Soggy Track Slows Down Choctaws in 31-0 Loss to Cowboys

Abilene, Texas --- The Mississippi College football team opened American Southwest Conference play with a 31-0 loss to Hardin-Simmons on Saturday night at a wet Shelton Stadium.

Tevin Mitchell led the Cowboys (2-2, 1-0 ASC) with 209 yards and two touchdowns, carrying the ball 30 times on the rain-soaked field.  The junior running back scored the only points of the first half on a two-yard run that capped off a 10-play, 57-yard drive.

Coming out in the second half, the Choctaws (1-3, 0-1 ASC) looked to stop the HSU offense, but Jessie Ramos returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and the Cowboys took a 14-0 lead.

Hardin-Simmons would go on to score two more touchdowns and Scott Newberry added a 32-yard field goal for the final result.

Junior Doc Ward led the MC defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.  Freshman Brooks Villarreal also had double-digits in tackles with 11 stops on the night.

Punter Craig McCraney was a bright spot for the Choctaws, averaging 41.7 yards per punt on 12 kicks with a season-long of 67 yards.

Offensively, MC was held to just 131 total yards by a stout HSU defense that was led by Chad Laughlin with seven tackles and two sacks.  Sophomore quarterback Jonathon Redd led the Choctaws with 102 total yards of offense.

The Choctaws return home to face Sul Ross State next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium.  The Lobos are 1-3 on the season and are coming off of a 76-28 loss to #2 Mary Hardin-Baylor.