ALPINE, Texas – The Howard Payne University football team scored with 1:15 remaining to tie the game but the Lobos of Sul Ross State University score before time expired to defeat the Yellow Jackets 37-30 to open American Southwest Conference play.
HPU’s Zach Hubbard found Jared Shaw in the end zone for a 10-yard TD with 1:15 left on the game clock. After the Mitchell Bailey kickoff went out of bounds, Sul Ross State scored on three plays for their 40 yard line.
Sul Ross State scored on three consecutive passes of 6, 11, and 43 yards. BJ Vickers hauled in the game winning 43 yard TD pass with 42 seconds remaining in the game to win 37-30.
Howard Payne got on the scoreboard first in the game. On their first play from scrimmage, Hubbard hit Andre Dean in the flats and he took it 60 yards for the scored with 11:48 left in the first.
Hubbard was 26 of 41 passing for 363 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INT. Hubbard’s two interceptions came at the goal line costing the Jackets red-zone opportunities.
Bailey hit a 19-yard field goal to start the second quarter, but the Jackets were unable to score the rest of the first half. HPU went into the locker room down 13-10.
Sul Ross extended their led to 23-10 in the third. Hubbard then scored on a 1-yard run with 14:41 left in the game to cap a 7 play 69-yard drive.
Sul Ross bit back with Johnny Stewart taking the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, 30-16 Sul Ross.
The Jackets then battled back with a Hubbard 2-yard TD run and the Shaw 10-yard TD reception with 1:15 remaining.
Andre dean had a great offensive game for HPU with 9 catches for 196 yards and one TD. Shaw had 8 catches for 70 yards and a TD.
Sul Ross was led by Lee Carothers with 8 catches for 155 yards and 2 TDs. Kellen Gierke had 9 tackles. Demetrius Cody and Dustin McClure led the Jacket defense with 15 and 10 tackles respectively.
The Jackets fall to 1-2 overall and Sul Ross improves to 1-1. HPU will be back at home next week against Texas Lutheran at 1:00 pm.
