Whitworth falls in season opener

ABILENE, Texas – A miserable third quarter proved to be the difference as Whitworth’s bid to upset Hardin-Simmons, the fifth-ranked NCAA Division II football team, fell short by a margin of 48-31 in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Going almost exclusively to its vaunted passing attack, the Cowboys outscored Whitworth 21-0 in the third quarter to turn an 11-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead.

HSU outgained the Pirates 370-107 and outscored the Bucs 35-7 after the break. Preseason All-American quarterback Justin Feaster led the Cowboys by completing 26 of 32 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 10 times for 64 yards and two more scores.

Whitworth All-American running back Adam Anderson finished with 229 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns.

The Pirates got the start that they wanted, opening a 24-13 halftime lead on the Cowboys. The opening kickoff was returned 48 yards by Cailen Thomason, setting up a short touchdown drive by Whitworth. Anderson carried in from 1 yard away.

It was then Anderson’s turn for a long kickoff return, taking the ball 46 yards to set up another short field. Anderson finished off a 40-yard drive by going in from 13 yards out after breaking a tackle near the line of scrimmage.

The Pirates opened a 21-7 lead after Anderson took an inside screen pass from quarterback Andrew Durant, hurdled a defender just past the line of scrimmage and broke free for a 64-yard gain to the Cowboy’s 14-yard line.

It appeared the Pirates were stalled at the 5-yard line, but Whitworth ran a perfect fake field goal and Durant passed to a wide-open Justin Wimberly for the score.

Anderson had 158 all-purpose yards in the first half. Durant completed 9 of 10 passes for 141 yards with one touchdown. For HSU, Feaster completed 9 of 11 passes for 116 yards. Robbins caught eight balls in the first half for 84 yards and a score.

The second half was all Cowboys.

Hardin-Simmons outgained Whitworth 517-338. Durant was 12 of 15 for 153 yards. Anderson finished with 74 yards rushing, 69 yards receiving and 86 kickoff return yards.

Whitworth is on the road next week at the University of La Verne (Calif.).