2024 Houston Christian Huskies football team

2024 Houston Christian Huskies football
2024 Houston Christian Huskies football
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	3–5 (1–2 Southland)
Head coach	Jason Bachtel (1st season);
Offensive scheme	Pro spread
Defensive coordinator	Zach Wilkerson (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Husky Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

The 2024 Houston Christian Huskies football team represents Houston Christian University in the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Huskies play their home games at Husky Stadium in Houston, Texas, and compete in the Southland Conference. They are led by first–year head coach Jason Bachtel.

2024 Southland Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 9 Incarnate Word	3	–	0	6	–	2
Southeastern Louisiana	3	–	1	4	–	5
Lamar	2	–	1	5	–	3
Nicholls	2	–	1	4	–	4
Stephen F. Austin	3	–	2	5	–	3
Houston Christian	1	–	2	3	–	5
Texas A&M–Commerce*	1	–	2	1	–	7
McNeese	1	–	3	4	–	5
Northwestern State	0	–	4	0	–	9

* – Texas A&M–Commerce is ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. As of November 1, 2024 Rankings from STATS Poll

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Huskies were picked to finish seventh in the conference.^[1]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Nicholls	119 (9)
2	Incarnate Word	113 (8)
3	Southeastern Louisiana	94
4	Lamar	88 (1)
5	Stephen F. Austin	72
6	McNeese	64
7	Houston Christian	41
8	Texas A&M–Commerce	37
9	Northwestern State	25

Preseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 22, 2024. HCU had a total of three players selected.^[2]

Offense

1st Team

Dillon Fedor – Placekicker, SR

2nd Team

Dion Daniels – Offensive lineman, SR

Defense

2nd Team

Zae Smith – Defensive lineman, JR

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 pm	at SMU*	Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX	ACCNX/ESPN+	L 7–59	27,080
September 7	6:00 pm	No. 20 Tarleton State*	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	L 18–35	2,080
September 14	6:00 pm	Louisiana Christian*	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	W 70–7	1,256
September 21	2:30 pm	at UTSA*	Alamodome San Antonio, TX	ESPN+	L 7–45	20,973
September 28	12:00 p.m.	at Indiana State*	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ESPN+	W 27–24	3,466
October 5	6:00 pm	No. 22 McNeese	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	W 43–22	2,232
October 12	2:00 pm	Southeastern Louisiana	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	L 7–37	1,825
October 26	6:00 p.m.	Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX	ESPN+	L 6–55	6,246
November 2	2:00 pm	at No. 9 Incarnate Word	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX	ESPN+	–
November 9	2:00 pm	Nicholls	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	–
November 16	1:00 pm	at Texas A&M–Commerce	Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	ESPN+	–
November 23	2:00 pm	at Northwestern State	Husky Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN+	–
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

at SMU (FBS)

Game One – Houston Christian Huskies (0-0) at SMU Mustangs (FBS) (1-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Houston Christian	0	7	0	0	7
SMU (FBS)	28	14	7	10	59

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas

Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 91 °F (33 °C)
Game attendance: 27,080
Referee: Nate Blake
TV announcers (ACCNX/ESPN+): Doug Sherman, Tyoka Jackson, and Marilyn Payne

Game information

First quarter

SMU – Jordan Hudson 28-yard pass from Preston Stone (pass failed), 10:47. Mustangs 6–0. Drive: 4 plays, 84 yards, 1:20.
SMU – Brashard Smith 1-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 7:07. Mustangs 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:05.
SMU – Brashard Smith 2-yard run (Collin Rogers kick), 3:04. Mustangs 20–0. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 1:58.
SMU – Anthony Booker Jr. 16-yard fumble return (L. J. Johnson Jr. run), 2:03. Mustangs 28–0.

Second quarter

SMU – Jake Bailey 4-yard pass from Preston Stone (Collin Rogers kick), 13:42. Mustangs 35–0. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:50.
HCU – Deuce McMillan 10-yard pass from Cutter Stewart (Dillon Fedor kick), 12:19. Mustangs 35–7. Drive: 4 plays, 50 yards, 1:23.
SMU – Key'Shawn Smith 35-yard pass from Kevin Jennings (Collin Rogers kick), 5:05. Mustangs 42–7. Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:28.

Third quarter

SMU – Derrick McFall 17-yard run (Gabriel Lorenzo kick), 7:35. Mustangs 49–7. Drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 3:58.

Fourth quarter

SMU – Kevin Jennings 6-yard run (Gabriel Lorenzo kick), 14:48. Mustangs 56–7. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 4:24.
SMU – Collin Rogers 23-yard field goal, 1:54. Mustangs 59–7. Drive: 16 plays, 69 yards, 10:50.

