The Howard Payne football team could not overcome a 21-point second quarter by Trinity University, falling in their season opener 47-29 Saturday evening at Gordon Wood Stadium.
Howard Payne matched Trinity 7-7 in the first quarter and outscored Trinity 22-19 in the second half but it was a three touchdown second quarter that the Yellow Jackets could not recover from.
Trinity gained 457 yards of total offense, 241 yards on the ground. The Jackets would top Trinity in passing yards 274 to 216 but the Jackets only managed 90 yards on the ground.
Trinity scored first with 8:20 on the clock in the first quarter. The Jackets would answer right back capping a nine play 65-yard drive with a Richard Young 23-yard pass to Tristian Fuentes with 4:44 remaining in the first.
After Trinity’s three-score second quarter, the Jackets would score first in the third on a Young 27-yard pass to Sayvon Young-Cormier. It was a 10-play 93 yard drive taking 3:01 off the clock. After a Jacket two-point conversion, it was 28-15 Trinity.
Trinity would then score twice in the third on a 3-yard run and 11-yard pass. Trinity’s second extra-point attempt failed and the score was 41-15 Trinity going into the fourth.
The Jackets would then score on a 1-yard pass from Young to Fuentes capping a 9-play 60-yard drive, then on a 3-yard pass from Young to Colby Mica with 48 seconds left in the game. 47-29 final.
Jeremy Simmons led Trinity 106 yards on 13 carries and one TD. QB Mason Blaschke threw for 186 yards and two TDs. Tommy Boboy had three catches for 91 yards and two TDs.
Howard Payne was led by Richard Young with 24 of 40 passing for 274 yards and four TDs. Zarron Dove had 56 yards on 12 carries. Astin Murray had 69 yards receiving on five catches. Colby Mica had six catches for 68 yards and a TD.
The Jackets will travel to Waxahachie next week to take on Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 6:00 pm.
