2023 Houston Christian Huskies football team

2023 Houston Christian Huskies football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record5–5 (4–3[a] Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJason Bachtel (1st season)
Offensive schemePro spread
Defensive coordinatorEric Daniels (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumHusky Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Southland Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Nicholls $^   7 – 0     6 – 5  
No. 22 Incarnate Word   6 – 1     8 – 2  
Lamar   5 – 2     6 – 5  
Houston Christian   4 – 3     5 – 5  
Southeastern Louisiana   3 – 4     3 – 8  
Texas A&M–Commerce *   2 – 5     1 – 9  
McNeese   1 – 6     0 – 10  
Northwestern State **   0 – 2     0 – 6  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Texas A&M–Commerce ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.
    ** – Northwestern State canceled its season on October 26.
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Houston Christian Huskies football team represented Houston Christian University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Braxton Harris, the Huskies played their home games at Husky Stadium in Houston. On November 11, the Huskies secured their first winning conference record along with their first non-losing season in program history with a road victory over McNeese State.[1] Led by first-year head coach Braxton Harris, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 5–5. The Huskies finished in fourth place in conference play with a 4–3 record.

Preseason

[edit]

Preseason poll

[edit]

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 24, 2023. The Huskies were picked to finish last in the conference.[2]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Southeastern Louisiana 93 (9)
2 Incarnate Word 91 (7)
3 McNeese 65
4 Nicholls 62
5 Northwestern State 52
6 Texas A&M–Commerce 33
7 Lamar 28
8 Houston Christian 24

Preseason All–Southland Teams

[edit]

The Southland Conference announced the 2023 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 21, 2023. HCU had a total of 5 players selected.[3]

Dave Campbell's Texas Football post season All-Texas Non-FBS teams

[edit]

Levi Drake Rodriguez was named to the 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Defense team.[4]

Schedule

[edit]

Houston Christian announced their 2023 schedule on December 14, 2022.[5][6][7]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.Arkansas Baptist*
ESPN+W 66–01,763
September 96:00 p.m.at Western Kentucky*
ESPN+L 22–5220,712
September 166:00 p.m.at UT Martin*
ESPN+L 7–663,102
September 236:00 p.m.at Southeastern Louisiana
ESPN+W 34–193,694
September 306:00 p.m.Lamar
  • Husky Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+L 19–211,547
October 73:00 p.m.at Nicholls
ESPN+L 7–385,444
October 146:00 p.m.Prairie View A&M*
  • Husky Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+W 30–02,112
October 282:00 p.m.Texas A&M–Commerce
  • Husky Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+W 17–131,765
November 42:00 p.m.at Northwestern State
ESPN+W 2–0 (forfeit)[a][8]—
November 117:00 p.m.at McNeese
ESPN+W 35–246,724
November 182:00 p.m.No. 20 Incarnate Word
  • Husky Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+L 24–451,797

Game summaries

[edit]

Arkansas Baptist

[edit]
See also: Arkansas Baptist College
Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Buffaloes 0 0 000
Huskies 0 0 000

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 1,763
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics ABC HCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas Baptist Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Western Kentucky

[edit]
See also: 2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team
Houston Christian Huskies at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Hilltoppers 0 0 000

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 20,712
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics HCU WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at UT Martin

[edit]
See also: 2023 UT Martin Skyhawks football team
Houston Christian Huskies at UT Martin Skyhawks
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Skyhawks 0 0 000

at Graham Stadium, Martin, Tennessee

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 3,102
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics HCU UTM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UT Martin Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Southeastern Louisiana

[edit]
See also: 2023 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team
Game Four – Southeastern Louisiana Lions (0–3) vs Houston Christian Huskies (1–2)
Quarter 1 2 Total
Huskies 0
Lions 0

at Strawberry Stadium • Hammond, Louisiana

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 3,694
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics HCU SELA
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Lamar

[edit]
See also: 2023 Lamar Cardinals football team
Lamar Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 14 0721
Huskies 0 3 31319

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 1,547
  • Referee: James Brookhart
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

  • HCU – Dillon Fedor 44-yard field goal, 11:57. Huskies 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 2:13.
  • LAM – Major Bowden 41-yard pass from Robert Coleman (Chris Esqueda kick), 9:19. Cardinals 7–3. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:38.
  • LAM – Andre Dennis 16-yard pass from Robert Coleman (Chris Esqueda kick), 5:48. Cardinals 14–3. Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 1:18.

Third quarter

  • HCU – Dillon Fedor 22-yard field goal, 4:09. Cardinals 14–6. Drive: 17 plays, 93 yards, 7:31.

