Skip To Main Content

Houston Christian University Athletics

OFFICIAL SITE OF HCU ATHLETICS
HCU ATHLETICS
ESPN Plus Logo
Bailey Zappe
Russ Reneau
53
Winner HBU HBU 2-1
52
South Dakota USD 0-3
Winner
HBU HBU
2-1
53
Final
52
South Dakota USD
0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HBU HBU 0 17 21 15 53
USD South Dakota 10 14 14 14 52

Game Recap: Football |

FB: HBU Stuns South Dakota in Shootout, 53-52

Junior quarterback Bailey Zappe ties record with 5 TDs to lead Huskies to comeback win



VERMILLION, S.D. - HBU junior wide receiver Ben Ratzlaff hit junior H-back Coleman Robinson for a two-point conversion after the Huskies scored with 1:14 remaining to rally past South Dakota, 53-52, in a non-conference FCS matchup Saturday afternoon in the DakotaDome.

After USD scored a touchdown to take a seven-point lead with 3:03 left in the game, HBU junior quarterback Bailey Zappe went 5-for-5 in leading the Huskies on a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Junior running back Dreshawn Minnieweather lined up a wildcat formation and plowed ahead for a one-yard touchdown, as HBU cut the deficit to 52-51 to set up the two-point try.

On the Coyotes final drive, Austin Simmons completed a 13-yard pass, but was sacked by senior defensive end Andre Walker, then threw a game-sealing interception to freshman safety Tra Fluellen.

For the game, Zappe completed 41-of-53 passes for 513 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions for the Huskies (2-1) setting new records for completions, yardage and tying the touchdown mark. Ratzlaff also broke the school records with 12 catches for 153 yards and three scores. Two other Huskies topped 100 yards receiving, with sophomore Jerreth Sterns making 10 catches for 114 yards and senior Gamar Girdy Brito catching nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Girdy Brito also averaged 35.6 yards on kickoff returns, including a 76-yarder.

Minnieweather ran for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns and caught a 27-yard touchdown pass.

Fluellen led HBU defensively with 14 tackles and the Huskies' lone pick of the game and Walker finished with a school record four sacks. Junior linebacker Caleb Johnson had 11 tackles, a sack and came up with his record sixth career fumble recovery. Junior cornerback Coi Miller finished with nine tackles and sophomore safety Colton Manning had eight.

Simmons completed 48-of-65 passes for 537 yards, four touchdowns and an interception for USD (0-3). Randy Baker caught 11 passes for 102 yards and Caleb Vaner Esch had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Connor Herrmann made six catches for 76 yards and a pair of scores. Kai Henry rushed 15 times for 78 yards and three touchdowns.

Elijah Reed had 13 tackles and an interception for the Coyotes, while Jake Cochrane had 12 tackles and forced a fumble. Jakari Starling and Phillip Powell each made seven stops, with Powell adding two interceptions.

HBU piled up 596 yards of offense, ,513 passing and 83 rushing, while USD had 642 yards, 537 through the air and 105 on the ground. The Huskies turned the ball over three times on interceptions and the Coyotes had two turnovers, one fumble lost and an interception. HBU was penalized 19 times for 154 yards and USD had nine penalties for 77 yards. The Coyotes had the ball for nearly 34 minutes, compared to the Huskies 26.

The Coyotes scored the only points of the first quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Mason Lorber and Simmons' 20-yard touchdown pass to Herrmann for a 10-0 lead.

The Huskies got on the board when Zappe found Ratlaff over the middle for a 23-yard touchdown. USD answered right back when Henry capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Girdy Brito returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to set up freshman Gino Garcia's 29-yard field goal to make the score 17-10.

HBU tied the game when Zappe found a wide open Minnieweather out of the backfield for a 27-yard score, but Simmons completed a two-yard touchdown to Allen just before halftime to send the Coyotes to the break with a 24-17 lead.

Zappe completed 6-of-6 passes on the Huskies' opening drive of the second half and again hooked up with Ratzlaff, this time from 11 yards out to once again tie the game, 24-24, with 13:22 to go in the third. After a missed field goal by USD, HBU took its first lead of the game when Minnieweather took a direct snap and was untouched from two yards out for a touchdown.

Simmons threw a 24-yard touchdown to Vander Esch, but the extra point was no good. Zappe then found Ratzlaff for a 12-yard touchdown to give the Huskies a 38-30 lead with 3:45 left in the third.

The Huskies appeared to have come up with a big stop, but a targeting penalty gave the Coyotes an automatic first down, then Simmons immediately hit Herrmann for a 28-yard score, then found Allen in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion to knot it up, 38-38, just before the end of the quarter.

HBU opened up the fourth with Zappe hitting Girdy Brito with a 27-yard strike to make the score, 45-38. USD answered with Henry taking a handoff in from two-yards out to tie the game, 45-45, with 11:36 remaining.

With the Huskies driving into Coyotes territory, Reed picked off Zappe near the goal line and returned it out to the 40, where USD took over with 4:34 on the clock. Henry broke away for a 23-yard touchdown run as USD took a 52-45 lead.

The Huskies return home for three straight, beginning with the Southland Conference opener against Northwestern State Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at Husky Stadium.
Print Friendly Version