Box Score SEGUIN, Texas – Howard Payne University football moved to 2-0 on the season with a balanced offensive effort and timely defensive plays in a 28-18 victory over Texas Lutheran University Saturday evening at Bulldog Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets scored in every quarter, using a 190-yard rushing performance to control the tempo. Running back Blessing Ngene led the ground attack with 78 yards and two touchdowns, including a decisive 33-yard score with just 40 seconds left in the contest.

HPU answered an early TLU touchdown with a big-play strike late in the first quarter as Ellis Myers broke free for a 48-yard rushing touchdown to even the score at 7-7. The Jackets took the lead for good in the second quarter when Ngene powered in from 11 yards out, giving HPU a 14-7 advantage at halftime.

Quarterback Kahliq Paulette directed a key third-quarter drive, finding Mateo Hernandez for a 26-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-7. The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit with a field goal and a late touchdown pass, but HPU's defense held firm, highlighted by Ryan Campbell's second-quarter interception and Derrick Lewis' sack that halted a TLU drive.

On special teams, Osvaldo Gomez was perfect on four extra points, and Elijah Cobos averaged nearly 40 yards per punt, twice pinning TLU inside the 20.
Defensively, Justin Kay paced the Jackets with nine tackles, while Jerwayne Parker added seven stops, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. HPU blocked three kicks on the night, frustrating the Bulldogs' kicking game.

Howard Payne finished with 303 yards of total offense, converting twice in the red zone and controlling possession for over 31 minutes. The Jackets' defense limited TLU to just 4-of-19 on third-down attempts and forced two turnovers.

With the win, HPU improves to 2-0 on the season, while TLU falls to 0-2. The Jackets return to action next Saturday, hosting Wayland Baptist University for an 11:00am kickoff at Gordon Wood Stadium.