Turnovers sink Schreiner as Howard Payne pulls away 41-21

Schreiner turned the ball over three times, and Howard Payne scored 27 points off those mistakes and a short punt in a 41-21 win over the Mountaineers in an American Southwest Conference game Saturday at Antler Stadium.

Schreiner (3-4, 0-2 ASC) has lost three straight. Howard Payne (5-1, 1-1) bounced back from a 33-10 loss at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The game was delayed when a Howard Payne defensive player was seriously injured. He was taken by ambulance to Peterson Regional Medical Center. His condition wasn’t known after the game.

Howard Payne scored after an interception and a fumble to lead 13-0 in the first quarter. Jason Ortiz’s 7-yard touchdown run cut it to 13-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, a Schreiner punt that traveled 2 yards was returned for a touchdown, and a second interception set up another score. Howard Payne led 34-21 after three quarters and added a late touchdown.

Schreiner ran for 179 yards against a defense that had allowed 75 a game. Ortiz had 112 yards on 21 carries, and Aidan Varwig ran for 54 yards and a touchdown. Isaac Ponce completed 16 of 25 passes for 209 yards with two interceptions and scored on a 1-yard run. President Calamaco caught seven passes for 103 yards.

Schreiner had more first downs than Howard Payne, 25-23, and was penalized only once.

Howard Payne ran for 307 yards. Blessing Ngene had 188 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, and Bryce Still threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Brady Criswell led Schreiner with 11 tackles, and Triston Wilson had an interception.

Schreiner has a bye next week before visiting Mary Hardin-Baylor on Oct. 31.