So close!  The Howard Payne University football team held a two touchdown lead at halftime but lost to Texas Lutheran University 39-38 Saturday afternoon at Gordon Wood Stadium.  This was the first game of a shortened Spring season of football.

The Yellow Jackets racked up 468 total yards of offense, just below the 487 by Texas Lutheran. The Yellow Jackets rushed for 159 yards and passed for 309. HPU had 19 first downs compared to 25 for TLU. HPU scores as follows, provided by Howard Payne Athletics.

2Q -13:37 – HPU – Smith, Selah 41 yd pass from McKinney, Landon ( kick) 3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:23

2Q – 10:54 – HPU – McKinney, Landon 25 yd run ( kick), 5 plays, 46 yards, TOP 01:39

2Q – 04:31 – HPU – McKinney, Landon 16 yd run (Phipps, Blake kick), 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:54

3Q – 07:17 – HPU – Phipps, Blake 42 yd field goal 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:28

4Q – 14:18 – HPU – Parker, Jake 8 yd pass from McKinney, Landon (Phipps, Blake kick) 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:51

4Q – 08:35 – HPU – Reagins, Billy 2 yd run (Phipps, Blake kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:12

Additional information on the game is available at this link.

Next up for the Yellow Jackets is a short road trip to Abilene this coming Saturday, February 13, to take on the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys.  The game kicks at 12:00 noon.