Jackets target third consecutive ASC victory at McMurry

October 20, 2023 at 10:30 am Derrick Stuckly

Jordan Carroll (7) and the HPU offense (5-1, 2-1) is generating 40 points and 472 yards per game, but face a McMurry defense (2-4, 0-3) that allows just 19 points and 325 yards per contest.

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The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets will attempt to pile on another American Southwest Conference victory and stretch their win streak to three games as they visit the McMurry War Hawks at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets (5-1, 2-1) are coming off a 35-11 homecoming victory over Austin College, a game in which they trailed early in the second period but a KJ Kelley 35-yard interception return for a touchdown sparked a run of 28 straight points to end the first half.

“That flipped a switch for us,” said HPU first-year head coach Kevin Bachtel. “We played really good defense, we just couldn’t get the offense moving. But the interception really ignited us and we played really well through the first half. After that, we played the first four minutes of the second half extremely well on both sides, we just didn’t get the ball into the end zone because a fumble. Then we were stagnant the rest of the game and that has to improve.”

Howard Payne continues to possess both the top-ranked offense and top-ranked defense in the American Southwest Conference, while owning a +13 turnover margin.

“I’m not surprised if I’m honest because I thought we would have an opportunity to do that,” Bachtel said. “Since I’ve been here I’ve been preaching about being the No. 1 defense in the conference in order to give ourselves a chance. The guys are playing really well defensively and we’re excited about where we’re at. Offensively, we’re really explosive but not consistent and that’s something we’ve been preaching. I can’t pinpoint what it is, I don’t know the answer, but we do have to be more consistent.”

The War Hawks (2-4, 0-3) enter Saturday’s contest with a deceiving record.

McMurry’s wins have been in blowout fashion – 53-2 over Millsaps and 52-14 over Lyon – while three of the War Hawks’ four losses have been by a field goal or less – 20-19 to Birmingham Southern, 19-16 to Hardin-Simmons and 14-13 to East Texas Baptist last week. McMurry’s other loss came at the hands of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 50-9.

“They’re really good and if we don’t play well they will beat us, and that’s been our message to our team,” Bachtel said. “They can beat anybody in the conference on any given Saturday in my opinion.”

Defensively, McMurry is giving up only 19 points and 325 yards – 212 through the air and 113 on the ground – and has forced seven turnovers.

Leading the charge are Timothy Leatherman (32 tackles, 1 INT), Marshall Tovar (29 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 FR), Herman Lee (27 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 2 sacks), Markeis Williams (26 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks), Sy Johnson (25 tackles 3 for loss), and Christopher Baker (22 tackles, 1.5 for loss, INT).

“They are really good on defense, ranked second or third in the conference,” Bachtel said.

The Yellow Jackets are generating 40 points and 472 yards – 366 passing and 106 rushing – per outing, with five turnovers.

Quarterback Landon McKinney has completed 122 of 206 passes for 1,634 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Leading receivers include Gus Charles (39-663, 7 TDs), Jordan Carroll (32-495, 7 TDs), Deon Collins (20-246, 4 TDs), and Samuel Sims (13-184), while threats out of the backfield include Javian Myles (328 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 18-161, TD receiving), Reece Rodgers (175 rushing yards, TD; 18-135 receiving), and Blessing Ngene (103 rushing yards, 3 TDs).

“We need to see consistency,” Bachtel said of the offensive goals. “We have to maintain drives, get field goals or score touchdowns, and even we don’t we want to burn the clock a little bit. There’s a lot of similarities between what they do defensively and what we do, so the offense should have an advantage having seen that scheme. They’re going to bring a lot of pressure we have to handle that well.”

The War Hawks manufacture 27 points and 363 yards – 292 passing and 81 rushing – per game on average, but have coughed up the ball 16 times.

Five players have thrown a pass for McMurry this season, with the most coming from Jess Hoel (129 of 192 for 1,365 yards, 9 TDs, 10 INTs). Top receivers are Kristopher Martin (36-654, 6 TDs), Karmelus Card (18-231, TD), and Corinthean Coleman (11-184, TD), while players featured out of the backfield include Drew Hagler (118 rushing yards, 3 TDs; 22-84 receiving), Phazzon Washington (96 rushing yards, 2 TDs), and Jack Ishmael (82 rushing yards, 2 TDs). Hoel is also the leading rusher for McMurry with 126 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

“Offensively, they move people around a lot and do a lot of shift formations and multiple formations to get you outnumbered somewhere and get someone isolated,” Bachtel said. “We have to be very conscience of those formations and get lined up correctly.”

Defensively, HPU is yielding just 13 points and 284 yards – 197 through the air and a mere 87 on the ground – with 18 takeaways.

Standouts include KJ Kelley (49 tackles, 6 INTs), Jessie Paris (41 tackles, 4.5 for loss), KC Cornelius (27 tackles, 1 INT), Jacob Korrodi (27 tackles, 1 INT), KD Bookman (26 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), and Peyton Lowe (19 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 sack).

“Defensively, we need to just keep plugging and keep doing what we do,” Bachtel said. “If we play well defensively we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win and that’s all we can ask for at the end of the game.”