American college football season
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.
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]
Offense
1st Team
Karl Reynolds – wide receiver, SR 2nd Team
Christian Hood – offensive lineman, SR Defense
1st Team
Jalyx Hunt – defensive lineman, JR Rodney Dansby – linebacker, JR Devion Hargrove – defensive back, JR
Levi Drake Rodriguez was named to the 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Defense team.[ 4]
Houston Christian announced their 2023 schedule on December 14, 2022.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 2 6:00 p.m. Arkansas Baptist * ESPN+ W 66–01,763 September 9 6:00 p.m. at Western Kentucky * ESPN+ L 22–5220,712 September 16 6:00 p.m. at UT Martin * ESPN+ L 7–663,102 September 23 6:00 p.m. at Southeastern Louisiana ESPN+ W 34–193,694 September 30 6:00 p.m. Lamar ESPN+ L 19–211,547 October 7 3:00 p.m. at Nicholls ESPN+ L 7–385,444 October 14 6:00 p.m. Prairie View A&M * ESPN+ W 30–02,112 October 28 2:00 p.m. Texas A&M–Commerce ESPN+ W 17–131,765 November 4 2:00 p.m. at Northwestern State ESPN+ W 2–0 (forfeit)[ a] [ 8] — November 11 7:00 p.m. at McNeese ESPN+ W 35–246,724 November 18 2:00 p.m. No. 20 Incarnate Word ESPN+ L 24–451,797
Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Buffaloes 0 0 0 0 0 Huskies 0 0 0 0 0
at Husky Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : September 2Game time : 6:00 p.m.Game attendance : 1,763TV : 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 ] 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
Houston Christian Huskies at UT Martin Skyhawks
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Huskies 0 0 0 0 0 Skyhawks 0 0 0 0 0
at Graham Stadium , Martin, Tennessee
Date : September 16Game time : 6:00 p.m. CDTGame attendance : 3,102TV : 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 ] Game Four – Southeastern Louisiana Lions (0–3) vs Houston Christian Huskies (1–2)
Period 1 2 Total Huskies 0 Lions 0
at Strawberry Stadium • Hammond, Louisiana
Date : Saturday, September 23, 2023Game time : 6:00 p.m. CDT Game attendance : 3,694TV : 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 Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 14 0 7 21 Huskies 0 3 3 13 19
at Husky Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : September 30Game time : 6:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny, 90 °F (32 °C)Game attendance : 1,547Referee : James BrookhartTV : ESPN+Box score
Game information First quarter 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
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 Panthers at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 0 0 0 0 0 Huskies 0 0 0 0 0
at Husky Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : October 14Game time : 6:00 p.m.Game attendance : 2,112TV : 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 Lions at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 0 0 0 0 Huskies 0 0 0 0 0
at Husky Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : October 28Game time : 2:00 p.m.Game attendance : 1,765TV : 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
Game Ten – Houston Christian Huskies at McNeese Cowboys – Game Summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Huskies 0 0 0 0 0 Cowboys 0 0 0 0 0
at Cowboy Stadium , Lake Charles, LA
Date : November 11Game 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
Game Eleven – Incarnate Word Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 20 Cardinals - - - - 0 Huskies - - - - 0
at Husky Stadium , Houston, TX
Date : November 18Game 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
^ 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 ] 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]
Offense 1st Team
Karl Reynolds – wide receiver, SR Dillon Fedor – place kicker, JR 2nd Team
Christian Hood – offensive lineman, SR
Defense
1st Team
Jalyx Hunt – linebacker, SR 2nd Team
Rodney Dansby – linebacker, JR
^ "FB: Huskies Finish Strong to Secure First Winning Season in Program History" . Houston Christian University Athletics Department. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023 . ^ "Southeastern Voted Top Spot in 2023 Southland Football Preseason Poll" . www.southland.org . Retrieved July 24, 2023 . ^ "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Team" . www.southland.org . Retrieved July 24, 2023 . ^ Cory Hogue (December 6, 2023). "REVEALED: The 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Team" . Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved December 7, 2023 . ^ "FB: Huskies Reveal 2023 Schedule" . December 14, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023 . ^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Houston Christian University. Retrieved June 12, 2023 . ^ "Houston Christian Huskies 2023" . ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2023 . ^ Kasabian, Paul (October 26, 2023). "Northwestern State Cancels Football Season, HC Resigns After Ronnie Caldwell's Death" . Bleacher Report . Retrieved October 26, 2023 . ^ Cory Hogue (December 6, 2023). "REVEALED: The 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Team" . Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved December 7, 2023 . ^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ 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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