DALLAS – SMU jumped out to a 28-3 lead, but HBU did a good job of keeping pace with its FBS foe the rest of the way as the Mustangs went on to a 63-27 victory Saturday night at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback
Bailey Zappe went 27-for-49, a school record for attempts, for 226 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for HBU (1-3). Junior wide receiver
Nick Sexton caught five passes for 39 yards, while Jerreth Sterns and
Trevor Larkin each had a touchdown grab.
Sophomore running back
LaDarius Dickens returned three kickoffs for 186 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown and another 64-yarder into SMU territory. Senior cornerback
Raphael Lewis led HBU with nine tackles, while sophomore linebacker
Langston Tunson and senior linebacker
Kyle Bowling each had eight. Sophomore safety
Marlon Wilkins returned an interception 24 yards and senior defensive end forced a fumble with a sack.
William Brown completed 12-of-20 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for SMU (2-3). Braeden West had 12 carries for 70 yards and two scores, while Reggie Roberson caught four passes for 104 yards and Tyler Page caught three for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs.
Kyran Mitchell led SMU with seven tackles, while Trevor Denbow made six. Rodney Clemons had the lone interception and Delontae Scott had a sack for a 13-yard loss.
After senior defensive end
Johnavhon Graham's strip sack was recovered by sophomore linebacker
Tyrell Stewart, Chadwick nailed a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter to put HBU on the board. The Huskies got a 64-yard return by Dickens to the SMU 33, but turned the ball over on downs. Dickens took his next opportunity to the house, returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the longest kick return in program history.
SMU scored first-quarter touchdowns on a 20-yard run by Miles, a 92-yard pass from Page to Brown and a 20-yard reception by Proche from Brown. The Mustangs scored in the second quarter on a 25-yard run by West and a touchdown on a fake field goal as the half expired to take a 35-10 lead into the break.
West opened the third quarter scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run, but HBU answered with Zappe's 8-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver
Trevor Larkin.
Hicks completed a 9-yard touchdown to Judah Bell and the Huskies' ensuing drive stalled out at the 12-yard line, resulting in a 29-yard field goal by Chadwick. J.R. Griffin capped a nine-play, 62-yard drive for the Mustangs with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Zappe completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jerreth Sterns to cut the deficit to 56-27 with 8:22 to go in the game.
HBU returns to Southland Conference play when it takes on nationally-ranked Central Arkansas Saturday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas.
