HOUSTON – HCU rushed for more than 400 yards and cruised to a resounding 69-0 victory over Arkansas Baptist in the 2025 season-opener, the first Thursday night game on campus in program history.
As a team, the Huskies (1-0) racked up 401 yards rushing on 56 rushing attempts for the second-highest single-game total in program history. Redshirt freshman
Xai'Shaun Edwards had a night to remember, carrying the ball 17 times for 175 yards and four touchdowns, setting a new program record for single-game rushing touchdowns while his total yardage is the fourth-most in a single game at HCU.
Senior
Darryle Evans added 88 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Evans moves into third in program history in rushing touchdowns with eight during his time as a Husky. Freshman Sudais Arwosaye added 57 yards on five carries with
Champ Dozier picking up 47 yards on three carries while
Jordan Montanez ran for 34 yards and a score on five touches.
HCU's 10 touchdowns ties the program record for most touchdowns scored in a game. At quarterback, senior
Jake Weir got the start, completing 10-of-16 attempts for 84 yards and a score with fellow senior
Maddox Kopp throwing for one score and 49 yards on 5-of-6 passing. Senior
Sam Peiffer led the receivers with 31 yards receiving on three catches.
Evans got the scoring started for the Huskies less than two minutes into the game on a 12-yard scamper. Later in the first quarter, Evans again hit paydirt with a one-yard run into the end zone. In the second quarter, Weir connected with
Adrian Green to the corner of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown pass with a two-point conversion attempt failing, giving the Huskies a 20-0 lead that they took into the half.
HCU piled it on in the third with Evans running one in followed by three from Edwards to push the game firmly out of reach, 48-0 with just 15 minutes left to play. Edwards scored his fourth touchdown in the first 40 seconds of the fourth quarter followed by a five-yard passing touchdown from Kopp to
Ja'Ryan Wallace and a Montanez rush in the final three minutes.
Defensively, redshirt freshman
Mike Sylvalie led the HCU defense with four tackles while a host of Huskies ended the night with three.
Ravonte Blowe recorded his first sack as a Husky while making two tackles.
Isaiah Johnson also added a tackle for loss. Defensive backs
Tyran Chappell and
Caleb King each recorded interceptions while
Jayven Anderson and
Jequarrius McClendon each were credited with a forced fumble.
As a defensive unit, the Huskies held the Buffaloes to just 105 yards of total offense and two first downs.
HCU hits the road for week two, traveling to Richmond, Ky. to take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 5:00 p.m. CT.
