Howard Payne (0-1) at Hardin-Simmons (0-0)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday at Shelton Stadium in Abilene, Texas

The matchup: Hardin-Simmons will open its spring season this week at home against a Yellow Jackets team that continues to improve. HPU nearly pulled off the upset last week despite coach Jason Bachtel taking over the program less than a month ago.

The Cowboys are coming off an 8-2 season in 2019. In a rare occurrence, HSU did not make the playoffs last year after a home loss to Texas Lutheran and a one-point loss at Mary Hardin-Baylor on a last-second field goal. The Cowboys will be ready to finally get back on the gridiron again.

Players to watch: HPU freshman quarterback Landon McKinney got the starting nod last week and completed 19 of 28 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Parker was McKinney’s favorite target catching 11 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown last week.

Yellow Jackets defensive back Kyle Bell led the defense with an impressive 19 tackles including 10 solo against Texas Lutheran.

HSU returns senior quarterback Kyle Jones who completed 76.4 percent of his passes last year for 1,493 yards with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Cowboys also return their top receiving threat in junior Kevi Evans (889 yards, 10 touchdowns).

Key to victory: The running game will be the key for both teams this week.

McKinney was the Yellow Jackets leading rusher last week with 68 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. The remaining five players who rushed the ball only averaged 3.25 yards per carry. 

HPU will need more out of its running game to compete against the always stout Cowboys defense.

HSU will be in search of a new lead running back with Jaquan Hemphill and Bryson Hammonds having departed the team. The top returning back is senior Kolby Youngblood who had a total of 37 rushing attempts last season.

However, Youngblood did produce 7.9 yards per carry, and the HSU offensive line is always one of the best in the country led by coach Jesse Burleson.

Prediction: Hardin-Simmons 45, Howard Payne 21