In last year's meeting in Azusa, the Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than 8 minutes into the game only to allow the Cowboys rally to a 28-21 victory. Today, the Cougars used an interception and a fumble to assume a comfortable 17-0 lead after 1 quarter of play. But just like last year, Hardin-Simmons chipped away at the Cougar cushion and eventually scored 30 unanswered points to post its second win in 3 games this season.

Freshman CB Mike Cory got the Cougars going with his first collegiate interception, returning it 53 yards to the Cowboy 12-yard line. Four plays later junior TB Jack Williams bounced in from 2 yards out to put the Cougars up 7-0 less than 6 minutes into the game. After a Jim Daichent 25-yard FG capped a 12-play Cougar drive to put Azusa Pacific up 10-0, opportunity knocked again. Senior DT Joel McGivney fell on a Cowboy fumble at the HSU 17-yards line. Two plays later, Williams sprinted in from 6 yards to push the Cougar lead to 17-0 with 57 seconds left in the first quarter.

The wheels fell off the Cougar machine in the second quarter. The Cowboys used a 57-yard screen pass to set up 1 second quarter TD and then returned a Cougar punt 42 yards for another TD to wipe out Azusa Pacific's lead and knot the score at 17-17 at halftime.

HSU took the lead for good when Cowboy QB Bill Poe found Chance Simpson open for an 18-yard TD strike to put the Cowboys up 24-17 with 5:50 left in the third quarter. One play earlier, Poe fumbled at the Cougar 13-yard line, but Azusa Pacific could not come up with the loose ball.

Azusa Pacific fumbled at the HSU 45-yard line to open the fourth quarter, thwarting a potential game-tying drive. However, Azusa Pacific had another chance, but Dexter Davis fumbled an end-around at the HSU 28 late in the game to stop another Cougar drive. The Cowboys then used another 57-yard pass play to set up the game's final TD with a minute left in the game.

Scoring by Quarters
Azusa Pacific             17   0    0    0 -- 17
Hardin-Simmons             0  17    7    6 -- 30

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
SCORING
APU - Jack Williams 2 run, 9:03 1st Qtr.
APU - Jim Daichendt 25 yd FG, 3:05 1st Qtr.
APU - Jack Williams 6 run, 0:57 1st Qtr.
HSU - Mark Smith 20 yd FG, 7:20 2nd Qtr.
HSU - Jackie Warre 39 pass from Poe, 4:54 2nd Qtr.
HSU - Barry Donham 42 yd punt return, 1:46 2nd Qtr.
HSU - Chance Sampson  18 pass from Poe, 5:50 3rd Qtr.
HSU - Cameron Creager 1 run, 1:00 4th Qtr.

PASSING
Geoff Buffum (AP) 8-21, 124 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Bill Poe (HS) 23-37, 303 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT

RUSHING
Jack Williams (AP), 24 att., 137 yrds
Cameron Creager (HS), 17 att., 54 yrds
Marvin Smith (AP), 10 att., 48 yrds

RECEIVING
Chance Sampson (HS), 6 rec, 63 yrds, 1 TD
Barry Donham (HS), 5 rec, 10 yrds
Dexter Davis (AP), 3 rec., 34  yrds.
           TEAM STATISTICS
            APU          HSU
FIRST DOWNS  18          15
TOTAL YARDS 292 yds     432 yds
RUSHING     168 yds      83 yds
PASSING     124 yds     349 yds