Comeback Comes Up Short For The Jackets

Abram Choate, SID

BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets suffered their third straight loss of the season 21-28 to the Bulldogs of Texas Lutheran University in American Southwest Conference action at Gordon Wood Stadium Saturday afternoon. 

The Yellow Jackets scored 2 consecutive touchdowns in the fourth quarter on passes from Zach Hubbard to Tre Mason to comeback from a 7-21 deficit. 

On the next drive TLU quarterback Joel Waldon threw the game-winning touchdown to Steven Trash at the 6:21 mark of the fourth quarter.

TLU jumped to a 21-7 lead with three touchdowns in the second quarter. The Bulldogs opened the game's scoring with a 92-yard TD pass from Waldon to Chris Freeman.

After Yellow Jackets tied the game at 7-7 on a 1-yard Zach Hubbard run, the Bulldogs took advantage of two Yellow Jacket fumbles. After the TLU punter put HPU at its own 1-foot line, HPU fumbled at its own 5-yard line. TLU scored two plays later on a Waldon QB keeper.

On the ensuing kickoff, HPU fumbled the return. On the next play, TLU's Waldon hit Thrash for a 15-yard score.

TLU led 21-7 lead late in the third quarter, but the TLU fumbled deep in their own territory gave the Yellow Jackets new hope. Aaron Alvarado recovered the fumble at the TLU 23. Six plays later the Yellow Jackets were in the endzone on a Zach Hubbard pass to Tre Mason. The extra-point was blocked, leaving the TLU lead at eight, 21-13.

With the momentum now in HPU's corner, Hubbard and Mason would hook-up on a 24-yard TD reception with 9:23 to play in the game. The two-point conversion pass to Trevor Kleinewas good, tying the game at 21.

HPU's final drive ended on a TLU interception of Hubbard. TLU ran off the final 3:19 off the clock to end the game. The TLU victory spoiled the HPU Homecoming game for 2008. The win was TLU's third straight victory over Howard Payne at Gordon Wood Stadium. 

Zach Hubbard was 20 of 36 passing for 186 yards, 2 INT, and 2 TD's. Tre Mason had his best game as a Jacket with 3 catches for 53 yards and 2 TD's. 

Kevin Reyna and Ronald Wright recorded 9 tackles each for the Jackets. Reyna had 1 sack and 1 other tackles for loss.

HPU dropped to 1-3 overall and to 0-2 in the ASC.TLU improved to 2-3 overall and to 1-2 in the ASC with the victory. 

The Jackets will play next week on the road at McMurry University in Abilene.
Print Friendly Version