Cowboys Fall in Season Opener

Sept. 1, 2007

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ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team opened its 2007 campaign with a 47-21 loss to UW-La Crosse, Saturday night at Shelton Stadium.

The Cowboys struggled early to find an offensive rhythm, gaining only 17 yards in the entire first half before the final drive. In that time UWL had found the end zone four times and had fumbled away two more possessions.

HSU then scored on a 20-yard pass play from Justin Feaster to Mychal Carrillo with :13 to go in the half to make it 28-13. HSU then scored on the first possession of the second half againd with Carrillo and Feaster hooking up, this time from six yards out to cut the game to 27-21.

The Cowboys then forced a UWL punt and the Cowboys were driving, before it stalled out and HSU punted it away. UWL took the next drive 89 yards in eight plays and Eric Donoval score to make it 33-21.

HSU then drove again inside the UWL 20, but a Feaster interception ended the drive. UWL grounded out the ball in the fourth quarter and Reid Oldenburg tacked on two more LaCrosse touchdowns.

UWL put up 678 yards of total offense the most the Cowboys have ever allowed. The Eagles did it with a balanced attack as they had 340 passing yards and 338 rushing yards. Eric Donoval had 115 yards rushing for UWL and Oldenburg had 92 yards rushing. Quarterback Griffin Moe was superb, going 17-for-20 with four touchdowns and 324 yards.

Quinton Jones had 95 yards rushing for the Cowboys and Justin Feaster was the most effective of the three quarterback HSU used. He completed 12-of-20 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Mychal Carrillo had 10 catches for 85 yards.

HSU will now travel to Linfield College on Sept. 15.