Hardin-Simmons could not overcome a strong second half push as the Cowboys lost 37-22 to Linfield (Ore.) on Saturday afternoon in McMinnville, Ore. The teams played a back-and-forth first half with the Cowboys taking a 20-14 lead on an Aaron Boehme 17-yard pass to Trevor Patterson with 2:00 to play in the first half.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first two possessions. Boehme capped Linfield’s first drive with a 8-yard run. Maika Kunioka missed the PAT. HSU then went 73 yards in 14 plays with Feaster scoring from three yards out to give the Cowboys a 7-6 lead with 5:28 to play in the first.
Aaron Williams then scored on a 1-yard run for Linfield and Zac Erekson scored on a 5-yard pass from Feaster to make it 14-13 to with 5:20 to play in the first half.
It was a different story in the second half, Linfield dominated on both sides of the ball to pull away for the victory.
Linfield scored a field goal on its first drive of the second half, a 32-yarder by Kunioka. Jayce Boyd took the kickoff 56 yards to the Linfield 36, but the drive stalled when Feaster was sacked and injured his shoulder. It led to a blocked field goal.
Boehme then found Patterson on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 30-14. Feaster then was intercepted on the first pass of the next series and he did not return.
Both teams scored late touchdowns with the Cowboys coming on a 19-yard pass from Taylor Byrd.
Boehme was 25-for-32 for 335 yards and three scores for Linfield and the Wildcats outgained the Cowboys 462-376.
Derrick Grant had 105 yards on 13 carries for the Cowboys and Baker had eight catches for 114 yards. Feaster threw for 129 yards and Byrd had 112 yards.
Hardin-Simmons (1-1) will return home next week to open American Southwest Conference play against Louisiana College.
