ALPINE, Texas- Hardin-Simmons surged to a 21-0 point lead in the first quarter as the undefeated Cowboys opened American Southwest Conference play with a 41-13 bruising of Sul Ross Saturday evening.
"This was a tale of two different games rolled into one," said coach John Pearce. "We were mentally absent in the first half and showed up to play in the second half."
HSU outpaced the Lobos by fifty yards in total offense, in a 487-437 margin.
"Just like at Belton last week we let them get away with some big plays in the first part of the game," said Pearce. "You can't wait late in the contest to start executing against a team like this. If we played in the first half like we did in the second half, we might have had a much more competitive outing."
Individually for SRSU's James Davis completed 14 of 19 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Williton Grear posted 20 carries netting 104 yards to lead the home team running attack.
Alonte Thomas and Damian Espinoza paced the Lobo defense with eight tackles each.
HSU's Kerry Sloan scored on the opening drive on a one-yard trot after an eight-play, 56-yard drive. Nico Francino's extra point kick put the Cowboys up 7-0 with 12:19 left in the first period.
Hardin-Simmons struck again on their next possession as Garrett Martin hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Breton. Francino tacked on the extra attempt giving HSU a 14-0 at 9:15.
The Cowboys closed out the period at 7:21 as Breton found Jessie Ramos for a 68-yard scoring strike. The extra point kick by Francino was good with Hardin-Simmons sporting a 21-0 advantage.
Davis connected with Calvon Henderson just six seconds into the second quarter on a 16-yard pass capping four plays and 53 yards. Eddie Oakley converted the PAT kick and pulled Sul Ross to within 14 down 21-7.
The Cowboys responded late in the period as Sloan scored on a quarterback keeper after a 10-play, 80-yard march downfield. Francino's kick cleared the uprights as HSU sported a comfortable 28-7 lead at 2:20.
HSU turned to their special teams in the closing seconds of the quarter as Ramos returned a Lobo punt 83 yards for a score. Francino nailed the point after attempt with the Cowboys up 35-7 heading to the break.
Sul Ross went to Davis to start on the third period as the Houston sophomore scampered three yards into the opponent end zone. Oakley's kick missed wide as the Lobos trailed 35-13 with 10:22 left in the third.
The Cowboys would close the deal with 33 seconds left in the contest as Jeremy Harris scored on a ten yard run after three plays and 54 yards. Francino missed the PAT but the Cowboys would go on to post their sixth win of the season and their first conference victory.
"We have a bunch of young men who need to step up their game," coach Pearce said following Saturday's loss. "We're not a bad football program but we did not play well tonight and I believe our youth and inexperience showed against a very good football team."
Sul Ross falls to 1-5 on the season and 0-3 in conference competition while HSU bumps their mark to 6-0 and 1-0.
The Lobos will host McMurry University next Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.
