Sept. 9, 2004

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' defense dominated its season opener against Sul Ross State and the offense had no trouble moving the ball as the Cowboys won 79-17 in the first varsity night game ever at Hardin-Simmons University.

The Cowboys jumped on the board at the 4:32 mark of the first half, when Len Williams scored on a 5-yard rollout pass from Jordan Neal. The point after touchdown was no good and HSU led 6-0. Sul Ross State came right back and after returning the kickoff to the 43, Gilbert Almanza picked up a fumble on the kickoff and went untouched into the end zone, giving Sul Ross their only lead of the game at 7-6.

HSU responded with 66 straight points. Jared May had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff, Triandos Sherrard scored from 10-yards out three minutes later to make it 21-7 HSU with 1:22 to go in the first quarter.

The Cowboy defense dominated as the Lobos air attack completed only two passes for over 10 yards in the game. The Cowboys limited the Lobos to 1.8 yards per carry and 46 yards on the night on the ground and only 119 yards total offense.

Lance Moore ran for a two-yard score and Triandos Sherrard had a 25-yard TD pass from Neal in the second quarter, a Charles McGuire field goal added to the touchdowns made it 45-7 at the break. Most of the Cowboys starters took the second half off, including Jordan Neal. Moore got one series and scored on a six-yard run. He finished his night with 129 yards and two TDs.

Jordy Bernhard the Cowboys' redshirt-freshman transfer quarterback from Indiana had a pair of touchdown runs in the third quarter and at the end of the stanza HSU led 58-7. Thurston Ashley, Brad Clark and Quinton Jones all scored touchdowns on the ground in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys took over possession on a Micah Putnam interception with 2:47 to go in the game and HSU took a knee on four straight plays and let the Lobos have the ball back.

HSU's secondary made play after play early in the game both in the passing game and in run support. All-American Alex Hansen had an interception, broke up two more passes and recorded five tackles. Newcomer Nivek Hatcher had seven tackles at safety and Will Galusha had an interception and half a sack in his first game at cornerback for the Cowboys. The defensive front with 3.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. SRSU went 0-for-14 on third down in the game.

HSU will play at Louisiana College on Sept. 18 in its next action. --- HSU Athletics ---