BELTON, Texas – The Howard Payne University football team enters the American Southwest Conference schedule undefeated for the first time in three seasons. When it was last done in 2023, the Yellow Jackets faced Hardin-Simmons at 3-0. This time, HPU travels to Belton with five straight wins behind them to face the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a team currently ranked 19
th in all of Division III, according to
d3football.com.
THE ESSENTIALS
- WHO: Howard Payne Yellow Jackets (4-0) @ #19 Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders (3-1)
- WHERE: Belton, Texas | Crusader Stadium
- WHEN: Saturday, October 10 | 1:00 PM CT
WHERE TO FOLLOW
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE CRUSADERS
- Howard Payne is 2-27 against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- UMHB holds a 21-game winning streak over Howard Payne, dating back to the Yellow Jackets' last win over the Crusaders in 2005, 24-20.
- The Crusaders have scored over 40 points in each of the last four pairings.
- 41 = The most points Howard Payne has put up against UMHB back in a 41-14 win over the Crusaders in 1998.
HOWARD PAYNE TEAM STATS
- In just year two of the Coby Gipson era, the Yellow Jackets sit second in the nation in total offense at 541 yards per game, while the pass attack is third in Division III with an average of 363.8 yards over four games.
- In the American Southwest Conference, Howard Payne remains the only team to average over 300 passing yards.
- Howard Payne has held the ball among the best in Division III, ranking fourth in time of possession at 35:26.
- HPU is second in the conference at converting on third down (56.6%). Over the last two games, that percentage jumps to 64%, with the Jackets going 16-25 against Simpson College and Nelson University.
- Howard Payne has defended the run game well, only allowing 78.8 yards per contest, good for second-best in the ASC.
- The Yellow Jacket defense has forced the most fumbles (5) of anyone in the conference, recovering a league-high four along with East Texas Baptist.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS FOR THE JACKETS
- Bryce Still fell from first to second in the country last week in average passing yards (347.5). Still leads the ASC in total offense by nearly 300 yards (1,430).
- Blessing Ngene and J.D. Mays have split carries in the HPU backfield. Ngene ranks second in the ASC in total rush yards (330) while J.D. ranks fourth (273). Bill Ngene's four touchdowns also sit second in the conference.
- The Howard Payne receiving room loses Preztynn Harrison this weekend due to injury, but has seen plenty of depth early in the season. Ellis Myers' four touchdowns is tied for second in the ASC while Deuce Martin is fourth in receiving yards (474). Jamel Toney-Black also entered the mix last week with his first touchdown grab against Nelson for 20 yards.
- Defensively, a monster Week 5 from Hezekiah Parker threw him into the conference lead for TFL yards (44). Kevin Jacobs remains tied for second in total pass breakups with four.
- On special teams, Deuce Martin sits alone in all of Division III in average return yards (42.7). Meanwhile, Osvaldo Gomez is one of 11 kickers in Division III to remain 100% on field goals (5-for-5).
#19 MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR TEAM STATS
- A 64-point performance last week against Keystone upped the Crusaders scoring average to 38.8 points per game, ranking fourth in the conference.
- The UMHB offensive line has only allowed two sacks through four games, tying them with Hardin-Simmons at the top of the ASC.
- The Crusader secondary is keeping opposing quarterbacks on edge, ranking second in the conference with five interceptions.
- Right behind Howard Payne, the kickoff unit has shortened the field for the offense, averaging 31.6 yards per return.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS FOR THE CRUSADERS
- Carson Horton will steer the offense at quarterback. The junior transfer from Tulsa ranks third in the league in passing touchdowns (8).
- In the backfield, Maurice Moore is a top five running back in the conference with 259 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
- The UMHB secondary is full of capable breakout stars. All of Nikk Williams, Gavin Brzezinski, Keilan Carver, Cody Chapman, and Jaylin Hawkins have recorded an interception this year.
- Up front, Thony Tshitenge leads the ASC in sacks (2.5) while Chase Battles and Trevor Tamplin are in the top six for TFL, each with 4.5.
UP NEXT: The longest stretch away from home continues into Week 7. Howard Payne packs their bags for Kerrville to take on Schreiner University, a newcomer to the ASC, on Saturday, October 17, with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
