Texas Southern Tigers fall to cross-town opponent HBU Huskies

Bailey Zappe completed 16-of-32 passes for 248 yards,
the second-most in HBU history.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 7, 2017) The Houston Baptist University Huskies pushed their 2017 season record to 1-1 with a 24-17 win over the Texas Southern Tigers at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Friday, September 7, 2017. In the two times the Huskies and Tigers faced each other, HBU has come out on top, including a 24-20 win in 2016.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard first with a 27-yard field goal by Aaron Cuevas to cap an eight play, 81-yard drive to take an early 3-0 lead after 8:15 of play. HBU responded 22 seconds later, on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff and return, when quarterback Bailey Zappe found Ethan Fry open down the field and connected with the senior wide received for a 60-yard pass for six points. Alec Chadwick added the kicking conversion to give the Huskies a 7-3 lead. TSU regained the lead with 2:08 left in the first half when Jay Christohe carried the ball the final one yard for the score. The quarterback keeper play completed a two play, 62-yard drive to go to the locker room with a 10-7 lead at halftime.

After some serious give-and-take play in the third quarter, HBU took back the lead at the 6:13 mark of the third quarter; with a one-yard run by Zappe for the Husky's second TD of the game. Chadwick converted for the extra point to move the score to 14-10 in favor of HBU. They added a field goal with 7:18 to go in the game when Chadwick booted a 36 yarder to give the Huskies a seven point lead (17-10). The Huskies added an insurance touchdown and extra point on a 33-yard rush by James Brown and another Chadwick kick with 2:12 left in the game. The Tigers put together a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive to close out the game scoring with 23 seconds left in the game.

Zappe completed 16-of-32 passes for 248 yards, the second-most in school history, a touchdown and an interception for the Huskies.  Brown carried 14 times for 118 yards while Fry caught three passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Senior linebackers Garrett Dolan and Cody Moncure each had eight tackles for HBU. Junior cornerback Raphael Lewis made five tackles and broke up four passes, while senior safety Taylor Thompson had four tackles and a key interception. Senior punter Christian Guzman averaged 44.0 yards on seven punts, with six of them landing inside the 20.