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Wildcats Lose to Cowboys, 36-28
09/20/08 - 10:16 PM
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PINEVILLE, La. – For the second year in a row, Hardin-Simmons batted a ball down in the endzone on a potential tying touchdown pass with no time left to preserve a win over Louisiana College. This year’s batted ball preserved a 36-28, American Southwest Conference, win for the 24th ranked Cowboys. The play ended a wild game that featured 945 yards of combined offense, four lead changes, and three ties. LC (2-1, 0-1) has a bye next week before returning to action October 4th at Mississippi College.

The pass play that resulted in the defended pass, ending the game, almost never happened. HSU (3-0, 1-0) seemed to take a commanding, 36-20, lead with 4:19 remaining in the game. The Wildcat offense, which controlled the ball less than eight minutes in the second half, didn’t give up and scored quickly when Derek Lewis found Jordan Rideaux for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:21 remaining in the game. LC then tried an onside kick that was recovered by Hardin-Simmons. LC used all their timeouts, and forced HSU to turn the ball over on downs when Jade Sprunk registered his second sack of the game on a fourth down play.

LC had just 17 seconds with no timeouts to try and create a touchdown and convert a two-point conversion. After a couple of short pass completions that pushed the Wildcats just past midfield, Lewis found Rideaux for a 21-yard completion, but time expired as Rideaux was tackled. But as Rideaux, who finished with eight catches for 113 yards, was being tackled, Hardin-Simmons was called for a facemask, giving the Wildcats a play with no time on the clock and the football on the HSU 16-yard line. After LC was called for a delay of game penalty, pushing them back to the 21-yard line, Lewis attempted a pass to LaMarcus Preston, but HSU’s Rich Carlisle batted the ball away, preserving the Cowboy win. Preston finished with 102 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Overall, HSU’s offense controlled the game, despite a great effort from the Wildcat defense. The Cowboys had the football for a total of 42:25 and ran 91 plays, compared to LC’s 17:35 and 53 plays. The ball control really paid off for HSU in the fourth quarter as a tired LC defense gave up 16 points, breaking a 20-20 tie after the third quarter.

Both quarterbacks were very efficient. Lewis was 21-of-35 for 325 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Cowboy quarterback Justin Feaster was 26-of-41 for 358 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. The biggest difference came in the rushing attack. Josh Stephens was able to gain 135 yards on 20 carries to pace an HSU offense that churned out 223 yards. LC’s rushing attack only netted 39 yards on 18 carrries.

Stephen Jackson had a breakout game for the Wildcat defense. Flying all over the place, Jackson picked up 17 total tackles. Also, Sprunk and David Batson each had 12 tackles.

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