Houston Dash announce 2025 season schedule

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 22, 2025) The Houston Dash are ready to kick off an exciting 2025 season. The National Women’s Soccer League released the full schedule, including 26 games for the Dash under new leadership. Angela Hucles Mangano takes the reins as President of Women’s Soccer, and Fabrice Guatrat steps in as the team’s sixth head coach.

The season opener is set for Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. CT, when the Dash face the Washington Spirit at Shell Energy Stadium. The first fans through the gates will receive a Houston Dash wall flag, thanks to Shell Energy. Fans will also see new players like Yazmeen Ryan, Danielle Colaprico, Delanie Sheehan, and Christen Westphal in action alongside favorites like Jane Campbell, Diana Ordóñez, and Natalie Jacobs.

The schedule includes some thrilling matchups. Four of the first five games are against teams that made the playoffs last year. On March 28, the Dash host NJ/NY Gotham FC for She Shines Night, celebrating inspiring women. The two-game homestand wraps up with Angel City FC on April 12.

Nine Dash games will air on national TV this season, starting with an away match against Kansas City on April 19. Games will be broadcast on ION+, Prime Video, ESPN, and CBS Sports Network.

Fans can grab season memberships starting at $235, which include perks like discounted concessions and merchandise, plus special pricing on extra tickets. Hustle Town memberships are available for around $150. Single-game tickets are also on sale, with options to donate toward cancer research when purchasing online.

The schedule features fun theme nights like Pride Night on June 13, Kids Day on May 24, and Pups at the Pitch on May 2. The Dash wrap up the home season with Fan Appreciation Night on Oct. 18 and play their final regular-season game in Portland on Nov. 2.

HCU Huskies hold off Islanders in exciting win

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 20, 2025)  Houston Christian University jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 76-72 win against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Monday night at Sharp Gym. The Huskies stopped the Islanders’ six-game winning streak and ended their homestand with a solid 3-1 record.

HCU started strong, building a 16-point lead in the first half. Julian Mackey and Elijah Brooks led the charge, combining for 23 first-half points. The Huskies' defense also shined, forcing 18 turnovers and scoring 21 points off steals. At halftime, HCU led 45-32.

The Islanders fought back in the second half, cutting the lead to four with 8:59 left. Jordan Roberts sparked the comeback with 11 straight points, including three three-pointers. However, the Huskies stayed steady. Mackey scored seven straight points to push the lead back to seven, and HCU sealed the game by hitting 9 of 12 free throws in the final minutes.

Mackey led all scorers with 19 points and added three blocks. Brooks scored 16, hitting 8 of 12 from the free-throw line. Trent Johnson had a career-high 13 points, and D’Aundre Samuels added 12 points and tied for the game-high with three steals.

The Islanders also had four players in double figures. Roberts scored 14 points off the bench, while Isaac Williams added 13. Gary Clark had 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Stephen Giwa chipped in 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

HCU shot 42% from three-point range and 77% from the free-throw line, which proved to be the difference. TAMUCC shot 47% from the floor but struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 57%.

The win pushes HCU to 8-11 overall and 5-3 in Southland Conference play. Next up, the Huskies hit the road for four straight games, starting Saturday against the University of New Orleans.

HCU Huskies hold off UIW Cardinals for 81-76 win

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 11, 2025) The Houston Christian University Huskies kicked off their four-game homestand with a thrilling 81-76 win over the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Sharp Gymnasium. Playing at home for the first time in over a month, the Huskies closed the game on an 8-2 run, locking up their second straight victory and improving to 6-10 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference play.

The game started with an unusual twist: an administrative technical foul gave HCU a 1-0 lead before the opening tip. After that, both teams traded punches in a fast-paced first half. HCU’s Julian Mackey hit two three-pointers and led a scoring burst that turned a six-point deficit into a 41-36 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Cardinals cut into the Huskies’ lead, and the teams went back and forth. HCU looked to pull away midway through the half thanks to a hot streak from Bryson Dawkins and D’Aundre Samuels, who combined for 19 straight points. Dawkins hit four three-pointers in the game and finished with a team-high 17 points.

Despite HCU’s strong push, UIW stormed back late, taking a 74-73 lead with 3:46 left. But the Huskies wouldn’t be denied. stepped up with two clutch layups, including one with under two minutes remaining to reclaim the lead. Brooks finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

HCU’s defense locked down the Cardinals in the final minutes, holding them to just two points over the last 3:46. Dawkins and Trent Johnson added key free throws to seal the win.

The Huskies shot a sizzling 54% from the field and matched their season-best with 11 three-pointers, hitting 52% from deep.

The Cardinals (9-7, 2-3 Southland) were led by Jordan Pyke’s 27 points, but their comeback fell short.

Next, the Huskies face conference leader McNeese State at Sharp Gym on Monday night at 7 p.m.

Texas State overcomes North Texas at SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Story and photos by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS (January 3, 2025)  In an exciting finish, the Texas State Bobcats edged the North Texas Mean Green 30-28 in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Friday at Gerald J Ford Stadium on the SMU campus. Running back Lincoln Pare led the Bobcats with 143 yards on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns. His standout moment was a 73-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, which proved crucial for the team's victory.

Quarterback Jordan McCloud also had a strong performance for Texas State, completing 26 of 35 passes for 307 yards. He threw one touchdown pass to Jaden Williams, who caught eight passes totaling 155 yards. This win marks the Bobcats' second consecutive First Responder Bowl victory, concluding their season with an 8-5 record.

