JACKSON, MS - The Howard Payne University football team secured its first victory of the season with a 45-37 win over Belhaven University Saturday evening in American Southwest Conference play.

The Yellow Jackets played their best quarter of the season scoring 21 to open up the game and would hold a 28-0 lead after HPU's first possession of the second quarter.

With 10:35 left in the first quarter, HPU's Edwin Godfrey caught a 53 yard pass from Mitchell Jennings 7-0 Jackets. Next, Brett Martinez had a 33 yard run after a Belhaven turnover with 8:23 left in the first. 14-0 Jackets. Then Hunter Batten scored on a 3 yard run with six minutes left in the first. 21-0 Jackets. Finally, Edwin Godfrey scored his second touchdown of the first half this time on a 37 yard pass from Jennings. The score capped a seven play, 44 yard drive. 28-0 Jackets with 14:50 left in the second quarter.

However, Belhaven turned the tide in the momentum of the game in the second quarter when they scored 17 unanswered points to cut the lead to 28-17.

After a Yellow Jacket turnover on their opening drive of the second half, Belhaven pull to within 28-24 on a four yard TD pass with 13-19 left in the third. Howard Payne would once again extend their lead with another touchdown run from Brett Martinez, this time from 9 yards out to extend the lead to 35-24.

Belhaven pulled to within four points again but two more Howard Payne touchdowns would give them a 45-31 point cushion. 

With 12:25 left in the fourth, HPU's Hunter Batten scored from five yards out. Then a Jacob Walters kick 23 yard field goal extended HPU's lead to 45-31. It capped a 13 play, 58 yard drive that took 7:12 off the clock. After a Belhaven score the Jackets were able to run out the clock to secure the victory 45-37.

For the game, the Jackets held Belhaven to a total of 89 yards rushing, while allowing 343 more yards through the air. The Jacket defense recorded five sacks and forced four turnovers in the game.

HPU's Mitchell Jennings was 4 for 14 passing for 100 yards and two TDs. Brett Martinez had 115 yards rushing on 25 attempts with two TDs. Hunter Batten had 90 yards on 20 carries and two TDs. Edwin Godfrey had two catches for 90 yards and two TDs to lead the Jackets. 

Jake Wright led the Jackets with eight tackles. Tevin Dawson followed with five tackles, a 57 interception return and a pass breakup. Colton Dickerson had five tackles. Abner Reyes led with two sacks and Patrick Hunt had an interception for 35 yards.

Howard Payne stands at 1-3 overall and 1-2 in American Southwest Conference action. Belhaven drops to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in ASC play. The Yellow Jackets will play at home next week versus East Texas Baptist University at