Huskies fall to Cardinals in tough season closer

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

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 22, 2025) The HCU Huskies wrapped up their football season with a hard-fought loss to the Incarnate Word Cardinals by the score of 31-10 at Husky Stadium. Despite some bright spots, the Huskies couldn't overcome UIW's strong ground game and timely scores. This defeat capped a challenging year for HCU, ending with a 2-10 record overall and 1-7 in the Southland Conference.

The game started with promise for the Huskies. UIW struck first in the opening quarter, marching 63 yards in six plays. A penalty kept their drive alive, leading to a 33-yard catch by Josh Lorick and a 2-yard touchdown run by Jaylon Spears. That put the Cardinals up 7-0 early. But HCU fired right back. Quarterback Maddox Kopp led a sharp drive, mixing a 4-yard rush with a big 42-yard pass to Sam Peiffer. It ended with an 11-yard touchdown toss to Ja'Ryan Wallace, tying the game at 7-7 with 7:44 left in the first.

UIW wasn't done. Before the quarter ended, quarterback Richard Torres hit Chedon James for a 50-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cardinals a 14-7 edge. The second quarter saw UIW add to their lead with a steady 12-play drive, capped by a 33-yard field goal from Will Faris. The score sat at 17-7 at halftime after both teams' defenses stepped up with key stops.

The Huskies' defense shone in spots, but UIW pulled away in the third. The Cardinals drove from their own 15-yard line, mixing two 30-yard plays and a catch by James. A wildcat run by Jalen Walthall sparked life, and after a brief stall, a penalty gave them new chances. Spears powered in from 12 yards out for a 24-7 lead. HCU got a break when UIW fumbled a punt return, but they settled for a 22-yard field goal by Ryan Zuckert, making it 24-10.

In the fourth, UIW controlled the clock with a 10-play, 56-yard drive over more than six minutes. It finished with a 3-yard pass from Torres to Walthall, sealing the 31-10 win.

Standout Huskies included Kopp, who went 13-for-21 passing for 156 yards and one touchdown, plus a few rushes. Backup Jake Weir added 116 passing yards on 6-of-15. Wideout Ja'Ryan Wallace had a career-high day with three catches for 130 yards and his score. Running back Xai'Shaun Edwards rushed 12 times for 40 yards, closing out a record-breaking season with 1,019 total rushing yards—the first Husky to hit 1,000—and 12 touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Rodney Dansby led with 13 tackles, pushing his career total to 446, second all-time at HCU.

For UIW, Spears rushed for 93 yards and two scores, while Kobe Dillon added 110 yards on the ground. Torres was solid, 16-of-29 for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Lorick caught seven passes for 68 yards, and James had three for 83 yards and one score.

HCU Huskies f all to SFA 50-3 on Homecoming Weekend

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 8, 2025) The HCU Huskies entered their 2025 Homecoming Weekend with plenty of hope, but it turned into a rough afternoon. On Saturday, the Huskies fell 50-3 at home to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, ranked No. 17 in the country.

From the first moments, things went wrong. The Lumberjacks forced a punt on Houston Christian’s opening drive and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. They then converted a two-point try to take an 8-0 lead. They added another score later in the first quarter when quarterback Gavin Rutherford found Isaiah Davis on a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving SFA a 15-0 edge heading into the second quarter.

The Huskies got on the board early in the second when freshman kicker Ryan Zuckert drilled a 45-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 15-3.  But the momentum didn’t last. The Lumberjacks answered quickly with a 17-yard pass to Kylon Harris, and just before halftime, they punched in a short goal-line run to take a 29-3 lead into the break.

In the second half, Houston Christian continued to struggle. Their offense gained just 134 total yards for the entire game.  Starting quarterback Reilly Garcia completed 12 of 19 passes for 132 yards in his first start of the season.  On the ground, the Huskies were held to just 2 rushing yards.  On defense, linebacker Trent Zappe led the team with 10 tackles and Rodney Dansby had nine.

For HCU, the result drops their record to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Southland Conference. They’ll need to regroup quickly, as next Saturday they travel to face East Texas A&M Lumberjacks in Commerce with a 4 p.m. kickoff.

HCU Huskies fall to Southeastern Louisiana Lions, 38-14

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

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 25, 2025) The HCU Huskies fell to the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 38-14 Saturday at Husky Stadium.

The Huskies held on early, staying close until midway through the third quarter. At halftime, they trailed 14-7 after trading big plays with the Lions.

Early in the game, Southeastern Louisiana scored first on a one-yard run to go up 7-0.Then Houston Christian responded. A big 73-yard run by Darryle Evans set up a one-yard touchdown run by Xai'Shaun Edwards and tied the game at 7-7.

With two seconds left in the first half, the Lions took the lead on a run from the one-yard line and went into the break ahead 14-7.

The third quarter proved costly for the Huskies. The Lions opened the half with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, making it 21-7 almost instantly. Houston Christian answered when Jaden King intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Huskies to 21-14.But the Lions kept pouring it on. They kicked a short field goal then scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, closing out the 38-14 victory.

