the same until the 9:55 mark of the second quarter, where Harrison Pustilnik booted a 20-yard field goal to extend Howard Payne’s cushion to 10-0. The kick was the culmination of a six-play, 35-yard trek that began after a 33-yard Cowboys punt.
Hardin-Simmons answered with a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown by Jalen Crawford, which closed the gap to 10-7 with 9:42 left in the first half.
The Yellow Jackets wrestled the momentum back on their side prior to halftime, as HPU immediately responded with an eight-play, 48-yard drive that resulted in a 39-yard Pustilnik field goal that gave Howard Payne a 13-7 edge at the 6:19 mark.
Then, with 22 seconds left in the first half, McKinney hooked up with Jordan Carroll for a 39-yard touchdown pass, the finishing touches on a four-play, 83-yard, 53-second drive that extended the Yellow Jacket advantage to 19-7.
The second half, however, belonged to Hardin-Simmons.
The Cowboys marched 66 yards in 11 plays to start the second half, with Colton Marshall scoring on a 6-yard carry to trim Howard Payne’s lead to 19-14.
Then, with 4:20 left in the third period, Hardin-Simmons went to the air as Gaylon Glynn connected with Gatlin Martin on a 48-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cowboys their first lead, 21-19. The touchdown capped a six-play, 75-yard drive.
With 2:50 left in the contest, Hardin-Simmons secured the victory with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that milked 8:04 off the clock and resulted in a 1-yard touchdown plunge for Marshall, putting the Yellow Jackets down by two possessions with precious few minutes remaining in the contest.
Howard Payne outgained Hardin-Simmons in total yards, 389 to 368, and both teams turned over the ball once.
McKinney completed 20 of 32 passes for 274 yards with two scoring tosses and one interception, while leading receivers included Otis Lanier with 10 grabs for 106 yards, Cheek with three for 56 and a score, Samuel Sims with two for 43 yards, and Carroll with his 39-yard touchdown grab.
On the ground, Javian Myles led the charge with 46 yards, Tauren Bradley contributed 38 yards and the team’s leading rusher, Billy Reagins, tacked on 17 as HPU finished with 115 yards rushing.
Defensively, K.C Cornelious registered 10 tackles to lead the Yellow Jackets followed by Jessie Paris with nine, Kyle Bell with eight, Peyton with six, a sack and a fumble recovery, and James Jakubowski with four tackles. Jaden Elie also recorded a sack and a pair of tackles.
Hardin-Simmons was led by Glynn’s 206 passing yards and 64 yards on the ground. Myles Featherston chipped in 48 yards rushing while leading receivers were Kevi Evans with three for 99 yards, Crawford with three for 29, and Martin with the 48-yard score.