SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Howard Payne QB Richard Young threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jacket football team to a 30-27 season opening victory over Trinity University.
Down 27-23 after a Trinity touchdown with 3:45 left in the game, the Yellow Jackets got a 60-yard kickoff return by Victor Gonzales down to the Trinity 32 yard line to set up the game winning score.
Richard Young then hit Cameron Wong on a 10-yard shovel pass for a TD with 2:28 left in the game. The Joshua Martinez extra point was good to give the Jackets the lead 30-27.
Trinity then returned the HPU kickoff down to the HPU 39-yard. The HPU defensive come up big and forced a fumble which was recovered by Austin Williamson to stop the Trinity drive and secure the win.
Coby Mica was Richard Young’s favorite target in the game as Mica had 14 receptions for 145 yards. Young was 36 of 51 passing for 365 yards, two TDs and one interception.
The Yellow Jacket offensive line was solid not giving up a sack all game.
After a Howard Payne muffed punt, Trinity scored on an 8 yard run with 5:03 on the clock in the first quarter to open a 7-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets responded on their next drive when Blayne Parisher received a 19 yard TD pass from Richard Young, the Joshua Martinez kick was good. The drive took 9 plays, 88 yards, over 2:42 tying the game at 7-7.
HPU would score on their next possession to take the lead 13-7 (Martinez kick failed). Justin Acosta ran it in from 4 yards out capping a 6 play, 44 yard drive taking 1:32 off the clock in the second.
With 7:17 remaining in the first half, Trinity took the lead 14-13 on a 4 yard TD pass from Mason Blaschke.
HPU then gained the lead back 16-14 right before the half when Joshua Martinez hit a 26 yard field goal with no time on the clock. It capped an 11 plays, 71 yard drive that
took 3:04.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Jackets had their best drive of the game. A 16 plays, 97 yard drive taking 5:12 off the clock that finished with a one-yard run by Zarron Dove (Joshua Martinez kick good). 23-14 HPU
Trinity then scored on back to back possessions to take a 27-21 lead with 3:45 left in the game.
Zarron Dove finished with 73 yards on 15 carries. Dove also caught three passes for 35 yards. Sayvon Young-Cormier had four catches for 65 yards.
Chris Hickey had a team high 11 tackles for the Jackets followed by Jordan Shaw, Adrian Hopkins, Nigal Deas and Patrick Tobin all with nine apiece.
Trinity was led by Travis Williams with 137 yards on 25 carries and two TDs. TU QB Mason Blachke threw for 208 yards and two TDs but was sacked but the HPU defense three times. Jai Boatman and Camden Joubert each had 14 tackles for Trinity.
Howard Payne will be on the road again next week taking out Wayland Baptist University in non-conference action starting at 2:00 pm.
