The 2013 Houston Baptist Huskies football team represented Houston Baptist University—now known as Houston Christian University—as an independent in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Huskies, playing the program's first season, were led by first-year head coach Vic Shealy and compiled a record of 3–4. However, they were not considered a FCS team for scheduling purposes until 2014. They played three home games at Crusader Stadium and one home game at BBVA Compass Stadium. This was an exhibition season for the Huskies. The season did not count against the players academic eligibility, but they also were not eligible for the FCS playoffs. They played a mixed schedule of schools from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), NCAA Division II, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The Huskies joined the Southland Conference for the 2014 season and then became eligible for NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs.
Schedule
Roster
Game summaries At No. 3 Sam Houston State
Sources:
Statistics HBUSHSU First downs 7 23 Total yards 90 455 Rushing yards 45 365 Passing yards 45 90 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:06 28:54 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Baptist Passing Ka'Darius Baker 6/15, 33 yards, INT Rushing B. J. Kelly 13 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Wesley Lewis 2 receptions, 15 yardsSam Houston State Passing Brian Bell 5/9, 90 yards, 2 TD Rushing Steven Hicks 17 rushes, 99 yards, TD Receiving Torra Williams 2 receptions, 72 yards, TD
Houston Baptist football began on the road at Division I FCS Sam Houston State. The Huskies would lose their inaugural game 74–0 to the no. 3 Bearkats.
At Wayland Baptist Sources:Box score
Statistics HBUWBU First downs 27 16 Total yards 648 274 Rushing yards 347 147 Passing yards 301 127 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 40:34 19:26 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Baptist Passing Ka'Darius Baker 17/24, 284 yards, 2 TD Rushing B. J. Kelly 26 rushes, 178 yards, TD Receiving Darian Lazard 7 receptions, 118 yards, TDWayland Baptist Passing Braden Hudson 8/16, 61 yards, TD Rushing Kendall Roberson 21 rushes, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brendan Pegg 4 receptions, 55 yards, TD
For their second game, the Huskies traveled to NAIA Wayland Baptist. The game would be tied 28–28 at halftime, but Houston Baptist would shutout the Pioneers in the second half to win 52–28.
Oklahoma Baptist Sources:Box score
Statistics OBUHBU First downs 15 11 Total yards 249 367 Rushing yards 85 135 Passing yards 164 232 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 27:21 47:39 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Baptist Passing Cole Grauer 16/37, 164 yards, 4 INT Rushing Jordan Barnes 12 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Cody Miller 3 receptions, 41 yardsHouston Baptist Passing Ka'Darius Baker 16/26, 232 yards Rushing Craig Bell 9 rushes, 58 yards Receiving Ethan Fry 6 receptions, 75 yards
For game 3, Houston Baptist hosted Division II Oklahoma Baptist for the program's first home game. The Huskies' defense held the Bison to just a field goal and forced six turnovers to win for the second week in-a-row.
Abilene Christian
Sources:Box score
Statistics ACUHBU First downs 27 13 Total yards 589 220 Rushing yards 283 123 Passing yards 306 97 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 32:24 27:36 Team Category Player StatisticsAbilene Christian Passing John David Baker 16/20, 273 yards, 4 TD Rushing Adrian Duncan 13 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taylor Gabriel 7 receptions, 174 yards, 3 TDHouston Baptist Passing Ka'Darius Baker 15/22, 80 yards, INT Rushing Craig Bell 12 rushes, 77 yards, TD Receiving Kenneth Bibbins 6 receptions, 35 yards
For game 4, Houston Baptist hosted the Abilene Christian Wildcats, who were in their first year of transitioning from Division II to Division I FCS.
At Incarnate Word
Sources:Box score
Statistics HBUUIW First downs 12 21 Total yards 220 370 Rushing yards 45 195 Passing yards 175 175 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 22:56 37:04 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Baptist Passing Ka'Darius Baker 16/33, 175 yards, INT Rushing Darian Lazard 4 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Darian Lazard 5 receptions, 64 yardsIncarnate Word Passing Trent Brittain 13/21, 164 yards, TD Rushing Junio Sessions 18 rushes, 115 yards Receiving Clint Killough 5 receptions, 67 yards, TD
For the second week in a row, the Huskies played an opponent who was in the first year of transitioning from Division II to Division I FCS.
Texas College Sources:Box score
Statistics TCHBU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas College Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Baptist Passing Rushing Receiving
Texas A&M–Commerce
Sources:Box score
Statistics TAMUCHBU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Baptist Passing Rushing Receiving
Audio streaming All Houston Baptist games were streamed online by the Legacy Sports Network.
References