Bulldogs Fall to 8th-Ranked Hardin-Simmons, 45-16, on Senior Day

SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran threw an early scare into No. 8 Hardin-Simmons on Saturday but the Cowboys took control and pulled away for a 45-16 win at Bulldog Stadium in the Bulldogs' season finale.

Texas Lutheran concludes its season with a 4-6 record finishing 3-5 in American Southwest Conference (ASC) play while Hardin-Simmons improved to 9-1, 7-1 ASC.

Prior to the game, Texas Lutheran recognized 13 seniors in pregame Senior Day festivities - recognizing their accomplishments and thanking them for their contributions to the program. Thank you to all 13 seniors for everything over the course of the last four years.

Texas Lutheran limited the high-scoring Cowboys offense to a field goal on their opening drive before responding with a touchdown drive capped off by a receiving touchdown by Cayleb Klostermann (Lyford/Lyford) from senior Seth Cosme (Angleton/Angleton). After blocking the extra point, Hardin-Simmons would score 21 unanswered to take control of the game. A receiving touchdown by senior wide receiver Bryce Samuels (Corsicana/Mildred) with 30 seconds remaining in the half brought the score to 24-13.

Texas Lutheran would never threaten again as the Cowboys outscored the Bulldogs 21-3 in the second half to secure the program's 500th win. A career-long 49-yard field goal from Joaquin Rodriguez (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) would be the Bulldogs only scoring in the second half.

Texas Lutheran managed just 217 yards of total offense. Quarterback Seth Cosme was 20-of-31 for 159 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Running back Jacob Forton (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) finished with 42 yards rushing and 29 yards receiving. Senior tight end Aaron Sotelo (Castroville/Medina Valley) led TLU receivers with six receptions for 44 yards.

Trent Ward (West Columbia/West Columbia) led Texas Lutheran with 13 tackles to finish as the team's leading tackler with 52 tackles on the season. Mason Hardy (Flynn/Normangee), Eugene Robinson IV (Lake Charles, LA/Fort Bend Hightower (TX)), James Gipson (Castroville/Medina Valley), and Joshua Stanton (Houston/Lamar) all finished with six tackles. Khalen Wilkersion (Killeen/Ellison) added three tackles and an interception, his second on the season.

The Bulldogs finish their season with a 4-6 record, 3-5 in the American Southwest Conference. The Bulldogs will graduate a class of 15 seniors. We thank them for all of their contributions to the Texas Lutheran football program.

For more information on Texas Lutheran football, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter and Instagram (@TLU_Football) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).