Oct. 30, 2005

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Sophomore Ryan Hinojoza came off the bench to replace an injured Jordy Bernhard and threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to rally the Hardin-Simmons football team by crosstown rival McMurry, Saturday night at Shotwell Stadium, 36-25.

Hinojoza, who began the season on the junior varsity, stepped into the fire and showed some poise, mobility and a strong and accurate arm. He completed 12-of-18 passes for 173 yards.

McMurry took the early lead when Ty Sellers found Seth Waller in the back of the end zone to cap a 10-play, 95-yard drive at the 5:20 mark of the first quarter.

HSU tied the game in the second quarter when they went 80 yards and nine plays. Quinton Jones capped the drive with a 15-yard run off the left side. McMurry came right back and Tristan Randle capped a 11-play, 69-yard drive with a Tristan Randle 6-yard touchdown run at the 5:18 mark of the second quarter.

Hinojoza pushed the Cowboys back down the field after a 38-yard kickoff return by Will Galusha gave HSU the ball at the McMurry 40. Hinjoza found Jared May for 18 yards on third and 15 to extend the drive and then found Mychal Carrillo on a 26-yard touchdown strike. Shane McCord's PAT was wide left and the Indians kept the lead at 14-13 going into the halftime locker room.

The Cowboys came out in the second half and drove down the field but settled for a field goal attempt that was missed. However, on McMurry's first play Sellers was picked off by Justin Greene. HSU took the ball at the McMurry 26 and Hinojoza found Carrillo again, this time from 15 yards out. The two-point conversion try failed and HSU led for the first time at 19-14 with 9:25 to go in the third quarter.

McMurry then drove the field but settled for a Kirk McGinty 36-yard field goal to make it 19-17. Hinojoza was intercepted on the next possession and McMurry regained the lead when Sellers found Bert Green on a 24-yard touchdown. Sellers ran the two-point conversion to make it 25-19 with 14:34 to go in the game.

The whole momentum of the game changed on the ensuing kickoff when the Indians went for a quick onside, but it did not go 10 yards and the Cowboys again had a short field. Hinjoza called his own number from seven yards out to give the Cowboys the 26-25 lead after a Scott Bryant PAT.

Will Galusha forced a fumble by Kelvin Figgs with a vicious hit. HSU recovered the ball and Bryant ended up kicking a 24-yard field goal to make it 29-25 with 9:03 to go in the game. The Cowboys then forced a three-and-out and came right back and scored to put the game away. Hinojoza found a streaking Jared May from 14 yards out with 4:59 to go in the game.

Jones had a solid day on the ground for the Cowboys with a career-high 140 yards. Chris Jones and Eric Shults had a field day in the McMurry backfield all night from the tackle position. Justin Greene had nine tackles and an interception.

Ty Sellers had 104 yards rushing in the first half on 14 carries and finished the game with 105 yards on 26 carries. The Cowboys bottled him up in the second half. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 213 yards.

The win was the Cowboys 18th straight over the Indians and HSU retained the Wilford Moore Trophy for the eighth straight time. HSU is 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the ASC. McMurry fell to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the ASC. HSU hosts Austin College next week.