RV/RV Howard Payne (3-0) at 18/19 Hardin-Simmons (2-1)
Abilene, Texas – Shelton Stadium
Kickoff: 1:00 pm CST
Series HSU leads 45-24-4
Last Meeting: HSU won 28-19 in Abilene, Texas (10-29-23)
Head Coaches: Howard Payne - Kevin Bachtel | Hardin-Simmons – Jessie Burleson
Listen: 94.3 FM KYOX or www.HPUsports.com/watch
Video: https://hsuathletics.com/watch/?Live=3&type=Live
Live Stats: https://hsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
Howard Payne
Coming off an open week, the Yellow Jackets look to continue the great play they have exhibited in the first three weeks of the season.

After HPU's 85-0 victory over Lyon College in game number three, the Yellow Jackets offense (48.0 ppg)(504.3 ypg) and defense (4.3 ppg allowed)(233.7 ypg allowed) are both the top-rated in the American Southwest Conference.

The Howard Payne defense has been particularly stingy toward the run allowing just 57.0 yards per game on the ground.

Against Lyon, the Yellow Jackets broke the ASC record for margin of victory by a point (Previous was Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Albright with 84 on Sept. 8, 2018).

HPU quarterback Tucker Bridwell was 29 of 33 passing for 376 yards and five touchdowns. His 29 of 33 passing broke the HPU record for passing percentage in a game previously held by Thomas Head with 86.3% (19 of 22) back in 2012 versus Wayland Baptist.

KJ Kelley is the Jackets' top tackler with 21 and a league-high three interceptions. Kadarius Carr leads the conference in pass breakups with six through three games.

Hardin-Simmons
Hardin-Simmons is ranked No. 18 in both the D3football.com poll and the American Football Coaches Association poll.

Jesse Burleson is in his 13th season as the head coach for the Cowboys and has posted a 90-32 record at HSU.

The Cowboys come into the game with a 2-1 record after a 37-10 loss to Endicott in Beverly, Mass., last week. The Cowboys were able to run for 178 yards on Endicott who came into the game seventh nationally in total defense. Noah Garcia finished with 72 yards on 15 carries and Colton Marshall had 10 carries for 57 yards. A.J. Hawkins ran for 59 yards, but lost 20 yards in sacks. Marshall leads the league with 222 rushing yards and Garcia is second with 217.
 
AROUND THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

ASC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: September 22-23, 2023
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Dakota Lowery, WR, Fr., Austin
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Trace Holmes, DB, So., Mary Hardin-Baylor

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Caleb Balderas, K, So., Austin

2023 ASC FOOTBALL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Mary Hardin-Baylor	1-0	1.000	1-3	.250	W1
Howard Payne	0-0	.000	3-0	1.000	W3
Hardin-Simmons	0-0	.000	2-1	.667	L1
East Texas Baptist	0-0	.000	1-2	.333	L1
Texas Lutheran	0-0	.000	1-2	.333	L1
Austin	0-0	.000	1-2	.333	W1
McMurry	0-1	.000	1-2	.333	L1
Sul Ross State #	0-0	.000	1-2	.333	W1

# - Ineligible for ASC and NCAA Championships (NCAA Division II reclassifying)

Saturday, September 30, 2023 Football

	Away	Home	Time	Location
	Howard Payne	Hardin-Simmons	1:00 P.M.	Abilene, Texas (Conf.)
	Lyon	McMurry	1:00 P.M.	Abilene, Texas
	Austin	East Texas Baptist	6:00 P.M.	Marshall, Texas (Conf.)
	Texas Lutheran	Sul Ross State	6:00 P.M.	Alpine, Texas