For HCU, Evans finished with 90 yards on six carries, and Edwards ran for 44 yards on 13 carries. On defense, Jayven Anderson had nine tackles, while Zayteak McGhee and King each had interceptions.

The Huskies were held to just 199 total yards and eight first downs, while Southeastern Louisiana piled up 378 yards and 19 first downs. Time of possession was also heavily in the Lions’ favor.

With the loss, Houston Christian falls to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in Southland Conference play. They will head to face the Nicholls Colonels next week and look to bounce back.

HCU Huskies fall to McNeese State Cowboys, 27-0

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (October 18, 2025) The Houston Christian University Huskies (HCU) football team faced a tough night on Saturday, as they were shut out 27-0 by the McNeese Cowboys in Lake Charles.

Right from the start, the Huskies showed promise on their opening drive. They moved the ball 44 yards, highlighted by a 16-yard rush from freshman Xai’Shaun Edwards (shown left). However, the drive stalled when a penalty pushed them into a tough third-and-14 situation, and they couldn’t convert. That drive ended HCU’s best chance to score. 

Meanwhile, McNeese took advantage of the momentum. They answered on their first possession with an 80-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jake Strong. Soon the Cowboys were in control of the game. McNeese added a 47-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 10-0 at the break.

In the second half, McNeese kept pressuring. Strong scored again in the third quarter on runs of 7 and then 34 yards to push the lead to 24-0. The Cowboys sealed the win with a field goal in the fourth quarter, making it 27-0.

Despite the loss, HCU had some individual bright spots. Edwards finished with 130 rushing yards on 18 carries, a solid performance on his part.

Receiver Deuce McMillan also reached a personal milestone, catching his 100th career pass for the Huskies. On defense, senior linebacker Rodney Dansby surpassed 400 career tackles, another notable achievement despite the team’s struggles.

But the game as a whole didn’t go HCU’s way. McNeese’s defense held them to 279 total yards, while the Cowboys gained 403. McNeese controlled time of possession and made big plays when it mattered.

Looking ahead, the Huskies will hope to regroup quickly. They will take on Southeastern Louisiana Lions at home next Saturday with a chance to bounce back in conference play.

GCU Huskies fall to UTRGV in Southland opener, 27-7

Photo courtesy HCU Athletic Media Relations

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

EDINBURG, TEXAS (October 4, 2025) The HCU Huskies football team dropped its Southland Conference opener on Saturday night, falling 27-7 to UTRGV at Vackar Stadium. Despite the loss, running back Xai’Shaun Edwards (shown left) and wide receiver Deuce McMillan, both reached major milestones.

Edwards rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, marking his second 100-yard game of the season. McMillan finished with four catches for 40 yards, surpassing 1,000 career receiving yards.

Both teams started slow on offense before UTRGV struck first late in the first quarter. The Huskies answered midway through the second quarter with a 17-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Edwards to tie the game at 7-7.

HCU’s defense came up big in the first half with two interceptions—one from DJ Roberts and another from Norey Johnson—to keep the score even heading into halftime.

The Vaqueros regained momentum after the break, scoring on their opening drive of the second half to take a 14-7 lead. UTRGV extended the margin with a field goal early in the fourth quarter and sealed the game with another touchdown and field goal late.

On defense, Darius Bean and Rodney Dansby led HCU with seven tackles each. Bean added a sack, while Dansby continued his climb up the program’s all-time tackles list—he now has 392, just 23 shy of second place. Trent Zappe recorded six tackles, and Mike Sylvalie earned his first career sack.

Edwards now has six rushing touchdowns this season, the second-most in a single season in HCU history, just one behind the program record.

The Huskies (1-4, 0-1 SLC) return home next Saturday, Oct. 11, for Family Weekend at Husky Stadium. Kickoff against Northwestern State is set for 7 p.m.

HCU starts season strong with 69-0 blowout win over Arkansas Baptist

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

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 28, 2025) – The HCU Huskies kicked off their 2025 football season in a  way, dominating Arkansas Baptist 69-0 in their home opener on Thursday night. This was not only the first game of the season, it was also the first-ever Thursday night home game in HCU football history' and the Huskies made it one to remember.

Leading the way was redshirt freshman Xai’Shaun Edwards (Clear Springs HS, League City, TX) who had a breakout performance. Edwards ran for 177 yards and scored four touchdowns, setting a new school record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game. His performance was the fourth-best rushing game in HCU history.

The Huskies were unstoppable on the ground. They finished with 401 rushing yards as a team, just one yard short of their all-time record. Senior Darryle Evans (Hahnville HS, Boutte, LA) added 88 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Sudais Arwosaye, Champ Dozier, and Jordan Montanez also chipped in with strong runs, with Montanez scoring in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Jake Weir started the game and threw for 84 yards and one touchdown. Fellow senior Maddox Kopp also added a passing touchdown in the fourth quarter, connecting with Ja’Ryan Wallace.

