HOUSTON – HCU dropped a 45-24 decision to 11
th-ranked UIW at Husky Stadium on Saturday afternoon, capping the most successful season in program history.
The Huskies (6-5, 4-3 SLC) opened the game by coming up with a big fourth down stop on a fourth and seven at their own 32 as
Devion Hargrove made a tackle to hold CJ Hardy to just a six-yard reception. HCU, however, went three-and-out on the ensuing possession. The Cardinals (9-2, 6-1) took over at their own 38-yard line following a
Wheeler Bowron punt and followed up a 53-yard pass from Zach Calzada to Caleb Chapman into the red zone with a four-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Robinson for a 7-0 lead with 9:31 left on the clock.
Ronald Wilson recorded an interception at the Huskies' 29 on a second-and-10 pass by
Colby Suits. A penalty on the first play of the possession pushed UIW back five yards and four plays later Mason Lawler pulled a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left. HCU again went three-and-out on the next possession which was followed by an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. The Huskies took the ball 46 yards on nine plays on the next possession but when faced with a fourth-and-two at the UIW 20, a completion from Suits to
Aaron Sotelo was stopped for no gain and a turnover on downs.
The Cardinals scored again on their next possession on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chapman for a three-score lead with 7:32 left in the half. HCU responded, however, with
Darryle Evans breaking a 26-yard run to midfield on the second play of the drive. The Huskies moved the ball up to the UIW 37 and on second-and-nine, Suits delivered a ball deep to
Calvin Wiggins who hauled in his first touchdown catch of the season. Lawler booted a 51-yard field on the next UIW drive to make it a 24-7 game, a score that held until halftime.
HCU got on the board first in the second half, marching 59 yards on 10 plays to set
Dillon Fedor up for a 27-yard field goal and to pull with 14, 24-10, with 3:56 on the clock in the third quarter. The Cardinals scored on each of their next three possessions to pull away and take a 45-10 lead with just over nine minutes still to play. HCU's next drive was an eight-play, 75-yard drive that saw Suits connect with
Karl Reynolds for a 36-yard completion down to the UIW four-yard line with Suits keeping it himself for a four-yard touchdown run, making it a 45-17 ballgame. UIW rushed the ball three times on its next possession that started at the Cardinals' 18 and on fourth down, a poor snap resulted in a loose ball that
Caleb King scooped up at the eight-yard line and took into the end zone for a score and the 45-24 final.
Suits finished the game 23-of-37 passing for 202 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while also rushing for one score. Evans led HCU with 67 yards rushing on 12 carries while Reynolds posted 58 yards receiving on six receptions. Defensively,
Rodney Dansby led all players with 13 tackles while
Isaiah Cash added eight and
Josh Ferguson had seven.
UIW was led by Calzada, who finished 29-of-38 for 407 yards and four touchdown passes. Chapman racked up 170 yards on seven catches with three touchdowns. UIW out-gained the Huskies, 562-316, and held a three-minute advantage in time of possession.
HCU's six wins this season mark the most in a single season in program history and give the Huskies their first-ever winning season.
