HBU downs Texas Southern Tigers for first win of season

HBU's Terrence Peters rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2106 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 10, 2016) Houston Baptist University came from behind late in the game to overcome a stubborn Texas Southern University squad; downing the Tigers by the score of 28-24 at Husky Stadium on the campus of HBU on Saturday, September 10, 2016. The Huskies came into the game with a 0-1 record after losing to Central Arkansas on the road by the score of 56-13 on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. TSU also posted a 0-1 record before the game after dropping a 29-25 decision to Prairie View A&M in the Labor Day Classic at Panther Stadium in Prairie View, Texas on Sunday, September 4, 2016. HBU head coach Vic Shealy stated after the game, 

"Sometimes when we don't have a habit of winning, you look for opportunities to grow up as a program and how you handle adversity, and that's one of the things we've challenged our guys with is whether you're winning or a team that's struggling in our league, everyone is going to have adversity and everyone is going to have those good snaps, as a team you just persevere and keep chopping away."

On their first drive of the game, HBU quarterback Tony Dawson engineered an 85-yard drive in seven plays that resulted in the first score of the game. The senior from Palmdale, California, handed off the ball to running back Terrance Peters, who scampered the final 29 yards of the drive for first touchdown of the season. Alec Chadwick booted the ball through the uprights for the extra point, to give the Huskies a 7-0 at the 12:19 mark in the first quarter.

After a nice 40-yard drive; which stalled after seven plays, HBU sent in Chadwick to attempt a 43-yard field goal. The sophomore transfer from Valencia, California was wide right; turning over the ball with 9:24 remaining in the first half. Chadwick was two-for-three in field goals against Central Arkansas in HBU’s first game of the season. After a late-quarter drive that lasted three plays for minus-four yards, the Huskies punted and gave TSU the ball on their own 38-yard drive. On the first play of the series, Averion Hurts threw an incomplete pass to Austin Watts; which was ruled as pass interference against Dere Broussard. TSU took the ball on the HBU 47-yard line and drove the 47 yards in three pass to conclude with a 16-yard rush by Cook for a touchdown. Eric Medina kicked the extra point tying the score with 3:46 to go in the half.

In the third quarter on their possession, HBU moved 62 yards down the field, capping the drive with a 22-yard Chadwick field goal to give the Huskies a three-point lead at the 8:27 mark. TSU started their next drive on their 30-yard line. On a third-and-ten play, Hurts was sacked by Garrett Dolan for a 15-yard loss, causing the quarterback to fumble. The ball was picked up by an alert Terrance Manderville and he headed for the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Chadwick was successful on the conversion to give the Huskies a 17-7 lead with 6:35 to go in the quarter.

Texas Southern finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Hurt completed an eight-yard pass to Austin Watts for a touchdown. The extra point kick by Eric Medina was blocked by Manderville making the score 17-13 with 7:47 remaining in regulation. After a series in downs, HBU punter Christian Guzman booting the ball 47 yards to the TSU seven-yard line. Watts caught the punt and promptly return the ball 93 yards for a TSU touchdown. Medina’s extra point kick was good to give the Tigers a 20-17 lead with 5:53 left in the game. HBU did not allow TSU to lead the game for long. After the TSU kickoff, the Huskies drove 75 yards in five plays; finishing the drive with a Peters 51-yard touchdown run. Chadwick again booted the extra point for again give HBU a 24-20 lead with 4:08 left in the game. Peters finished the games with 14 carries and a school-record 155 yards rushing; and two touchdowns

The win was the first of the season for the Huskies and the fifth in program history. In their inaugural season (2014), they beat Texas College 72-6 and Nicholls State 31-21. In 2015, they downed Bethany College 51-7 and College of Faith 65-0. Next up for HBU is a September 17 home matchup against Abilene Christian while TSU also has a home game against Mississippi Valley State. Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. CDT kickoff.