Statistics	HCU	SMU
First downs	10	28
Total yards	157	595
Rushing yards	34	369
Passing yards	123	226
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	24:56	35:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston Christian	Passing	Cutter Stewart	10/25, 118 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Champ Dozier	7 rushes, 22 yards
	Receiving	Ismael Fuller	2 receptions, 38 yards
SMU	Passing	Kevin Jennings	10/14, 148 yards, TD
	Rushing	Brashard Smith	9 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jake Bailey	4 receptions, 59 yards, TD

vs. No. 20 Tarleton State

Game Two – No. 20 Tarleton State Texans (1–1) vs Houston Christian Huskies (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 20 Tarleton State	0	0	0	0	0
Houston Christian	0	0	0	0	0

at Husky Stadium • Houston, TX

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 6:00 PM CST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TAR	HCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tarleton State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston Christian	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Louisiana Christian

Game Three – Louisiana Christian (0–1) at Houston Christian (0–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Louisiana Christian	0	0	7	0	7
Houston Christian	15	14	28	13	70

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: September 14
Game time: 6:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: NE 4 mph • Weather: Sunny • Temp: 94 °F (34 °C)
Game attendance: 1,256
Referee: Matt Beck
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

(14:46) HCU – Semaj Brown 83-yard kickoff return, Dillon Fedor kick (Houston Christian 7–0)
(8:26) HCU – Deuce McMillan 35-yard pass from Eli Brickhandler, Drake Martinez pass (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:14; Houston Christian 15–0)

Second Quarter

(8:47) HCU – AJ Wilson 34-yard pass from Eli Brickhandler, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 2:10; Houston Christian 22–0)
(7:00) HCU – Calvin Hill 25-yard run, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 2 plays, 34 yards, 0:47; Houston Christian 29–0)

Third Quarter

(12:39) HCU – Drake Martinez 24-yard pass from Cutter Stewart, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 4 plays, 32 yards, 1:18; Houston Christian 36–0)
(7:17) LCU – Datlan Cunningham 1-yard run, Levi Hilborn kick (Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 5:22; Houston Christian 36–7)
(5:57) HCU – Ismael Fuller 71-yard pass from Cutter Stewart, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 3 plays, 78 yards, 1:13; Houston Christian 43–7)
(3:47) HCU – Cutter Stewart 1-yard run, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 1:56; Houston Christian 50–7)
(0:22) HCU – Semaj Brown 65-yard interception, Dillon Fedor kick (Houston Christian 57–7)

Fourth Quarter

(10:53) HCU – Darryle Evans 2-yard run, Dillon Fedor kick (Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:42; Houston Christian 64–7)
(2:38) HCU – Darryle Evans 66-yard run (Drive: 2 plays, 67 yards, 0:55; Houston Christian 70–7)

Statistics	Louisiana Christian	HCU
First downs	20	21
Plays–yards	98–323	64–496
Rushes–yards	66–168	47–217
Passing yards	155	279
Passing: comp–att–int	15–32–4	11–17–0
Time of possession	35:11	24:49

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana Christian	Passing	River Thompson	12/23, 129 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Daylon Charles	14 carries, 51 yards
	Receiving	Sammy Feaster	4 receptions, 53 yards
HCU	Passing	Eli Brickhandler	6/6, 126 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Darryle Evans	12 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	AJ Wilson	3 receptions, 77 yards, TD

@ UTSA

Game Four – Houston Christian Huskies (1–2) at UTSA Roadrunners (1–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Houston Christian	0	7	0	0	7
UTSA	10	21	7	7	45

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Date: September 21
Game time: 2:30 pm
Game weather: None (played indoors)
Game attendance: 20,973
Referee: Darryl DeBerry
TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Charlie Strong (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter

(9:37) UTSA – Chase Allen 26-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 2:42; UTSA 3–0)
(2:21) UTSA – Devin McCuin 5-yard pass from Owen McCown, Chase Allen kick (Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:09; UTSA 10–0)

Second Quarter

(6:14) UTSA – Brandon High 9-yard run, Chase Allen kick (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:33; UTSA 17–0)
(3:58) HCU – Jesse Valenzuela 20-yard run, Reed Chandley kick (Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 2:08; UTSA 17–7)
(2:13) UTSA – Willie McCoy 59-yard pass from Owen McCown, Chase Allen kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:45; UTSA 24–7)
(0:47) UTSA – Robert Henry 17-yard pass from Owen McCown, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 0:51; UTSA 31–7)

