BROWNWOOD, Texas - A Howard Payne late game push came up short in a Yellow Jacket loss to Trinity University 23-16 in their 2015 season opener Saturday evening at Gordon Wood Stadium.

Howard Payne pulled within a touchdown with :20 seconds remaining in the game when Richard Young found Colby Mica on a 24 yard strike. With the score 23-16, the Joshua Martinez extra point capped a six play 68 yard drive for the Jackets. The Jackets onside kick attempt failed and Trinity ran out the clock to gain the win.

The Jackets would get on the scoreboard first in the game after blocking a Trinity punt and Joshua Martinez connecting on 36 field goal. 3-0 Jackets with 13:28 left in the first quarter.

Trinity answered with two TD runs by Jeremy Simmons in the quarter, one from 10 yards and one 64 yard run. Extra point failed on the second to make the score 13-3 Trinity with 7:06 left in the first. Simmons finished the game with 183 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns.

Howard Payne answered late in the second quarter when Richard Young ran it in from six yards out (extra point pass failed) to make it 13-9 Trinity with 4:50 left in the half. Young would finish the game 25 of 47 passing for 235 yards, one TD passing and one rushing with one interception.

Trinity answered right before the half with a 25 yard field goal by Miguel Mendiola to make the halftime score 16-9 Trinity.

Trinity pushed its lead to 23-9 with a Jeremy Simmons TD, his third of the game, from 10 yards out. 23-9 Trinity.

The Jackets defense played solid in the fourth and the offense was able to score on the Mica TD reception with :20 second remaining but the team would fall in the end 23-16.

Trinity QB Mason Blaschke was 8 of 17 passing for 146 yards. Julian Turner led the Trinity defense with a game high 16 tackles.

Colby Mica had 10 catches for 111 yards and the TD. Fred Pitts had 52 yards on 12 carries for the Jackets. Jason Disney led the Jacket defense with 13 tackles, five solo. Jordan Longoria followed with 11 in his first game as a Jacket. Gage Smith added nine tackles with two pass breakups in the secondary.

The Jackets will be at home again next Saturday versus Wayland Baptist University, with a 1:00 pm kickoff time.