# 2024 Houston Christian Huskies football team

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

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Huskies were picked to finish seventh in the conference.
| 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 | East Texas A&M | 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.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 pm | at SMU* | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ACCNX/ESPN+ | L 7–59 | 27,080 |
| September 7 | 6:00 pm | No. 20 Tarleton State* | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | L 18–35 | 2,080 |
| September 14 | 6:00 pm | Louisiana Christian* | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 70–7 | 1,256 |
| September 21 | 2:30 pm | at UTSA* | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | ESPN+ | L 7–45 | 20,973 |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana State* | Memorial StadiumTerre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | W 27–24 | 3,466 |
| October 5 | 6:00 pm | No. 22 McNeese | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 43–22 | 2,232 |
| October 12 | 2:00 pm | Southeastern Louisiana | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | L 7–37 | 1,825 |
| October 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | L 6–55 | 6,246 |
| November 2 | 2:00 pm | at No. 9 Incarnate Word | Gayle and Tom Benson StadiumSan Antonio, TX | ESPN+ | L 20–45 | 2,189 |
| November 9 | 2:00 pm | Nicholls | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 24–21 | 2,081 |
| November 16 | 1:00 pm | at East Texas A&M | Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | ESPN+ | L 40–41 | 2,354 |
| November 23 | 2:00 pm | at Northwestern State | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 62–24 | 1,783 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### at SMU (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Mustangs (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
| 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 |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Champ Dozier | 7 rushes, 22 yards |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | Ismael Fuller | 2 receptions, 38 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 10/14, 148 yards, TD |
| SMU | Rushing | Brashard Smith | 9 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD |

### vs. No. 20 Tarleton State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 20 Texans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Huskies | 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+): Jordan Smith, Brandon Kruse
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Tarleton State | Passing |
| Tarleton State | Rushing |
| Tarleton State | Receiving |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |

### Louisiana Christian (NAIA)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats {NAIA) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Huskies | 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 announcers (ESPN+): Jordan Smith, Brandon Kruse
| Statistics | LCU | HCU |
| First downs | 20 | 21 |
| Total yards | 98–323 | 64–496 |
| Rushing 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 |
| Louisiana Christian | Rushing | Daylon Charles | 14 carries, 51 yards |
| Louisiana Christian | Receiving | Sammy Feaster | 4 receptions, 53 yards |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Eli Brickhandler | 6/6, 126 yards, 2 TD |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Darryle Evans | 12 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | AJ Wilson | 3 receptions, 77 yards, TD |

### at UTSA (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Roadrunners (FBS) | 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)
| Statistics | HCU | UTSA |
| First downs | 12 | 34 |
| Total yards | 57–177 | 83–536 |
| Rushing 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 |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Eli Brickhandler | 7/12, 83 yards |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Jesse Valenzuela | 5 carries, 22 yards, TD |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | AJ Wilson | 4 receptions, 71 yards |
| UTSA | Passing | Owen McCown | 18/25, 226 yards, 3 TD |
| UTSA | Rushing | Bryson Donnell | 12 carries, 74 yards |
| UTSA | Receiving | Willie McCoy | 2 receptions, 85 yards, TD |

### at Indiana State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
| Sycamores | | | 0 |
at Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, Indiana
* Date: September 28
* Game time: TBA
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |
| Indiana State | Passing |
| Indiana State | Rushing |
| Indiana State | Receiving |

### vs. No. 22 McNeese

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 PM
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Garrett Jones, Jackson Cochran
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| McNeese | Passing |
| McNeese | Rushing |
| McNeese | Receiving |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |

### Southeastern Louisiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 7 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 37 |
| Huskies | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
* Game time: 2:03 pm
* Game weather: Wind: N 5mph • Weather: Sunny • Temp: 90
* Game attendance: 1,825
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Garrett Jones, Jackson Cochran
* Box Score
| Statistics | SELA | HCU |
| First downs | 21 | 13 |
| Total yards | 69–446 | 65–326 |
| Rushing yards | 41–278 | 45–238 |
| Passing yards | 168 | 88 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–28–0 | 6–20–1 |
| Time of possession | 35:17 | 24:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Eli Sawyer | 18/26, 144 yards, 2 TD |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Rodeo Graham, Jr. | 8 carries, 109 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | Darius Lewis | 4 receptions, 46 yards |
| Houston Christian | Passing | CJ Rogers | 4/12, 75 yards |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Darryle Evans | 20 carries, 128 yards |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | Deuce McMillan | 2 receptions, 47 yards |

### at Stephen F. Austin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Lumberjacks | 3 | 21 | 21 | 10 | 55 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 6:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,246
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Simmons, Courtnee Garcia
* Box Score
| Statistics | HCU | SFA |
| First downs | 15 | 29 |
| Total yards | 68–208 | 67–561 |
| Rushing yards | 38–82 | 38–231 |
| Passing yards | 126 | 330 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–30–1 | 21–29–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:55 | 29:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Eli Brickhandler | 4/12, 69 yards, INT |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Eli Brickhandler | 9 carries, 31 yards |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | Deuce McMillan | 2 receptions, 47 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/27, 316 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 21 carries, 110 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Jordan Nabors | 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD |

### at No. 9 Incarnate Word

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| No. 9 Cardinals | 10 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
* Date: November 2
* Game time: 2:00 pm
* Game weather: Wind: SE 11 mph • Weather: Cloudy • Temp: 81
* Game attendance: 2,189
* Referee: Ed Bourgeios
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Karl Schoening (play-by-play), Sam Kaman (analyst) & Blair Villarreal (sideline)
| Statistics | HCU | UIW |
| First downs | 14 | 31 |
| Total yards | 64–301 | 89–573 |
| Rushing yards | 30–84 | 39–241 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 332 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–34–2 | 32–50–0 |
| Time of possession | 24:05 | 35:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Cutter Stewart | 10/12, 145 yards, 1 TD |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 4 carries, 53 yards |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | AJ Wilson | 3 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Zach Calzada | 29/44, 306 yards, 4 TD |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Dekalon Taylor | 14 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Roy Alexander | 7 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TDs |

### Nicholls

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Colonels | | | 0 |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 2:00 pm
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy McIlvoy, Jackson Cochran
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Nicholls | Passing |
| Nicholls | Rushing |
| Nicholls | Receiving |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |

### at East Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
| Lions | | | 0 |
at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, Commerce, Texas
* Date: November 16
* Game time: 1:00 pm
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Greg Higgins, Adam Routon
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |
| East Texas A&M | Passing |
| East Texas A&M | Rushing |
| East Texas A&M | Receiving |

### Northwestern State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 2:00 pm
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy McIlvoy, Brennan Young
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| Houston Christian | Passing |
| Houston Christian | Rushing |
| Houston Christian | Receiving |