HOUSTON - Turnovers at inopportune times was the story of the night as Houston Baptist won its third straight contest over Texas Southern Saturday night at Husky Stadium.
TSU opened the contest with a bang as Tren'Davian Dickson caught the opening pass from DeAndre Johnson and raced 64 yards downfield to the HBU 11. However, the drive stalled in a big way as the next play saw a backward pass which was fumbled and recovered by HBU.
HBU moved ahead 7-0 after its opening drive via a 22-yard touchdown run and the PAT. TSU would struggle offensively after the promising drive with three consecutive punts and a turnover on downs to end the first quarter. HBU scored a touchdown on its second drive followed by a field goal for a 17-0 first quarter lead.
The HBU lead would grow to 30-0 early in the second quarter before TSU would respond offensively as Tylor Cook scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to cap off a 10-play, 78-yard drive. However, HBU received the ball at its own 35 after an illegal procedure on the kickoff and needed only two plays to move ahead 37-7 after the PAT.
TSU responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive which was capped off by Dickson's 32-yard touchdown reception from Johnson. Down 37-14, the Tiger defense made a big stop but the momentum swung back to HBU after the Huskies recovered a fumbled punt at the TSU 18. The TSU defense once again rose to the occasion as Byron Edwards picked off HBU's Bailey Zappe in the end zone on the ensuing drive. The TSU offense continued to roll after the INT as Donnie Corley took a 3rd-and-14 pass 84 yards to the end zone as they trailed 37-21 late in the second quarter after the PAT.
HBU came out the locker room after halftime and scored on its first two drives to lead 51-21. TSU would fumble on its next drive which led to a HBU score followed by another fumble on the ensuing kickoff en route to a 65-21 deficit.
HBU would tack on another field goal late in the third quarter while TSU's Tylor Cook scored on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
TSU finished with 503 total offensive yards with 420 via the air and 83 on the ground. Johnson passed for 420 yards on 25-of-37 passing with two touchdowns while Donnie Corley caught 12 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. Marquel Daigle led TSU with 11 tackles.
The Tigers step back into SWAC play next Saturday as they'll head to Huntsville, Ala. to face Alabama A&M at 2 p.m.
