October 31st, 2009
Box Score
(Bulldogs celebrate Billy Hardee TD in third quarter. - photo by Tim Clark)
ABILENE, Texas - Texas Lutheran freshman quarterback Rocky Huff tossed a career-best three touchdowns, but the performance was not enough to prevent the Bulldogs from dropping to 0-8 after a 38-22 loss to Hardin-Simmons on Saturday.
At HSU's Shelton Stadium, Hardin-Simmons running back Steven Rockwell scored on runs of 14 and six yards and finished with 133 yards rushing on 14 carries.
HSU moved to 5-4 overall and to 4-3 in the American Southwest Conference with the victory. HSU is 11-1 all-time against TLU. The Cowboys have never lost a home game against the Bulldogs.
TLU fell to 0-6 in the American Southwest Conference. The Bulldogs have dropped nine consecutive games in conference play.
The loss was the 11th consecutive overall setback for the Bulldogs dating back to the final three games of the 2008 season. The 11 consecutive losses by the Bulldogs is a new school mark. The school record for games without a win is 13. TLU had a tie and 12 losses (non-consecutive) in a 13-game stretch during the 1950s.
In Saturday's contest in Abilene, the Bulldogs fell behind 24-3 but scored 13 points in the third quarter to stay within two touchdowns of the Cowboys. Billy Hardee caught a 7-yard TD pass from Huff at the 10:16 mark of the third, and Jonathon Randle grabbed a 49-yard pass (again from Huff) at the 5:14 mark of the quarter.
Randle, a senior, went over 100 yards for the second straight game. He had seven receptions for 109 yards.
Steven Thrash concluded the Bulldogs' scoring with a 7-yard TD reception from Huff. The catch capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:24 off the clock in the fourth quarter. Thrash's score brought TLU within 16, at 38-22. The two-point pass attempt by Huff failed.
Justice Baker, Derrick Grant, and Travis Tatsch also scored for the Cowboys. Grant hit the endzone on a 4-yard run, and Baker and Tatsch made TD receptions for 36 and five yards, respectively.
The Cowboys withstood TLU's 13-point third quarter with a 21-point third quarter of their own.
HSU rushed for 235 yards and held TLU to 68 yards rushing. HSU led in total offense, 394 to 258.
HSU quarterback Taylor Bird finished the game with nine completions in 16 attempts for 159 yards. He had one pass intercepted. TLU's Brandon McCoy had the pick. McCoy also forced a fumble against HSU.
TLU's Huff, in his second career start, was 17-for-34 for 190 yards and two interceptions.
The Bulldogs return home for next Saturday's Homecoming matchup with Louisiana College. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Seguin's Matador Stadium.
Categories: Men´s Football