The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets never trailed until 1:47 remained in the spring football season opener, where a late touchdown and two-point conversion by the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs spoiled head coach Jason Bachtel’s debut at his alma mater.
Texas Lutheran, an 8-2 squad a year ago, escaped with a 39-38 victory over the Yellow Jackets at Gordon Wood Stadium, snapping a three-game win streak for Howard Payne. The Yellow Jackets were coming off a 5-5 campaign, their best record since 2006.
Trailing 38-31 with less than two minutes left, TLU quarterback Seth Cosme scored on a 1-yard run to bring the Bulldogs within a point. Texas Lutheran then opted for the two-point conversion, also converted by Cosme on a sprint to the pylon.
The Yellow Jackets had a chance to snatch the win late, but a pair of dropped passes on the final drive – including fourth-and-12 from the HPU 36 – foiled the comeback bid.
Howard Payne finished with 468 total yards – 309 passing and 159 rushing. Freshman quarterback Landon McKinney completed 19 of 28 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for a team-high 68 yards and two more scores. Jake Parker hauled in 11 receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown, while Selah Smith grabbed three catches for 83 yards with a trip to the end zone. Stephen Willis Jr. chipped in 45 yards on the ground and Billy Reagins rushed for 31 yards and a score.
Texas Lutheran produced 487 yards – 272 passing and 215 rushing. Cosme threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 83 yards and two more scores. Mason Perkins caught 10 passes for 205 yards with two trips to the end zone, while DaKory Willis and Chris Monroe chipped in 79 and 61 yards on the ground, respectively.
Kyle Bell led Howard Payne with 19 tackles followed by James Jakubowski with 10, including two behind the line of scrimmage, and Peyton Lowe and Jessie Paris added nine tackles apiece.
The Yellow Jackets committed the game’s lone turnover, which led immediately to a Texas Lutheran touchdown, and committed five penalties for 48 yards. No flag was more costly than a leaping over the center call on a missed field goal by Texas Lutheran, which resulted in an automatic first down for the Bulldogs and an eventual touchdown.
After a scoreless first quarter, Howard Payne jumped out to a 14-0 lead with 10:54 left in the half following a one-handed 41-yard touchdown reception by Smith, and a 25-yard quarterback keeper by McKinney.
Cosme put TLU on the board with 8:26 left in the half on a 3-yard run, then McKinney answered with 16-yard touchdown carry with 4:31 remaining in the second quarter, making the score 21-14.
TLU closed the gap to 21-14 with 21 seconds left in the half on a 2-yard James Gipson run, which came after the Yellow Jackets were flagged for leaping over the center on a missed field goal attempt.
The Bulldogs drew even at 21 with 9:20 left in the third quarter on a 32-yard pass from Cosme to Perkins, the first play after a Howard Payne fumble.
Howard Payne’s Blake Phipps booted a 42-yard field goal, then TLU’s Juan Ocampo followed with a 22-yard field goal as the game was tied at 24 through three quarters.
The Yellow Jackets regained a 31-24 edge with 14:18 left on an 8-yard toss from McKinney to Parker. TLU responded with a 49-yard strike from Cosme to Perkins, knotting the score at 31 with 12:47 to go.
Howard Payne grabbed its final lead with 8:35 on the clock as Reagins scored on a 2-yard carry, capping an eight-play, 75-yard trek.
On their next to last offensive possession, the Yellow Jackets were unable to run out the clock and punted for the only time in the game. TLU took over at its own 47 and moved 53 yards in eight plays to secure the win.
Howard Payne (0-1) is back in action at noon Saturday at Hardin-Simmons, which will be opening its season.