Fourth quarter

  • LAM – Major Bowden 5-yard run (Chris Esqueda kick), 14:55. Cardinals 21–6. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:14.
  • HCU – Jesse Valenzuela 12-yard run (Dillon Fedor kick), 7:45. Cardinals 21–13. Drive: 11 plays, 97 yards, 2:58.
  • HCU – Jesse Valenzuela 20-yard run (pass failed), 4:31. Cardinals 21–19. Drive: 5 plays, 33 yards, 1:32.
Statistics LAM HCU
First downs 22 25
Total yards 412 417
Rushing yards 118 189
Passing yards 294 228
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 29:41 30:19
Team Category Player Statistics
Lamar Passing Robert Coleman 19/30, 294 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Khalan Griffin 17 rushes, 74 yards
Receiving Izaha Jones 7 receptions, 101 yards
Houston Christian Passing Colby Suits 17/35, 228 yards
Rushing Darryle Evans 24 rushes, 132 yards
Receiving Karl Reynolds 6 receptions, 112 yards

at Nicholls

[edit]
See also: 2023 Nicholls Colonels football team
Houston Christian Huskies at Nicholls Colonels
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 7 0 007
Colonels 7 7 24038

at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, Louisiana

  • Date: October 7
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 5,444
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Box score
Statistics HCU NICH
First downs 14 19
Total yards 220 441
Rushing yards 46 237
Passing yards 174 204
Turnovers 4 1
Time of possession 26:55 33:05
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Christian Passing Colby Suits 17/38, 170 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Colby Suits 7 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving Ismael Fuller 2 receptions, 35 yards
Nicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 15/25, 204 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Jaylon Spears 8 rushes, 113 yards
Receiving David Robinson 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD

Prairie View A&M

[edit]
See also: 2023 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team
Prairie View A&M Panthers at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Huskies 0 0 000

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 14
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 2,112
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics PVAMU HCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Prairie View A&M Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Texas A&M–Commerce

[edit]
See also: 2023 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team
Texas A&M–Commerce Lions at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 000
Huskies 0 0 000

at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 28
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 1,765
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics TAMU-C HCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Texas A&M–Commerce Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at McNeese

[edit]
See also: 2023 McNeese Cowboys football team
Game Ten – Houston Christian Huskies at McNeese Cowboys – Game Summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Cowboys 0 0 000

at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, LA

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: • Wind: mph • Weather:
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics HCU McN
First downs
Plays–yards – –
Rushes–yards – –
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int – – – –
Time of possession : :
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Christian Passing 00/00; total 0 yds; TDs 0 ; long 0 yds; sack 0
Rushing 0 attempts; gain 0 yds; long 0 yds;
Receiving 0 receptions; 0 total yds; TD 0; long 0 yds
McNeese Passing 00/00; 0 total yds; Int 0; long 0 s; sack 0
Rushing 0 attempts; gained 0 yds; loss 0 yds; long 0;
Receiving 0 receptions; 0 yds; long 0 yds; TD 0

Incarnate Word

[edit]
See also: 2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
Game Eleven – Incarnate Word Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 20 Cardinals - - --0
Huskies - - --0

at Husky Stadium, Houston, TX

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics UIW HCU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Incarnate Word Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Northwestern State's forfeit against Houston Christian on November 4 counts as a conference win but not an overall win.

National and state honors

[edit]

Jalyx Hunt was named to Dave Campbell's Texas Football post season 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Defense team.[9]

Conference awards and honors

[edit]

Weekly awards

[edit]

Huskies were recognized four times as conference players of the week.

Weekly honors
Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref.
SLC Offensive Player of the Week Champ Dozier RB September 4, 2023 [10]
SLC Offensive Player of the Week Colby Suits QB September 25, 2023 [11]
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Dillon Fedor K October 16, 2023 [12]
SLC Defensive Player of the Week Isaiah Cash S October 30, 2023 [13]

Player and Coach of the Year Selections

[edit]

Jalyx Hunt was named Southland Conference Defensive player of the year.[14]

Postseason All–Southland Teams

[edit]

The Southland Conference announced the 2023 all-conference football team selections on November 22, 2023. Houston Christian had a total of five players selected.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FB: Huskies Finish Strong to Secure First Winning Season in Program History". Houston Christian University Athletics Department. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Southeastern Voted Top Spot in 2023 Southland Football Preseason Poll". www.southland.org. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Team". www.southland.org. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Cory Hogue (December 6, 2023). "REVEALED: The 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Team". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "FB: Huskies Reveal 2023 Schedule". December 14, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". Houston Christian University. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Houston Christian Huskies 2023". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Kasabian, Paul (October 26, 2023). "Northwestern State Cancels Football Season, HC Resigns After Ronnie Caldwell's Death". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Cory Hogue (December 6, 2023). "REVEALED: The 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Team". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Hill, James (September 4, 2023). "HCU's Dozier, SLU's Goodly, McNeese's Thomas Named Southland Football Players of the Week". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Hill, James (September 25, 2023). "HCU's Suits, A&M-Commerce's Epps, Southeastern's Dunlap Earn Southland Football Players of the Week". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Hill, James (October 16, 2023). "Lamar's Rhea, UIW's Foster, HCU's Fedor Earn Southland Football Player of the Week Honors". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Hill, James (October 30, 2023). "UIW's Porter, HCU's Cash, Lamar's Deleon Named Southland Football Players of the Week". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Hill, James (November 24, 2023). "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
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