Dreshawn Minnieweather had just plowed across the end zone from one-yard out last Saturday night to bring Houston Baptist within one-point of South Dakota at 52-51 with 1:14 remaining in regulation.

From the outside, it seemed that HBU head coach Vic Shealy had a decision to make. Would Shealy call the safe play and kick the extra-point or would he take a gamble and try for a two-point conversion and the win? The decision would not be an easy one for any head coach, but the decision has even higher stakes when your team has not defeated an FCS team since Sept. 7, 2017.

Unbeknownst to anyone on the outside, Shealy had already made the decision to try for a two-point conversion with 2:56 remaining in regulation and the Huskies at their own 30-yard line.

“Right before we took possession of the ball for the final drive, I went up to the offensive coordinator (Zach Kittley) and said when we score here, I want to go for two,” said Shealy. “He said he had a great plan for that and it helps a head coach to hear a coordinator confirm that he feels good about a play on a call.”

HBU ran a reverse pass on the two-point try. Wide receiver Ben Ratzlaff hit a wide open Coleman Robinson in the end zone to give the Huskies a 53-52 lead that would be enough to end the Huskies 20-game losing streak to FCS teams and earn the Huskies Small College Team of the Week honors.

Shealy was quick to point out that while the reverse pass may seem like a trick pass to some people, yours truly included, it was a play they had been working on since fall camp.

“We practiced (the play) during fall camp and you have a repertoire of half a dozen of those plays that you save for the right moment,” said Shealy. “I’m just glad that our tight end, Coleman Robinson, caught that ball because he was wide open and there’s a little pressure to finish that play.”

Building from the Ground Up

HBU is in its sixth year as a football program, and Shealy has focused on building his team with high school players and only using junior college transfers to fill critical needs. The Huskies currently have 10 freshmen on their two-deep roster, and a true freshman as starting place kicker. HBU only has five senior starters. 

“You’re trying to out recruit the players you have on campus and then you’re trying to develop your players on campus so they can’t be out recruited,” Shealy said. “That’s our central philosophy...this freshman class that came in this year we feel is a really, really talented bunch. There’s three or four right now that we just can’t get on the field because (the starters) are playing pretty well in their position.” 

Killeen wide receiver DJ Dormeus will fight for playing time soon. Allen cornerback KJ Willie will be asked to play more later in the year after an interception against Texas Wesleyan and strong play against UTEP. 

There was one spot that Shealy added some transfers to immediately help. Part of building a successful offense begins with a solid offensive line. The Huskies certainly have a good line, bolstered by three transfers starting. 

“We felt with the players we had graduating along the offensive line that we didn’t want to have an all-freshman bunch like we had in 2014-2015,” said Shealy. “We really like the direction we’re headed with our offensive line and it’s really indicative of where we are in other areas. We’re seeing more competition and the young guys are good enough DNA wise, but they don’t have enough seasoning yet.”

The offensive line was effective last Saturday as they only allowed one sack against a solid defensive line from South Dakota. 

Their front four was arguably as good as any front four we’ve faced in our program,” Shealy said. “I think the biggest compliment I can give them is we saw their ability to control UTEP up front, and then South Dakota had an All-American defensive end (Darin Greenfield) and he had one sack, but he only had one tackle and one assist the rest of the day.” 

Shealy is proud of the recent transfers at HBU and how they have bought into the program and provide leadership for the team.

“It’s neat to find transfers that embrace the team concept and they are great for our football team,” said Shealy. “They are tough guys and they have a savviness to them, and they’ve brought some leadership to our team in that regard.”

Quiet Confidence

While the early season results have been a surprise to some people around the state of Texas and the country, Shealy noticed in fall camp that this year’s team was different from teams in the recent HBU past, including the team that one just one game a year ago. 

“Internally, there was a totally different feeling,” Shealy said. “It wasn’t anything that was talked about among the team a whole lot, but there was a feeling that we were better. Our upperclassmen have grown and there’s been a balancing out where our leadership and players are holding each other more accountable, and our coaches aren’t having to always be the accountability component of our program.” 

HBU showed some of those signs in a tight 36-34 loss against UTEP in the opener. At the DakotaDome on Saturday, the full picture came together. HBU set or tied seven school records against South Dakota.

Wide receiver Ben Ratzlaff caught 12 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns to set school records for receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns in a game. He was one of three receivers to post 100-yard receiving days. Preseason all-conference defensive end Andre Walker, a pre-medical student with a 3.87 GPA who is working to become a neurosurgeon, set a program record with four sacks. 

Quarterback Bailey Zappe, now in his third year as the starter, completed 41-of-53 passes for 513 yards and five touchdowns to set school records for completions and passing yards, and tied the program record for passing touchdowns in a game. 

“What you’re seeing now is his football IQ coming together with the experience that he has, and you see a guy who is ready for so many situations that come up on the field,” Shealy said. “He no longer has to see every look in practice that he’ll see in a game. He’s able to solve schematic challenges because he’s seen them already from the defense.” 

Walker posted five sacks last season, but already has 7.5 through three games. Zappe averaged 256 passing yards per game last season, but doubled that number against South Dakota. Credit strength and conditioning coach Trevor Kana for the offseason development. 

“We see our players physically changing,” Shealy said. “When you see a player whose body is changing and feels more powerful, they are able to do things better technically on the field. You could see this quality of work in August against each other, and the competitiveness.” 

Houston Baptist went a combined 2-20 over the past two seasons. The Huskies are now 2-1 and headed in the right direction. Shealy thinks the Huskies will be among the teams to watch in the Southland Conference. 

“I feel like if we can stay healthy that we’ll continue to improve the next few weeks,” Shealy said. “I really believe this group of kids come ready to practice every day.”