Texas Lutheran drops conference contest 33-14 at Hardin-Simmons

ABILENE, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons jumped out to a 19-0 lead early and collected a 33-14 American Southwest Conference victory Saturday over Texas Lutheran.

At HSU's Shelton Stadium, the Cowboys took a quick 14-0 lead on a pair of Kyle Jones touchdown passes in the first quarter. Jones hit Matt Sandoval for a 28-yard touchdown and then hit Cade Bell for a 71-yarder.

HSU improved to 2-0 and to 2-0 in the ASC. TLU fell to 2-1 overall and to 2-1 in the ASC. The conference is playing a five-game, regular-season schedule due to the changes in intercollegiate athletics brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSU increased its lead to 19-0 after scoring a safety on a blocked punt and getting a Jamie Pogue 33-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with Wade Freeman III's 21-yard touchdown pass to Mason Perkins. The touchdown strike came at the 12:21 mark of the second quarter.

HSU took advantage of a fumbled snap on a punt late in the first half, scoring a touchdown on a Marc Reed 1-yard run with only 23 seconds to play in the half.

HSU led 26-7 at the break.

The Cowboys pushed the lead to 33-7 on a Jones 5-yard run at the 4:31 mark in the third quarter.

TLU scored early in the fourth quarter on a Seth Cosme 1-yard run. That touchdown capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive that took 4:11 off the clock.

The Bulldogs had 17 first downs to HSU's 16, but the BUlldogs were just 4-for-13 on third down. HSU was 8-for-16.

The Cowboys tallied 391 yards of total offense to TLU's 290. The Bulldogs, who rushed for nearly 400 yards in last week's home win over Sul Ross State, were held to 90 yards rushing Saturday.

Jones finished his day 12-for-19 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Cosme was 8-for-15 for 95 yards with a long toss of 21. Freeman was 3-for-5 for 88 yards with a long of 60.

Perkins led all receivers with 91 yards receiving on three catches.

Cole Cooley led TLU in total tackles, with nine. He had eight solo stops and two tackles for loss. James Bell produced eight total tackles.

The Bulldogs are back in action next Saturday for a home game in Bulldog Stadium against McMurry. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Free live video and live stats will be available on tlubulldogs.com.