2023 Houston Christian Huskies football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record5–5 (4–3[lower-alpha 1] Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJason Bachtel (1st season)
Offensive schemePro spread
Defensive coordinatorEric Daniels (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumHusky Stadium
2023 Southland Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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

Preseason poll

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)
1Southeastern Louisiana93 (9)
2Incarnate Word91 (7)
3McNeese65
4Nicholls62
5Northwestern State52
6Texas A&M–Commerce33
7Lamar28
8Houston Christian24

Preseason All–Southland Teams

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

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

Schedule

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)[lower-alpha 1][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

Lamar

Lamar Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
Period 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 downs2225
Total yards412417
Rushing yards118189
Passing yards294228
Turnovers31
Time of possession29:4130:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LamarPassingRobert Coleman19/30, 294 yards, 2 TD
RushingKhalan Griffin17 rushes, 74 yards
ReceivingIzaha Jones7 receptions, 101 yards
Houston ChristianPassingColby Suits17/35, 228 yards
RushingDarryle Evans24 rushes, 132 yards
ReceivingKarl Reynolds6 receptions, 112 yards

at Nicholls

Houston Christian Huskies at Nicholls Colonels
Period 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
StatisticsHCUNICH
First downs1419
Total yards220441
Rushing yards46237
Passing yards174204
Turnovers41
Time of possession26:5533:05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Houston ChristianPassingColby Suits17/38, 170 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingColby Suits7 rushes, 18 yards
ReceivingIsmael Fuller2 receptions, 35 yards
NichollsPassingPat McQuaide15/25, 204 yards, TD, INT
RushingJaylon Spears8 rushes, 113 yards
ReceivingDavid Robinson7 receptions, 127 yards, TD

at McNeese

Game Ten – Houston Christian Huskies at McNeese Cowboys – Game Summary
Period 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 : :
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          Houston Christian Passing00/00; total 0 yds; TDs 0 ; long 0 yds; sack 0
          Rushing0 attempts; gain 0 yds; long 0 yds;
          Receiving0 receptions; 0 total yds; TD 0; long 0 yds
          McNeese Passing00/00; 0 total yds; Int 0; long 0 s; sack 0
          Rushing0 attempts; gained 0 yds; loss 0 yds; long 0;
          Receiving0 receptions; 0 yds; long 0 yds; TD 0

          Incarnate Word

          Game Eleven – Incarnate Word Cardinals at Houston Christian Huskies
          Period 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
          TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
          Incarnate Word Passing
          Rushing
          Receiving
          Houston Christian Passing
          Rushing
          Receiving

          Notes

          1. 1 2 Northwestern State's forfeit against Houston Christian on November 4 counts as a conference win but not an overall win.

          National and state honors

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

          Conference awards and honors

          Weekly awards

          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

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

          Postseason All–Southland Teams

          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

          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. 1 2 Hill, James (November 24, 2023). "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 22, 2023.


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