Nov. 12, 2005

Final Stats

SEGUIN, Texas - Three second-half turnovers doomed Hardin-Simmons' football teams chances at victory and the American Southwest Conference title as the Cowboys fell to Texas Lutheran 32-27, Saturday night at Matador Stadium in Seguin.

Texas Lutheran took the lead in the first quarter when Sean Salinas found Chris Washington on an 8-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys responded with a 9-play, 88-yard drive capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Hinojoza to Mychal Carrillo.

TLU retook the lead on the final play of the first quarter when Dexter Brewer scored on a 30-yard run. TLU took the 14-7 lead into the half.

The Cowboys came out of the halftime locker room inspired and forced a three and out and Will Galusha returned the ensuing punt 60 yards to tie the game at 14-14.

Texas Lutheran responded with a Holt Storrie 31-yard field goal at the 12:17 mark, but the Cowboys took the ball 56 yards in eight plays. Hinojoza then found Jared May on a five-yard touchdown on a crossing route. Hinojoza completed two passes on third down in the drive.

In the see-saw affair, TLU took advantage of a Hinojoza fumble and the Bulldogs went three plays and 34 yards. Salinas found his favorite target Jason Trahan for a six-yard touchdown pass to go back in front 23-21 after the PAT failed.

The Cowboys' Quinton Jones fumbled for the second time in the game on the Cowboys' next possession and TLU drove to the 15 but the Cowboy defense stiffened and held the Bulldogs on fourth down. After the Cowboys went three and out and had to punt, it was HSU's turn to force a turnover. Salinas took the second play of the next drive and ran up the middle but Tony Espinoza stripped the ball and the Cowboys recovered.

HSU could not move the ball and again had to punt. TLU drove down to the HSU 15, but a pair of sacks moved the ball back and Storrie connected on a 47-yard field goal at the 11:59 mark of the fourth quarter to make it 26-21.

The Cowboys came right back and took the lead with a seven-yard pass to senior Jared May from Hinojoza. The Cowboys failed on the two-point conversion and led 27-26 at the 9:16 mark. Hinojoza was solid on the drive with a four-yard run on third and three and then completed a third-down pass to May for 19 yards on third and six.

The Bulldogs quickly responded as Adam Vyvial replaced Sean Salinas, who had an equipment problem, and he connected with Jason Trahan on a slant pass and Trahan went 73 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed and TLU led 32-27 with 8:16 to go in the game.

HSU was stopped on fourth down on its next possession and TLU drove down the field to the 21 and settled for Storrie's third field goal of the game a 41-yarder, but it was blocked by Chris Jones. HSU took over possession at its own 23-yard line.

The Cowboys moved the ball down to the 37 on passes to Matt Epperson and Jared May but Hinojoza faced pressure and threw off his back foot and was picked off. The Bulldogs ran out the clock to take their first-ever win over the Cowboys.

HSU ends its season at 8-2 and Texas Lutheran finished its year at 5-5. Jared May ended his stellar HSU career with nine catches for 150 yards and two scores.

--- HSU Athletics ---