HBU Huskies rally to upset Lamar Cardinals 24-17

B.J. Kelly (5) and Tony Dawson (11) were the engines powering
the HBU offense in the Huskies' 24-17 win over the Lamar Cardinals.
File photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (October 29, 2016) The Houston Baptist University Huskies used a balanced offensive and defensive effort to down the Lamar Cardinals by the score of 24-17 at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas on Saturday, October 29, 2016. The win was the third of the season for the Huskies and established a new record for wins in a season for the Huskies. They are 3-5 for the season and 2-4 in Southland Conference action. Lamar falls to 3-5 for the season and 3-3 in conference action. The win was also the first road victory for the Huskies in program history.

HBU got on the scoreboard on their first possession of the game when quarterback B.J. Kelly rushed the final three yards of a 14-yard drive. Lamar fumbled the ball on their second play of the game. The mishandle gave the Huskies the ball Lamar 14-yard line. The took HBU four plays to cover the 14 yards. AlecChadwick booted the ball through the uprights for the extra point to give HBU an early 7-0 lead. Lamar responded with a touchdown and extra point seven minutes later when quarterback Chase Robinson completed a six-yard pass to Zae Giles and the kicking conversion by Juan Carranco. The drive covered 60 yards in four plays and lasted 2:24. Lamar took a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter when Carranco kicked a 26-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 57-yard drive. HBU received the ball after the kickoff with 2:02 on the clock, getting three first downs but no points to close out the first 30 minutes of play.

Kelly got the fans in the stadium on their feet early in the third quarter with a 39-yard romp, taking HBU inside the Lamar red zone. Chadwick capped the drive with a 33-yard field goal to tie the score at 10. They added seven points at the 5:21 mark in the third quarter when Tony Dawson hit Mev Ajdin with a 31-yard pass for the score. Chadwick again split the uprights for the extra point to again take the lead 17-10. They added seven more points when Dawson connected with Isaish Hall with a 44-yard pass for the TD and the Chadwick extra point. Lamar responded four minutes later when Adam Morse completed an eight-yard pass to DeWan Thompson. The drive started when HBU fumbled the ball at their 46-yard line. The Huskies took the kickoff at their 33-yard line with 7:57 left in the game at the score in the score favoring HBU 24-17.

Next up for the Huskies is a Saturday, November 5, 2016 non-conference matchup against the University of Texas at El Paso Miners at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST.