Brownwood, Texas– The Nelson Lions football team traveled to Brownwood, Texas, to face the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets at Gordon Wood Stadium but ultimately fell in a tough 44-16 loss.
Weather played a major role in the matchup, with rain moving in and out throughout the game. The conditions led both teams to rely more heavily on the running game early on.
The Yellow Jackets struck first, stopping the Lions' opening offensive drive before finding the end zone on their own opening possession to take an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets extended their lead with a field goal followed by a 79-yard passing touchdown, pushing the score to 16-0 after a failed two-point conversion.
However, the Lions responded with an impressive drive, capped off by the junior quarterback connecting with senior wide receiver
Justin Beaudion for an outstanding touchdown catch in the end zone. The score cut into Howard Payne's lead and gave Nelson some much-needed momentum.
The Yellow Jackets answered quickly, adding another touchdown of their own following the Lions' scoring drive to extend their advantage.
With just 1:53 remaining before halftime, the Nelson Lions put together another solid drive, moving down the field and into field-goal range. Sophomore kicker
Cade Whitehead then connected on a 34-yard field goal just before the break, bringing the score to 23-10 in favor of Howard Payne.
In the second half, the Nelson Lions struggled to build on the momentum they gained in the second quarter, as Howard Payne took control of the game.
The Yellow Jackets added three more touchdowns in the second half, extending their lead to 44-10. The Lions continued to fight, finding the end zone late in the game when quarterback
Judah Holtzclaw connected with
Jermaine Jones on a 20-yard touchdown pass to close out the matchup with a 44-17 loss for Nelson.
Despite the loss, several positives stood out for the Lions. Nelson took care of the football without committing a turnover despite the challenging weather conditions. The Lions also showcased their versatility in the passing game, with eight different players recording receptions throughout the contest.
Quarterback
Judah Holtzclaw completed 28 of 42 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns. The receiving corps also delivered solid production across the board, led by sophomore
James Spivey, who recorded six receptions for 60 yards. Freshman
Gage Rice added five receptions for 52 yards, while senior
Justin Beaudion finished with four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Jermaine Jones also contributed four receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, linebackers
Landry Leggett and
Xavier Garcia were active all over the field. Leggett recorded nine solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and a sack, while Garcia finished with six solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and one tackle for loss.
Up Next
The loss moves Nelson to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Lions will look to bounce back as they return home to Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie, Texas, to face the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies at 2 p.m.
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.
