Abram Choate, SID
PINEVILLE, La. – At Louisiana College's homecoming Saturday evening, Howard Payne held off a second half LC comeback to post a 47-45 win over Louisiana College.
Howard Payne (4-4, 2-4) used an offensive attack that racked up 493 yards of total offense and a defense that forced three LC (3-4, 1-4) turnovers on their way to the American Southwest Conference victory.
HPU started the game with an 89-yard touchdown return by Sr. WR Chris Jackson (Dallas). The HPU defense then stripped LC running back Thurston Williams of the ball on LC's first play, allowing HPU senior quarterback Adam Johnson (Coppell), who finished 23-of-36 for 373 yards and three touchdowns, to connect with Jackson on a 34-yard touchdown pass on their first play after the turnover.
LC got on the board with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ben McLaughlin, who finished 26-of-44 for 374 yards and four touchdowns, to Dexter Falgoust, who led all receivers with eight catches for 194 yards and two scores. LC missed the extra point, cutting HPU's lead to 13-6.
HPU continued to put points on the board and built a 34-18 halftime lead. In the second half, HPU pushed their lead to as much as 17 points, at 41-24, after a Johnson 11-yard touchdown run.
After the Johnson score, LC tried to make a comeback, scoring 21 points in the last 17:45 of the game.
After an interception by HPU's Ricky Austin gave HPU the ball at LC's four, Cody Cory caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Johnson, giving the Yellow Jackets some breathing room, with a 47-38 lead, and the eventual victory.
Maxie plunged in for his third score of the game on a two-yard run with 3:48 left in the game, cutting HPU's lead to 47-45, but LC didn't get the ball back as HPU got two critical first downs and ran the clock out.
Howard Payne's Chris Jackson has 167 kick-off return yards in the game running back one for a TD. Jackson also had 151 yards receiving in the game. HPU freshman runnning back Cody McKenzie (Paradise) had 59 yards on 11 carries.
Howard Payne will be back at home next week taking on Mississippi College, start time will be 1:00pm.
