ABILENE – The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets carried the American Southwest Conference’s No. 1 offense into Shelton Stadium Saturday, where the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys – in possession of the league’s top-rated defense – emerged with a 41-14 victory.
Howard Payne (1-2) entered the contest averaging 45.5 points and 572.5 yards per game, but was limited to a pair of touchdowns and 282 total yards.
Hardin-Simmons (3-0), which owned the ASC’s second-best offense prior to the contest, produced 601 yards – 324 rushing and 277 passing – and tallied all of its points in the first three quarters.
After spotting the Cowboys the first 27 points, the Yellow Jackets scored a second-quarter touchdown on a 15-yard run by Billy Reagins, and added a third-quarter score on a 5-yard carry by quarterback Landon McKinney.