October 25, 2025
Abilene, TX — The Nelson University Lions football team hit the road Saturday afternoon for a non-conference matchup against nationally ranked No. 5 Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) inside Shelton Stadium. Despite battling through every snap, the Lions came up short against the undefeated Cowboys, 68-14.
Nelson's defense opened with energy as Jordan Walker picked off a first-quarter pass deep in Lions territory, one of the bright moments against an HSU offense that has dominated all season. However, the Cowboys quickly found rhythm, scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
HSU's offensive tempo proved relentless, adding 30 points in the second quarter, including long strikes of 62 yards and a three-yard quarterback keeper. A second-quarter safety added to the damage as the Cowboys entered halftime with a 37-0 advantage.
Nelson refused to fold. Early in the third quarter, quarterback Judah Holtzclaw connected with wideout Zach Fuller on a dazzling 80-yard touchdown. Later in the fourth quarter, Holtzclaw struck again, threading a 49-yard touchdown to B.J. Clark, capping an efficient five-play drive.
Holtzclaw finished 13-of-20 for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Fuller led all receivers with 92 yards and a score.
On the ground, Quinton Jones added 23 yards on 12 carries, and LaDarrius Evans chipped in 19 yards on six rushes.
Defensively, Johnathan Bloom posted a team-high 13 tackles, with Treshoun White and Amin White combining for 17 more stops. Micah Smith, Ignacio Ceja, and Aidan Sosa each tallied a sack.
Inside the Numbers
Nelson totaled 277 yards of offense (205 passing, 72 rushing) to HSU's 685 yards. The Lions' special teams remained steady, with Cade Whitehead averaging 59 yards per kickoff and connecting on both PATs
Next Up
The Lions (1-6 overall, 1-4 SAC) return to Sooner Athletic Conference play next Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2:00 PM, traveling to Plainview, TX, to face Wayland Baptist University (WBU).
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.
