Howard Payne’s Richard Young threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 47-36 conference victory over East Texas Baptist University Saturday afternoon at Gordon Wood Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets would score three touchdowns in the second quarter and three in the third quarter to open up a 44-20 lead going into the final quarter of action.
After a 30 minute lightning delay midway through the fourth, ETBU made a strong comeback scoring on a 45-yard pass with 6:11 left to play, two point conversion was good. The Tigers then recovered an onside kick and scored on a 1-yard run with just 1:11 later. Another two point conversion by ETBU would bring then to within eight, 44-36, with five minutes to play.
On the next drive, HPU’s Joshua Martinez would hit a 31-yard field goal to extend the Jackets lead to 47-36 with 2:18 remaining.
The Howard Payne defense then forced ETBU to turnover the ball on downs thanks to back to back sacks by freshman Patrick Hunt.
HPU’s Richard Young was 31-for-41 for 372 yards and four TDs. Young also rushed for 65 yards on six carries with two TDs. Colby Mica had 12 catches for 120 yards and two TDs. Zarron Dove had 9 catches for 91 yards and a TD. Dove also had 16 carries for 63 yards. Tristian Fuentes added two catches for 50 yards and a TD.
Jordan Shaw led the HPU defense with 10 tackles. Xavier McFalls and Adrian Hopkins each added nine tackles, Hopkins assisted on a sack.
HPU safety and punter Josh Eppler finished with eight tackles, one for loss, and three punts for 143 yards, a 47.7 average. Eppler had a long punt of 69 yards in the game.
ETBU’s Josh Warbington was 36-for-51 passing for 418 yards and two TDs. Jamaine Sherman had 13 catches for 258 yards and two TDs.
Howard Payne is now 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ASC play, ETBU falls to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in conference action. The Jackets will travel to Belton, Texas to take on nationally ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor at 1:00 pm.