For North Texas, quarterback Drew Mestemaker, a former walk-on, made his first college start. He completed 26 of 41 passes for 393 yards, throwing two touchdowns but also two interceptions. Mestemaker showcased his athleticism with a remarkable 70-yard touchdown run that brought the Mean Green within two points late in the game. Despite his efforts, North Texas was unable to secure the win, finishing their season at 6-7.

The game began with Texas State taking an early lead through a 34-yard field goal by Mason Shipley. North Texas quickly responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Mestemaker to Miles Coleman. The teams traded scores throughout the first half, with Texas State holding a narrow 16-14 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Bobcats extended their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Pare. North Texas answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Mackenzie McGill II, narrowing the gap. However, Pare's explosive 73-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter gave Texas State a 30-21 advantage. Mestemaker's 70-yard touchdown run brought the Mean Green close, but a late interception sealed the victory for the Bobcats.

Texas State and North Texas to meet in SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS (January 2, 2025) The North Texas Mean Green (6-6) and Texas State Bobcats (7-5) are set to face off in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Friday, January 3, 2025. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. CT at Gerald J. Ford Stadium and will air on ESPN. 

This matchup marks the second straight year the bowl features two Texas teams. North Texas is making history as the first team to play in the bowl three times. They previously beat UNLV in 2013 (36-14) and lost to Army in 2016 (38-31). Texas State, on the other hand, is playing in the bowl for the second time. They won last year’s game against Rice, 45-21.

The game also marks the 40th meeting between these two schools but the first since 1994. North Texas leads the all-time series 29-7-3. This will be their first matchup as FBS programs.

North Texas, led by second-year coach Eric Morris, averaged 34 points and 488.7 yards per game this season. Quarterback Chandler Morris has thrown for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Mean Green are playing in their 15th bowl game (3-11 overall).

Texas State is led by coach GJ Kinne, also in his second season. The Bobcats scored 37.1 points per game and ranked sixth nationally in total offense. Running back Ismail Mahdi is just nine yards away from 1,000 on the season, while quarterback Jordan McCloud has 2,920 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. This is Texas State’s second bowl appearance (1-0 overall).

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl honors first responders like police officers, firefighters, and EMS workers. The event began in 2010 and has been held at Gerald J. Ford Stadium since 2018. 

Sugar Bowl postponed until Thursday, January 2

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (January 1, 2025) The 2025 Allstate Sugar Bowl between the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish has been postponed following the terrorist attack in New Orleans. Early on New Year's Day, a truck drove into a crowd in the French Quarter, resulting in at least 15 deaths and many injuries.

The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Caesars Superdome, located near the incident site. In light of the attack, officials have rescheduled the game for Thursday at 3 p.m. CT. This decision was made to ensure public safety and allow law enforcement to secure the area.

Both teams are taking extra precautions. The Georgia Bulldogs are staying in their hotel under a shelter-in-place order, and all team members from both schools have been accounted for. However, reports indicate that a University of Georgia student was critically injured in the attack.

The matchup at this year's Sugar Bowl serves as a quarterfinal in the College Football Playoff. The winner will advance to the Orange Bowl to face Penn State.

In response to the attack, security measures around the Superdome have been increased to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans. Authorities are working diligently to secure the area and provide a safe environment for the rescheduled game.

LSU downs Baylor in Kinder's Texas Bowl

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 1, 2025, All Rights Reserved) The LSU Tigers wrapped up their season in style, defeating the Baylor Bears 44-31 on Tuesday afternoon (December 31, 2024) to win the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led the charge, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns as LSU ended their year with a strong 9-4 record.

The Tigers wasted no time making their presence felt. On their first drive, Nussmeier connected with freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green for a crucial 5-yard first down on 4th-and-5. A few plays later, Nussmeier found Green again for a 10-yard touchdown, giving LSU a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

Baylor tried to respond, but LSU’s defense stepped up. Freshman linebacker Davhon Keys intercepted Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. That play made Keys just the third LSU player ever to score a pick-six in a bowl game. LSU’s lead quickly grew to 14-0.

The Bears fought back with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Robertson to Josh Cameron, cutting the lead to 14-7. But LSU’s offense wasn’t done. Nussmeier delivered a 40-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hilton Jr., and the Tigers were back in control at 21-7.

Hilton continued to shine, hauling in a 43-yard catch that set up another touchdown. Nussmeier found Green for his second touchdown catch of the game, extending the Tigers’ lead to 28-7. The LSU defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs when Robertson was sacked by Whit Weeks and Sai’vion Jones.

Baylor showed some life before halftime. They blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt and scored on a Dawson Pendergrass touchdown run, trimming LSU’s lead to 28-14. But LSU answered right back. Zavion Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 34-14. It was LSU’s second kickoff return touchdown of the season, marking a first in the SEC era.

In the second half, Baylor tried to rally. They scored on a 4-yard pass from Robertson to Ashtyn Hawkins, narrowing the score to 34-24. LSU turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions, but Baylor couldn’t capitalize. A bad snap on 4th-and-1 gave the Tigers the ball back.

LSU’s offense found its rhythm again in the fourth quarter. Running back Josh Williams powered in a 4-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 41-24. Kicker Damian Ramos added a 43-yard field goal, making it 44-24.

Baylor scored one last time with a 3-yard rush from Pendergrass, but it wasn’t enough. The Tigers’ defense stood firm, and LSU secured the win.

This victory capped off an exciting season for LSU, who now looks ahead to their 2025 opener against Clemson on August 30.