Cowboys Rally For Season-Opening Win

Boxscore

WINONA, Minn. - Matt Fields, who had missed two field goals earlier in the game, nailed a 25-yard field goal with 2.8 seconds to play to give Hardin-Simmons a 24-23 win over Wisconsin-La Crosse, Saturday night in the season opener at Maxwell Field in Winona, Minn.

The Cowboys scored 21 straight points to tie the game at 21-21 with 9:42 to play. UWL came right back with a drive that ended with the Cowboys stopping the Eagles on fourth down on the 1-yard line. However, on the first play the Cowboys mishandled the shotgun snap and recovered it in the end zone for a safety to give UWL a 23-21 lead with 3:49 to play.

HSU came right back with a 10-play 62-yard drive that including a fourth-down conversion. The drive set up Fields field goal.

Josh Stephens got the Cowboys on the scoreboard with seven seconds left in the third quarter. After a 33-yard kickoff return by ZaVious Robbins gave the Cowboys the ball at their own 48-yard line. HSU quickly went down the field and newcomer Josh Stephens capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

After a UWL fumble, the Cowboys cut the deficit to 21-14 with 11:00 to play when Justin Feaster found Robbins on an 18-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown capped a nine-play 42-yard drive. On the ensuing drive, the Cowboys' Michael Tracy picked off a pass and returned it to the 4-yard line. Feaster found Mychal Carrillo on a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 10-42 to play.

The Cowboys dominated the first quarter of play and twice had the ball in scoring position, but Matt Fields had a 25-yard field goal blocked and a 36-yarder that was wide right.

After that it was a full dose of Eric Donaval. Donaval took the fourth play of the second quarter 48 yards for a touchdown for La Crosse and the only score of the first half.  

After a stalled drive and short punt on the first drive of the second half by the Cowboys, Donoval capped a five-play, 33-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 12:14 to play in the third quarter to make it 14-0. After another Cowboy punt, UWL went 42 yards in six plays and Donaval scored his third touchdown of the night to make it 21-0 with 3:51 to play in the third quarter.  

The Cowboys limited La Crosse to 303 yards after allowing 622 to the same team a year ago in the season opener. HSU had 310 yards of offense. Feaster was 20-for-31 with 219 total yards and two touchdowns. Carrillo had eight catches for 87 yards and his touchdown moved him to second on the HSU receiving touchdown charts.

The win was the 150th for Jimmie Keeling at Hardin-Simmons.

The Cowboys will host Linfield in the home opener Sept. 13 at Shelton Stadium.

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