Third Quarter

(11:08) UTSA – Kevorian Barnes 8-yard run, Chase Allen kick (Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 3:44; UTSA 38–7)

Fourth Quarter

(13:57) UTSA – Jamel Hardy 5-yard pass from Eddie Lee Marburger, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 14 plays, 76 yards, 5:49; UTSA 45–7)

Statistics	HCU	UTSA
First downs	12	34
Plays–yards	57–177	83–536
Rushes–yards	32–50	51–269
Passing yards	127	267
Passing: comp–att–int	13–25–0	23–32–1
Time of possession	24:29	35:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
HCU	Passing	Eli Brickhandler	7/12, 83 yards
	Rushing	Jesse Valenzuela	5 carries, 22 yards, TD
	Receiving	AJ Wilson	4 receptions, 71 yards
UTSA	Passing	Owen McCown	18/25, 226 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Bryson Donnell	12 carries, 74 yards
	Receiving	Willie McCoy	2 receptions, 85 yards, TD

@ Indiana State

Game Five – Houston Christian Huskies (1–3) at Indiana State Sycamores (1–2)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Houston Christian			0
Indiana State			0

at Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, Indiana

Date: September 28
Game time: TBA
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	HCU	Indiana State
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Indiana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. No. 22 McNeese

Game Six – No. 22 McNeese Cowboys (4–2) vs Houston Christian Huskies (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 22 McNeese	0	0	0	0	0
Houston Christian	0	0	0	0	0

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
Game time: 6:00 PM
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MCN	HCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
McNeese	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston Christian	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Southeastern Louisiana

Game Seven – Southeastern Louisiana Lions (2–4) at Houston Christian Huskies (3–3)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Southeastern Louisiana			0
Houston Christian			0

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Game time: 2:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	SLU	HCU
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
SLU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

@ Stephen F. Austin

Game Eight – Houston Christian Huskies (3–4) at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (4–3)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Houston Christian			0
Stephen F. Austin			0

at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas

Date: October 26
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	HCU	SFA
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
SFA	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

@ No. 9 Incarnate Word

Game Nine – Houston Christian Huskies at No. 9 Incarnate Word Cardinals

Quarter	1	2	Total
Houston Christian			0
No. 9 Incarnate Word			0

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas

Date: November 2
Game time: 2:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	HCU	UIW
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UIW	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Nicholls

Game Ten – Nicholls Colonels at Houston Christian Huskies

Quarter	1	2	Total
Nicholls			0
HCU			0

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: November 9
Game time: 2:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	Nich	HCU
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nich	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

@ Texas A&M–Commerce

Game Eleven – Houston Christian Huskies at Texas A&M–Commerce Lions

Quarter	1	2	Total
Houston Christian			0
Texas A&M–Commerce			0

at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, Commerce, Texas

Date: November 16
Game time: 1:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	HCU	TAMU–C
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
TAMU–C	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northwestern State

Game Twelve – Northwestern State Demons at Houston Christian Huskies

Quarter	1	2	Total
Northwestern State			0
Houston Christian			0

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: November 23
Game time: 2:00 pm
Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Statistics	NWST	HCU
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	– –	– –
Time of possession	:	:

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
NWST	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
HCU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

References

^ "Southland Conference Announces 2024 Football Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team". www.southland.org. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
^ "10 Football Student-Athletes Earn SLC Preseason Honors". hcuhuskies.com. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
^ "2024 HCU Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ "2024 Football Schedule". Houston Christian University. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ "Houston Christian Huskies Schedule 2024". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ Zach McKinnell (May 30, 2024). "2024 Houston Christian Football Schedule". ABG-SI LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
^ "2024 Houston Christian Football Tickets, Schedule, Where to Watch". Hearst LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
^ "Houston Christian Huskies". CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
^ "2024 Houston Christian Huskies Schedule". Nolan Analytics LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

[1] "Southland Conference Announces 2024 Football Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team". www.southland.org. Retrieved July 24, 2024.

[2] "10 Football Student-Athletes Earn SLC Preseason Honors". hcuhuskies.com. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.

[3] "2024 HCU Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[4] "2024 Football Schedule". Houston Christian University. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[5] "Houston Christian Huskies Schedule 2024". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[6] Zach McKinnell (May 30, 2024). "2024 Houston Christian Football Schedule". ABG-SI LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

[7] "2024 Houston Christian Football Tickets, Schedule, Where to Watch". Hearst LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

[8] "Houston Christian Huskies". CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

[9] "2024 Houston Christian Huskies Schedule". Nolan Analytics LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

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