Oct. 11, 2003

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team avenged one of its two losses from a year ago with a 37-35 win over Howard Payne, Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference action at Shelton Stadium.

The Cowboys' offense exploded with 537 yards of total offense, including a career-best 312 in the air by sophomore quarterback Jordan Neal. Neal threw for three touchdowns and also added 79 yards on 11 rushes and was not sacked for the third straight game. Lance Moore had a second-straight 100-yard rushing effort with 126 yards on 22 carries.

Howard Payne jumped out early with a 14-play, 87-yard drive that was capped by an A.J. Edwards 1-yard run following the opening kickoff. The Cowboys responded with a 9-play, 76-yards drive that Neal capped with a quarterback sneak from a yard out.

Mason Grimes gave the Cowboys a 10-7 lead with a 35-yard field goal with 14:47 to go in the second quarter. Juan Gallow capped an 8-play, 85-yard drive with an 11-yard run around right end to answer the Cowboys score and take a 14-10 lead.

After a Cowboy turnover, the Jackets looked to be driving for a 21-10 when rent Gailey made the defensive play of the game. Anticipating the snap count, he was on to HPU quarterback Adam King on the snap and forced a fumble at the 11-yard line and it was recovered by Levi Pate.

HSU then came right back with a 9-play, 83-yard drive and Neal hit Patrick Shelby on a 33-yard screen pass for the score as the Cowboys bounced back in front 17-14 with 4:59 to go in the first half.

HSU went ahead 24-14 with another touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Matt Epperson caught a 27-yard pass from Neal that was deflected in the end zone and he laid out and made the circus catch. Howard Payne responded with another score, a 7-yard run by quarterback Adam King.

HSu came right back with another score, this one a 10-yard run by Moore. A low snap caused the PAT to go array and the Cowboys led 30-21 with 5:51 to go in the third quarter. Howard Payne went 51-yards in three plays and scored on a 33-yard connection between King and Brandon Tolbert. The PAT made it 30-28 with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Shelby scored again early in the fourth-quarter on the Cowboys next possession making it five straight drives the teams had traded touchdowns. Shelby scored on an 18-yard pass from Neal to put the Cowboys ahead 37-28.

On the ensuing possession the Cowboy defense made a stand. After a holding penalty made it 1st-and-20, Melvin Dudley and Toby Nash sniffed out a screen for a two yard gain, then Jason Rupert and Levi Pate came with back-to-back sacks to get the Cowboys the ball back.

HSU then drove 10-plays and 34 yards but ended the drive on downs and HPU quickly marched down field for a touchdown from King to edwards from 19 yards out with seven seconds to go in the game.

The Cowboys recovered the on-side kick to seal the game. HSU improved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in ASC play. Howard Payne fell to 2-3 and 2-2 in ASC play.

HSU outgained the Jackets 537-398 and the teams combined for 23 penalties for 231 yards. Many of the penalties were for personal fouls in the hard-hitting, physical game.

Joe Lemberg had eight catches for 118 yards. Tres Poynor ed HPU with nine catches for 127 yards. Adam King was 23-for-35 for 301 yards and two scores, but was chased all day long by the Cowboys' front and was sacked four times.

Brent Gailey led the defense with 14 tackles, 11 solo, three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Levi Pate recovered a fumble had 1.5 sacks, and five tackles. Alex Hansen broke up four passes and Adam Parker and Melvin Dudley each had 10 tackles.