HOUSTON – Northwestern State jumped out to an early lead and held off HCU, 37-10, in a Southland Conference football matchup Saturday night at Husky Stadium. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022.
 
HCU freshman running back Nate Livingston rushed 18 times for 105 yards for the Huskies (2-4, 1-2 SLC). Sophomore quarterback Justin Fomby completed 19-of-42 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions. Junior Vernon Harrell made six catches for 63 yards.
 
Sophomore linebacker Rodney Dansby recorded 11 tackles and freshman safety Caleb Flagg had 10 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. Senior safety Coi Miller had only the third two-interception game in HCU history and added five tackles.
 
Zach Clement completed 30-of-53 passes for 373 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Demons (3-4, 3-0). Kenneith Lacy rushed 16 times for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Garrison Johnson rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Zach Patterson made 10 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Javon Antonio had eight grabs for 91 yards and a score.
 
Ronnie Caldwell and Jared Pedraza each had six tackles to lead NSU. Isaiah Longino added a pair of sacks, with Dante Thomas and Keenan Leachman each making an interception.
 
NSU had 561 yards of total offense and picked up 29 first downs. HCU had 267 yards and 18 first downs. Each team was penalized eight times, the Huskies for 85 yards and the Demons for 66.
 
NSU scored on its first four possessions – all in the first quarter – beginning with Johnson's two-yard touchdown run, then a 24-yard field goal by Eddie Godina. Clement found Patterson for a nine-yard touchdown pass, then the Demons got a 30-yard interception return by Leachman down to the HCU 3-yard line, setting up another two-yard touchdown run by Johnson.
 
The Huskies had three promising drives in the second quarter, but were stopped on fourth down at the NSU 18, the Demons' 6-yard line and at the 35 with 1:39 left in the half. The Demons failed to score in the second quarter and took a 24-0 lead into halftime.
 
Miller intercepted Clement at the NSU 45 on the first play of the first half, but the Huskies once again turned the ball over on downs at the 30.
 
HCU finally got on the board when freshman Caleb Flagg made his first career interception and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown with 4:13 to go in the third quarter. On the Demons' next possession, Miller came up with his second interception of the game, setting up the Huskies at the NSU 24. Nery Enriquez made a 41-yard field goal to pull HCU back within two scores with 44 seconds left in the third.
 
After two scoreless quarters, NSU opened the fourth quarter with Lacy plunging in for a touchdown on fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, putting the Demons ahead, 31-10, with 11:40 remaining. Clement then hit Antonio for a 32-yard touchdown, but the extra point was no good, to extend NSU's lead with 7:22 to go.
 
The Huskies return to action when they face new league rival Texas A&M-Commerce for the first time Saturday, Oct. 22, in Commerce.