NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox football team is off to a hot start after a 38-31 road win over (RV) Redlands last weekend, and they'll look to carry that momentum into their matchup with Howard Payne University (Texas) this weekend in Brownwood, Texas.

The HPU Yellow Jackets also enter the weekend with a winning record after triumphing in a shootout with Texas Lutheran, 59-45. The Yellow Jackets put up 610 yards of offense in just under 22 minutes of possession time.

Both the Bruins and the Yellow Jackets moved the chains routinely with their passing games. Fox put up 289 yards and four scores through the air against Redlands while HPU threw for 496 yards and four touchdowns of its own.

Fox will put out a starting lineup that is nearly identical to the unit that took down Redlands. Haiden Schaan, Leon Johnson III, Chad Bletko, Logan Candanoza, Mikey Delgado, and Elias Polanski are all back at the starting skill spots, while the Bruins' offensive line is the same group that started last Saturday. Johnson III set new career highs in yards (174) and scoring catches (3) against Redlands, and Dillan Dobbins helped move the chains with 54 yards on four catches. Schaan was the Bruins' top rusher, finishing with 76 net yards and a score, and the O-line did a good job of keeping Schaan clean with only one sack allowed.

On defense, the Bruins will put the same unit on the field against HPU that held Redlands to a five-for-eight performance in the red zone with two red zone takeaways and a sack that forced the Bulldogs out of field goal range. The Bruins totaled five sacks, including two from freshman Cooper Rogien, and forced three turnovers with picks by Kobe Andrews and Chris McCoy and a forced fumble punched out by Kross Knoll.

The Yellow Jackets have veteran talent throughout their starting 22. Just four underclassmen are projected to start on Saturday, including two on the offensive line at center and right guard. Starting QB Landon McKinney threw for 496 yards and four scores, using 10 different receivers to move the chains against TLU. Two Yellow Jacket receivers netted 100+ yards – Hunter Cheek and Jordan Carroll – and the tandem caught three of the four touchdown passes from McKinney.

The HPU ground game used five different runners to produce 114 net yards, including a team-high 50 yards on seven touches from sophomore Jay'Vian Miles.

On defense, the Yellow Jackets employ a 3-4 scheme with only one underclassman in the projected starting 11. HPU allowed the TLU offense to generate 486 yards – 4.7 yards per play on the ground and 7.2 yards per play through the air – and did not record a sack in their season-opener, but their front seven did produce three QB hurries and three pass breakups. The HPU defense did not make a stop in the red zone, allowing TLU to score on all seven trips — expect that to be an area of opportunity for Fox this weekend.

On special teams, Fox got a perfect performance from Ethan Hoffman on PATs and field goals, as well as great punts to flip the field multiple times. The HPU special teams unit was also a weapon last weekend, as Otis Lanier was named the American Southwest Conference special team player of the week for the Yellow Jackets after taking a punt to the house with a 77-yard scoring return.

By the numbers, this weekend's matchup has the potential to be a high-scoring shootout, and the winner will likely be the team that can make the last stop.

Live stats, video, and audio will be available from HPU and all three coverage options are listed on the Bruins' schedule page.