BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne football team improved to 3-0 overall after a 38-25 victory over visiting Southwestern Assemblies of God University Saturday afternoon at Gordon Wood Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets, who never trailed in the game, are 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2006. Howard Payne racked up 451 yards of total offense, 295 yards in the air. HPU held SAGU to 311 total yards, 177 passing.

The Jackets got the scoring started on their first possession when they drove down 62 yards in 13 plays for a Joshua Martinez 37 yard field goal. On their first possession of the second quarter, Howard Payne put together a 12 play 75 yard drive to go up 10-0. Richard Young found Colby Mica on a 20 yard TD strike at the 11:17 mark of the second.

Young finished the game 22 for 34 passing for 246 yards, five TDs with no interceptions. Young's five TD passes was just one shy of the HPU single game record of six set by Adam King in 2001 versus ETBU. Mica led with eight catches for 121 yards.

SAGU would score on the next possession, a James Hopkins one yard run made the score 10-7 HPU.

The Jackets immediately answer back with a four play 75 yard drive ending in a Tracy Morrison 26 yard TD reception from Richard Young.

SAGU then would draw within three, 17-13, 12 second before the half on a one yard run; HPU's Austin Williamson blocked the extra point.

Howard Payne would take advantage of receiving the ball to open the second half scoring on a one yard TD catch by DeAndre Walker to make the score 24-13 with 11:41 on the clock in the third.            

SAGU then pulled within five on the next possession, 24-19, with five yard TD run (extra point failed).

Young would throw two more TDs in the fourth first to Kevin Domingue, a 47 yard pass with 12:19 left in the game. 31-19 Jackets. Then a five yard TD pass to DeAndre Walker that capped a 10 play, 71 yard drive. It was HPU's largest lead of the game at 38-19.

SAGU would score 3:30 left in the game on a 12 yard pass to bring the game to its final 38-25 score.

Jordan Shaw led all tacklers with 20 tackles (10 solo) and one pass breakup. Jason Disney had eight tackles and one sack. Christopher Hickey, Adrian Hopkins and Will Locke added seven tackles each. Freshman Brandon Simpson had a breakout game for the Jackets rushing for 118 yards on 23 carries.

CJ Collins was 19 of 27 passing for 177 yards and one TD for SAGU.

Howard Payne improves to 3-0 overall while SAGU falls to 0-2 on the year. The Jackets will travel to Austin College next week for a non-conference match-up starting at 1:00 pm.