FB Preview: Howard Payne at Nelson University
Howard Payne (0-1, 0-1 ASC) at Nelson University (0-0)
Waxahachie, Texas – Lumpkins Field
Kickoff: 6:00 pm CST
Series: All-time tied at 4-4
Last Meeting: HPU won 42-10 in Brownwood, Texas (9/9/23)
Head Coaches: Howard Payne - Kevin Bachtel | Nelson – Jared Hudgins
Listen: 94.3 FM KYOX or https://www.elasticplayer.xyz/kyox/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IH9n7GfMek 
Live Stats: https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2024-25/boxscores/20240914_wu1o.xml 
Tickets: https://vivenu.com/seller/southwestern-assemblies-of-god-university-z6n9/football-8nm9 

HOWARD PAYNE
After an season opening conference loss to Hardin-Simmons, the Yellow Jackets look to get back on track versus the Nelson University Lions (formally Southwestern Assemblies God University). Last week, HPU was led by senior safety Jacob Korrodi with a game-high 15 tackles (nine solo) earning him ASC Defensive Payer of the Week and D3football National Team of the Week honors.

The Howard Payne offensive attack should be led again by transfer QB Zy Gravitt and top returning target, receiver Gus Charles. Gravitt was 6 of 20 passing for 206 yards, and a TD last week and Charles last season caught 55 passes for 948 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Last year's meeting resulted in a 42-10 HPU victory. The Yellow Jackets jumped out a 14-0 lead and never looked back with 358 yards of total offense, 255 yards in the air.

This is the ninth game all-time between the two schools with Nelson winning 3 of the last 4 meetings.

NELSON UNIVERSITY
Nelson finished 4-6 overall in 2023 but return several key players on both sides of the ball. On defense, Joseph Chavez and Quavean Mitchell on the defensive line. At linebacker, Xavier Garcia and defensive back Dylon Kaufman are keys in the secondary.

Offensively, running back Dakeevion Rose will be their top runner and receivers Zach Fuller and Kolby Tanner will be targets for the Lions' aerial attack.

Nelson is guided by first-year head coach Jared Hudgins who served as the Lions defensive coordinator last season.
 
AROUND THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
Hardin-Simmons University's football team represents the American Southwest Conference nationally rank 13^th in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll and 14^th in the American Football Coaches Association DIII Coaches Poll.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor received votes in the polls.

ASC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: September 6, 2024 – September 7, 2024
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kaden Brown, QB, Fr., East Texas Baptist
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jacob Korrodi, DB, Sr., Howard Payne
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Grayson Bearden, K, Jr., Hardin-Simmons

CURRENT ASC STANDINGS

School Conf CPct. Overall Pct. Streak Hardin-Simmons 1-0 1.000 1-0 1.000 W1 East Texas Baptist 0-0 .000 1-0 1.000 W1 Mary Hardin-Baylor 0-0 .000 0-1 .000 L1 Howard Payne 0-1 .000 0-1 .000 L1

THIS WEEK'S ASC SCHEDULE

Away Home Time Location Hardin-Simmons Curry 11:00 A.M. Milton, MA Howard Payne Southwestern Assemblies of God 6:00 P.M. Waxahachie, TX Westgate Christian University Mary Hardin-Baylor 6:00 P.M. Belton, TX East Texas Baptist Hendrix 7:00 P.M. Conway, AR