FRISCO, Texas – The Howard Payne University football team used a potent passing attack, a momentum-shifting kickoff return and two key second-half takeaways to pull away for a 52-28 victory over Simpson on Saturday at Ford Center at The Star.
The Yellow Jackets finished with 554 yards of total offense and improved to 3-0 on the season. Quarterback Bryce Still completed 24 of 32 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns, while the offense produced eight touchdowns and converted 10 of 14 third-down opportunities.
Howard Payne opened the scoring on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Still to Ellis Myers, but Simpson answered almost immediately when Jayden Thoreson found Noah Cracraft for a 79-yard touchdown to even the game at 7-7.
After a field goal put the Yellow Jackets ahead 10-7, Simpson took its lone lead of the game midway through the second quarter on Thoreson's 37-yard touchdown pass to Casey Godbout. Howard Payne responded in dramatic fashion when Deuce Martin returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, swinging momentum back to the Yellow Jackets and giving them a 17-14 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets extended the lead just before halftime when JD Mays scored on a 2-yard run with 13 seconds remaining, sending Howard Payne into the locker room with a 24-14 lead.
Simpson narrowed the gap to 24-21 early in the third quarter on another long touchdown connection between Thoreson and Cracraft, this one covering 61 yards. Howard Payne answered quickly, however, as Still connected with Blessing Ngene for a 42-yard touchdown and later found Preztynn Harrison on a 14-yard scoring strike to push the lead to 38-21 entering the fourth quarter.
The Yellow Jackets put the game away in the final period. Following one of two forced fumbles, Howard Payne marched 90 yards and capped the drive with Ngene's 1-yard touchdown run. Davyon Mapps added a 3-yard scoring run in the closing minutes to seal the 24-point victory.
Still spread the ball among eight receivers, with Martin leading the way with five catches for 104 yards. Myers added four receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown, Harrison hauled in four catches for 63 yards and a score, and Ngene finished with 69 receiving yards and two total touchdowns.
Simpson was led by Thoreson, who threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns. Cracraft recorded nine receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Howard Payne forced and recovered two fumbles. Donte Zeno and Braeden Dozier each recovered a turnover, while Ryan Campbell and Armani Franklin were credited with forced fumbles.
Howard Payne controlled the statistical battle, outgaining Simpson 554-405, recording 25 first downs and holding the ball for more than 33 minutes in the victory in front of 2,178 spectators in Frisco.
UP NEXT: Howard Payne football returns to Brownwood for Homecoming weekend on Saturday, October 3 at Gordon Wood Stadium against Nelson University. Kick off is set for 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
