Oct. 1, 2005

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team got its offense back on track and the defense continued its stellar play as the Cowboys defeated American Southwest Conference rival Howard Payne, 45-20, Saturday afternoon in front of 3,178 fans at Shelton Stadium.

Jordy Bernhard had four touchdowns for the Cowboys - two rushing and two passing - and the Cowboys rolled up 415 yards of offense. HSU played the game without its starting quarterback and running back. Quarterback Jordan Neal is likely out for the season with a broken collarbone and Quinton Jones is slowed by an ankle injury and did not dress.

The Cowboy defense ran its shutout streak to eight quarters as the Jackets did not score in the first half. Chris Jones made a big momentum play early in the game as he hit Juan Gallow hard and forced a fumble on the second play. The Cowboys marched 29 yards in four plays and Bernhard hit Jared May for a 10-yard touchdown at the 11:40 mark of the first quarter.

Scott Bryant hit a 37-yard field goal later in the quarter to make it 10-0 and Bernhard scored on a sneak to make it 17-0 with 1:48 to go in the first half.

In the second half, HPU's Adam Johnson hit Brandon Tolbert with a perfect pass from 22 yards out to make it 17-7. Bernhard scored on a 7-yard option keeper at the 3:26 to make it 24-7.

HPU came back as Johnson found Tolbert from 39 yards out at the 12:09 mark of the fourth quarter. Jared May then put the game out of the reach for the Cowboys taking the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. May moved into second place all-time at Hardin-Simmons with 799 kickoff return yards. He needs 67 more for the school record. The kickoff return for a TD was the fourth in his career.

Bernhard sealed the game with a 10-yard pass to Jordy Bernhard to make it 38-14 with 4:53 to go in the game. Johnson struck quickly going 80 yards in four plays, hitting Tolbert with an 8-yard score with 4:10 to go.

Ryan Hinojoza scored on a quarterback sneak at the 2:40 mark. He had set the score up with a 43 yard run to the one.

HSU improved to 4-0 on the year and 3-0 in ASC play. Howard Payne fell to 1-3 and 1-2 in league play. HSU travels to Sul Ross State next week for a 1 p.m. kickoff.