PROSPER, Texas – The Howard Payne University football team broke the school record for total yardage in a game in a 67-10 blowout of Hendrix College Saturday afternoon at Children’s Health Stadium.
The previous Howard Payne record for the total offensive yards in a game was 754 yards (476 pass, 278 rush), also against Hendrix College in 2021. In today’s game, the Yellow Jackets had 769 yards of total offense, made up of 375 rushing yards and 394 receiving yards.
Howard Payne rushed for a total of 375 yards as a team, led by Javian Myles with 14 carries for a season-high 151 yards with three touchdowns. Myles’ game highlight came when he rushed up the middle for a 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. In the game, he was followed by Billy Reagins with 69 rushing yards on 15 attempts, also scoring three touchdowns.
HPU had a total of 394 passing yards on the day. Landon McKinney was 13 of 17 passing for 234 yards, his longest pass being 59 yards. Tucker Bridwell completed six out of nine passes for a total of 106 yards, his longest being 48 yards. 12 different receivers would catch passes from HPU quarterbacks in the game.
Hunter Cheek led the HPU receiving crew with three receptions for 81 yards total, scoring one touchdown. Followed closely behind him, Jordan Carroll had 79 receiving yards on two receptions, with a long catch of 59 yards.
The Yellow Jackets’ solid defense held Hendrix College to just 88 rushing yards, allowing no attempt longer than 16 yards. Kyle bell led with six tackles, three of them solo. Jarett Brown and James Jakubowski added a combined total of ten, five total tackles each. In the second quarter, HPU’s Jacob Korrodi scooped up a Hendrix fumble and returned it 11 yards for a TD.
HPU’s Landon McKinney was 13 of 17 passing for 234 yards. Tucker Bridwell was went 6 of 9 for the Jackets for 106 yards and one TD. Austin Valdez was 3 for 3 for 51 yards.
Howard Payne ended the first quarter ahead 6-3, with a touchdown by Javian Myles and a missed extra-point. During the second quarter the Jackets poured on the offense outscoring Hendrix 30-0, on touchdowns by Billy Reagins, Gavin Rountree, Jacob Korrodi, and Hunter Cheek.
Starting the second half 36-3, HPU added two more touchdowns from Javian Myles and Billy Reagins. In the beginning of the fourth, Hendrix College was able to receive a two-yard pass for their first touchdown of the game. Javian Myles and Billy Reagins ran the ball for one more touch down each. To end the game, Kyle Bell kicks a 19-yard field goal to end the game 67-10.
Howard Payne is now 2-1 overall and Hendrix College is currently 1-2 on the year. The Yellow Jackets will be back at home in Gordon Wood Stadium versus East Texas Baptist University this week. Kickoff is at 1:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 24th.
(photo and story courtesy Howard Payne Athletics webiste)