HBU Football Drops Season Finale to Texas A&M-Commerce
HBU Athletics
HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Baptist freshman running back B.J. Kelly had 16 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown, his third 100-plus-yard game of the season, but the Huskies came up short in a 55-21 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in the season finale on homecoming Saturday at Crusader Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Ka’Darius Baker completed 18-of-31 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown for HBU (3-4), while junior wide receiver Darian Lazard had five catches for 53 yards and freshman wide receiver Wesley Lewis had three grabs for 33 yards and a touchdown. Terrell Brown III and Garrett Dolan each had 10 tackles to lead the Huskies defensively.
Harrison Stewart hit 23-of-40 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns, while Deric Davis hit 6-of-10 for 91 yards and a score for A&M-Commerce (7-3). Vernon Johnson made 10 catches for 180 yards, Seth Smith had six catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns, while Hayden March and Stacy Howard each caught a touchdown pass for the Lions.
The Lions received the opening kickoff and wasted no time scoring, as Stewart found Smith for a 45-yard touchdown just 56 seconds into the game. The Huskies looked to have an answer as Taylor Thompson returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the A&M-Commerce 44, then freshman wide receiver made a 26-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. Two plays later Baker fumbled and Pablo Vasquez returned it 84 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 14-0 lead with 12:34 to go.
After each team had a quick three-and-out, HBU got the ball back on a punt to the 19. The Huskies took a deep shot down the sideline for incompletion on first down, but Kelly ripped off a 75-yard run down to the six on second down. Larry Day took it in from six yards out to make it 14-7 with 9:38 left.
A personal foul and a fumbled snap had A&M-Commerce facing a third-and-40, but only picked up three yards, and a poor punt set the Huskies up at the Lions’ 49. To cap the drive, Lewis made a one-handed basket catch for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at the 4:19 mark of the first quarter.
A&M-Commerce took the lead for good on an 11-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by Marsh’s 12-yard touchdown catch from Stewart. Early in the second quarter, Baker rushed for a 21-yard gain, but had the ball punched out from behind and the Lions recovered. Saul Martinez made a 26-yard field goal after the turnover; then added a 35-yard attempt later in the quarter to put A&M Commerce ahead, 27-14 with 12:27 until halftime.
Stewart added a 34-yard touchdown pass to Smith and Davis had a three-yard touchdown completion to Jenkins to give the Lions a 41-14 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, Lazard’s 14-yard run set up Kelly’s fourth-and-goal, one yard leap over the top for a touchdown cut the deficit to 41-21, but Stewart found Smith again, this time from 16 yards out, as the Lions took a 48-21 advantage into the fourth quarter. Stewart capped the scoring with a 32-yard touchdown to Howard with 13:56 remaining in the game.
The Huskies wrapped up their inaugural, developmental season and will return in 2014 as a Southland Conference member. HBU is scheduled to open its first official season against Northern Colorado Sept. 13, 2014, in Greeley, Colo.