The Huskies wasted no time scoring. Evans ran in his first touchdown less than two minutes into the game. He added another before the first quarter ended. By halftime, HCU led 20-0. After that, they never looked back.

The defense was just as impressive. HCU held Arkansas Baptist to only 105 total yards and allowed just two first downs all game. Redshirt freshman Mike Sylvalie led the team with four tackles, while Tyran Chappell and Caleb King both had interceptions. Ravonte Blowe got his first sack as a Husky.

HCU (1-0) now looks ahead to week two, where they’ll travel to Eastern Kentucky for a Saturday night matchup on September 6 at 5 p.m. CT.

HCU dominates Northwestern State to end season with a big win

Story and photos by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 23, 2024) The HCU Huskies finished their 2024 football season in style, beating Northwestern State Demons 62-24 on "Senior Day" at Husky Stadium. The Huskies put on a show with over 600 yards of offense, making it a game to remember for their fans.

The game started with a big play by the HCU defense. They stopped the Demons on fourth down and got the ball at the Demons’ 43-yard line. That led to a 23-yard field goal by Dillon Fedor to give HCU an early 3-0 lead. After that, the Huskies couldn’t be stopped.

Quarterback Cutter Stewart connected with AJ Wilson for a 32-yard touchdown, while Calvin Hill added a two-yard rushing score, and Darryle Evans broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run. Just like that, HCU was up 24-7 early in the second quarter.

Northwestern State tried to fight back. Quarterback JT Fayard found Zay Davis for a nine-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Huskies’ lead to 24-14 before halftime. HCU had a chance to score again, but an interception by the Demons ended the drive.

After the break, HCU came out strong. On their first drive of the third quarter, Hill broke free for a 25-yard touchdown, capping a quick 79-yard drive. D.J. Harris then picked off a pass from the Demons and returned it to the 15-yard line. Stewart took advantage, hitting Deuce McMillan for an 11-yard touchdown. The Huskies led 38-14 just three minutes into the second half.

HCU’s dominance continued. After forcing a quick three-and-out, Champ Dozier ran in a three-yard touchdown to push the lead to 45-14. Northwestern State’s Myles Kitt-Denton responded with an 87-yard kickoff return, but the Demons could only manage a field goal. On the next kickoff, Jesse Valenzuela returned the ball 98 yards for a touchdown, putting HCU up 52-17.

In the fourth quarter, Stewart found Ismael Fuller for a 36-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 59-17. The Demons scored one last time early in the quarter, but HCU sealed the win with a long, time-eating drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Fedor.

HCU’s 617 total yards of offense was the fourth-highest in school history, and their 332 rushing yards ranked third. Calvin Hill led the ground game with 109 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Wilson had another big game, catching three passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, marking his fourth straight 100-yard game. Stewart finished with 296 passing yards and three touchdowns.

The Huskies’ defense was just as impressive, holding Northwestern State to only 211 yards and 10 first downs. Harris had nine tackles and his first career interception, while Joe Cadette added six tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss.

With the win, HCU finished the season 5-7 overall and 3-4 in the Southland Conference. Northwestern State ended their season winless at 0-12.

HCU fans have a lot to be excited about as the team looks to carry this momentum into next year.

HCU falls to #20 Tarleton State in home opener

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 7, 2024)  The Houston Christian University football team dropped their home opener to 20th-ranked Tarleton State, 35-18, on Saturday night at Husky Stadium. This was the Huskies' first-ever home game against a ranked non-conference opponent.

The Huskies (0-2) had a strong start, moving the ball 47 yards on their first drive. Quarterback Cutter Stewart (Alice HS, Alice, TX) completed passes to Calvin Wiggins (Byron Nelson HS, Roanoak, TX), and running back Champ Dozier (Royse City HS, Dallas, TX) had a 20-yard run. However, HCU couldn’t score as their fourth-down attempt failed.

Tarleton State (2-1) got on the board early in the second quarter with an 84-yard touchdown drive. Shortly after, Stewart threw an interception, and the Texans quickly scored again, making it 14-0. HCU responded with a 77-yard drive, capped by Dozier’s three-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the lead to 14-7.

Before halftime, Tarleton added another touchdown to take a 21-7 lead into the break.

In the second half, HCU’s defense made a big play when Xavier Toliver (Mansfield Summit HS, Arlington, TX) intercepted a pass and returned it to the Texans’ 15-yard line. However, the Huskies could only manage a field goal, closing the gap to 21-10. Tarleton extended their lead with another long drive, making it 28-10.

HCU’s AJ Wilson (Huntsville HS, Huntsville, TX) caught a 19-yard touchdown from Stewart late in the fourth quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion, but it wasn’t enough to catch up.

Wilson led HCU with 51 yards receiving and a touchdown. Stewart passed for 201 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Defensively, Taylor Behl (Georgetown HS, Georgetown, TX) had 13 tackles, while D.J. Harris (Langham HS, Houston, TX) added 10.

HCU will host Louisiana Christian next Saturday, September 14, at 6:00 p.m. at Husky Stadium.