Oct. 23, 2004

Final Stats

BELTON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' third-ranked football team went to Belton, Texas and left no doubt who the better team was as it dominated No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor, 49-22, Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference football action at Tiger Field.

HSU's defense dominated through three quarters, allowing only 199 yards and eight points in the first three quarters. Lance Moore had the sixth-best rushing day in school history with 224 yards and three touchdowns and Jordan Neal completed 21 passes for 267 yards and two scores.

HSU had 504 yards of total offense and had the ball for almost 37 minutes.

The game started off slowly as UMHB's Zach Newcomb's 24-yard field goal accounted for the only points of the first quarter. HSU got on the board on a Jordan Neal 1-yard run. The TD was set-up by a 31-yard pass from Neal to Josh Howard on 4th and 18 from the UMHB 32. The snap was bobbled and UMHB picked it up and returned it for a defensive PAT, making the score 6-5, ironically on the first day of the World Series.

The Cowboys then rolled off a 12-play, 67-yard drive to score with 2:24 to go in the half. Lance Moore did the honors with a 4-yard run. Shane McCord's PAT made it 13-5. The TD was the 27th rushing score of Moore's career, giving him the school record.

The momentum-changing play of the game came after Newcomb hit his second field goal of the game with :34 second to go in the half, Will Galusha had a 75-yard kickoff return to set the Cowboys up at the 20-yard line. Neal then hit Howard for a five-yard touchdown to make it 21-8 with three seconds remaining in the first half.

HSU came out in the second half and Galusha picked off his sixth pass of the year and returned it 57-yards for a score to make it 29-8 with 13:30 to go in the third. HSU then got the ball back and Len Williams caught his third touchdown pass of the year, a 28-yarder from Neal. Lance Moore then capped a 13-play, 67-yard drive with a 1-yard run to make it 42-8 with 1:36 to go in the third quarter.

P.J. Williams and Chad Starnes added late touchdowns to make it 42-22. Moore did the final number for HSU going three yards to make it 49-22.

Galusha led the defense with 12 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and had two interceptions. Brent Gailey had eight tackles.

The Cowboys moved to the top of the ASC standings. HSU improved to 7-0 on the year and 6-0 in ASC play. UMHB fell to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in ASC action. HSU hosts McMurry for homecoming next week.