Howard Payne University quarterback Marcus McAdoo rushed 176 yards and a touchdown in a 17-9 Yellow Jacket win over Sul Ross State University Saturday afternoon at Gordon Wood Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets got to work on their first play from scrimmage when QB Marcus McAdoo took the opening snap on an option keeper 70 yards for the touchdown. It would be a huge day for the sophomore QB as he racked up 176 yards on the ground along with 3 of 6 passing for 43 yards and a TD.
To start the second quarter, a great punt by Sul Ross State would pin the Jackets on their own one-yard line. The Lobos capitalized and came up with a safety to make the game 7-2 HPU.
Lightning then moved into Brownwood area and after a three hour delay the game would resume.
The Jackets came out of the locker room and scored on a McAdoo 19-yard pass to Manuel Garza with 2:35 left in the half. The Jackets were not finished as safety Tyson Swanner intercepted a Sul Ross pass to give HPU another shot to score before the half.
The Jackets drove 73 yards in six plays over the next two minutes and ended in a Mitchell Bailey 22 yard field goal. 17-2 HPU at the half.
There was little scoring in the second half but Sul Ross managed to get on the scoreboard with 1:37 left in the third quarter on a 20-yard Thomas Sanders pass from Scotty Walden.
On the final Sul Ross drive of the game, the Lobos had an opportunity to tie the game but the Yellow Jacket defense held strong to secure the 17-9 victory.
Freshman HPU running back Adrian Lighteard had a great game with 119 yards on 20 carries. Punter Cote Schacherl had another solid outing with four for 176 yards (44.0 avg, long of 56).
Caleb Gonzalez led HPU in tackles with nine. Tyler Jones and Demetrius Cody also got interceptions.
Sul Ross QB Scotty Walden was 13 of 30 passing for 182 yards and three INTs. Lee Carothers led with five receptions for 56 yards. Robert Pyssen led all with 15 tackles.
The Jackets improve to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Sul Ross falls to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in ASC action.
Howard Payne will travel to Seguin, Texas next Saturday to take on Texas Lutheran University.