Houston Dynamo FC cancel today’s preseason game against Austin Bold FC

Will hold open practice for fans at 1 p.m.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 31, 2021) The preseason game between Houston Dynamo FC and Austin Bold FC scheduled for this afternoon has been canceled after a positive COVID-19 case in the Austin Bold travel party, the clubs announced this morning.

The Dynamo will still welcome fans into BBVA Stadium, and will host an open training session with a 30-minute intrasquad scrimmage beginning at 1 p.m. Fans who have not yet downloaded free tickets for today’s event may still do so at HoustonDynamoFC.com/SingleGame.

Houston will return to BBVA Stadium on April 10 to host FC Dallas in a La Copita preseason game.

McNeese State downs Northwestern State 21-7 in spring football action

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA (March 20, 2021) McNeese State quarterback Cody Orgeron completed 17-of-22 passes and two touchdown as the Cowboys downed the Northwestern State Demons by the score of 21-7 at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches.

On their second possession, at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter, the Demons drove 91 yards in eight plays to score the first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Kaleb Fletcher (Poteet HS, Mesquite, Texas) completed a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Kendrick Price, Jr. (Lindale HS, Lindell, Texas) for the score. The Cowboys evened the score 2:35 later when tight end Jama Pettigrew (St. Augustine HS, New Orleans, Louisiana) caught a two-yard pass from Orgeron (Mandeville HS, Mandeville, Louisiana) to cap a 59-yard drove that lasted 2:29. Both teams converted the kicking extra points to tie the score at seven after 15 minutes of play. After a spirited and intense second quarter, neither team was able to find the end zone, with the score remaining tied at seven at halftime.

It did not take long for McNeese to find the end zone in the third quarter. On the third play in the second half; a first-and-ten play, Oregron finds wide receiver Trevor Begue (St. Thomas More HS, Lafayette, Louisiana) open on the right side of the field; connecting with a 75-yard pass for the Cowboys' second TD of the game. Jacob Abel (Goddard Eisenhower HS, Goddard, Kansas) added the extra point to give McNeese a 14-7 lead with 13:45 remaining in the third quarter. Not limiting their scoring to the air, the Cowboys added a rushing touchdown to the scoreboard six minutes later. Backup quarterback Walker Wood (Lafayette HS, Lafayette, Kentucky) kept the ball and plunged over the goal line from the one-yard line for the third touchdown for the Cowboys. Abel again added the kicking conversion to push the McNeese lead to 21-7 and the eventual win, 

For McNeese, Begue led the game with 165 receiving yards, on eight catches and one touchdown.  Freshman Josh Parker (Catholic HS, baton Rouge, Louisiana) rushed for 77 yards  on 16 carries, with Sam Andre accounting for seven tackles). The Demons were paced by Fletcher, completing 13-of-18 for 177 yards, while Javon Antonio (East St. John HS, LaPlace, Louisiana) caught six passes for 103 yards. The Cowboys raised their season record to 2-3, with a 1-3 mark in Southland Conference action. The Demons fall to 0-3 in both their season and conference games.

HBU Huskies advanced in SLC Tournament with 74-60 win over McNeese State

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 10, 2021) Paced  by the 20 points of Jilija Vujakovic, the No. 8 HBU Huskies downed the number nine ranked McNeese State Cowgirls by the score of 74-60 to advance to the second round of the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Conference  Women's Basketball Tournament.

Those in attendance at the Leonard E. Merrell Center saw three Huskies join Vujakovic, who hails from Bereldange, Luxembourg, connect for double digit scoring.   

N'Denasija Collins (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) tallied 18 points, with Timia Jefferson (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) adding 16, and Kennedy Wilson (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) chipping in 10. Head coach Donna Finnie only played eight players in the game, with the four mentioned above accounting for 64 of the Husky's 74 points.

Divine Tanks  (Barbe HS, Lake Charles, LA) and Shaela Gardner (Chipola College, Memphis, TN) led the Cowgirls with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Next up for the Huskies, in the second round, will be the number five ranked Central Arkansas Sugar Bears. The Sugar Bears received a first-round bye in the tournament, with their last game being a 45-40 loss to Northwestern State on March 6. Central Arkansas and HBU did not play each other this season; having last played on January 1, 2020. In that matchup, the Sugar Bears came out on top by the score of 63-39.

SE Louisiana, HBU Huskies advance to 2nd round in SLC Tourney

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March, 9, 2021) The No 8 Southeastern Louisiana Lions and No. 10 HBU Huskies advanced to the second round of the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.

Game One
Southeastern Louisiana Lions: 71
McNeese State Cowboys: 68

The Lions edged the number 9 seeded McNeese State Cowboys by the score of 71-68.   Starting forward Gus Okafor led the Lions with 26 points followed by Startinbg guard Isiah Kirby with 14. Starting forward Nick Caldwell pulled down 13 rebounds.

For the Cowboys, starting forward Carlos Rosario scored 18 points with eight rebounds, while starting guard A.J. Lawson added 12 points.

Game Two

HBU Huskies: 80

Incarnate Word Cardinals: 68

The Huskies shot 50% from the field (27/54) from the field and 73% from the free throw line in the win. 

Starting guards Hunter Janacek and Pedro Castro scored 18 and 21 points to pace the Huskies, with Castro pulling down nine boards. Starting Center Zach Iyeyemi added 10 points.

For the Cardinals, starting guard Keaston Willis scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds.