BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University football team lost a late game battle with Texas Lutheran University 39-38 Saturday afternoon in the 2021 Spring season opener.
The Howard Payne offense scored three second quarter touchdowns to give the Yellow Jackets a 21-7 advantage at the half.
Selah Smith got the Jackets on the scoreboard first hauling in a 41-yard pass from
Landon McKinney with 13:37 left in the second. Then McKinney scored next on a 25-yard run to make the game 14-0 Jackets with 10:54 left in the first half.
After a TLU three-yard run for a touchdown, HPU's McKinney would scamper this time for a 16-yard TD with 4:31 left in the first half.
With 7:17 left in the third quarter, a
Blake Phipps 42-yard field goal gave the Jackets a 24-21 lead.
To start the fourth,
Jake Parker grabbed an eight-yard pass from McKinney to push the HPU lead to 31-24 with 14:18 left in the game
After another TLU rushing TD, the Jackets struck back with a
Billy Reagins two-yard run with 8:35 left, 38-31 Jackets.
After Texas Lutheran scored on a one-yard run with 1:47 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs completed a two-point conversion attempt to take a 39-38 lead. The Yellow Jacket late game drive stalled out and the Bulldogs secured the game.
Jake Parker led the Howard Payne offensive attack with 11 catches for 195 yards and one touchdown.
Selah Smith had three catches for 83 yards and one touchdown.
In his first collegiate start as a Yellow Jacket,
Landon McKinney threw for 309 yards (19 for 28) and two touchdowns. McKinney also ran for 68 yards and two TDs.
HPU's
Kyle Bell led the Yellow Jacket defense with 19 total tackles (10 solo).
James Jakubowski followed with 10 tackles (5 solo, 2.0 for loss).
Peyton Lowe and Jesse Paris each added nine tackles.
TLU quarterback Seth Cosme passed for 230 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 83 yards and two TDs. TLU top receiver was Mason Perkins with 10 catches for 205 yards and two TDs.
The Yellow Jackets will play on the road next week at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. It will be a 12:00 noon kickoff.
