BROWNWOOD, Texas - Howard Payne University's Gage McClanahan breaks the Howard Payne record for completions in a game with 39 in a 54-17 loss to Southwestern University in conference football action Saturday evening.

Gage McClanahan was 39 of 62 passing for 318 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. McClanahan's 39 completions breaks the HPU completions record previously 38 held by Adam King versus Hardin-Simmons in 2004 and Zach Hubbard versus Louisiana College in 2009.

Despite the loss, DunTayviun Gross benefited from McClanahan's success catching 13 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown. American Southwest Conference punting leader Kyle King had five punts for 222 yards, a 44.4 avg, with a long punt of 74 yards.

The Yellow Jackets would get on the scoreboard first in the game scoring in their second possession on a Cristian Gonzalez 32 yard field goal with 10:36 left in the first quarter.

Southwestern would score 27 unanswered points before the Jackets would find the endzone with 7:40 left in the second quarter. A Stephen Willis one-yard run capped a 12 play 78 yard drive by the Jackets making the score 27-10 Southwestern.

After HPU's Connor Day picked off a Southwestern pass and returned it to their 33 yard line, the Jackets struck on the first play, McClanahan connecting with DunTayviun Gross on a 33 yard TD pass to make the game 40-17 Southwestern at the halftime break.

Howard Payne unable to score in the second half but held the Pirates to 14 points on the way to a 54-17 Southwestern final.

Leading HPU defensively was Anthony Lindsey and Austin Killgore each finishing with seven tackles, Killgore had 1.5 tackles for loss along with two QB hurries.

Howard Payne is now 1-8 overall and 1-7 in ASC play. Southwestern stands at 5-4 overall and 4-4 in league action. The Yellow Jackets will finish the season on the road next Saturday in Pineville, LA versus Louisiana College. It will be a 12:00 noon kickoff.