Hilliard Scores Two Touchdowns in Dolphins Loss

By Beacon Staff

Two former University of Montana football players were in on all the scoring for the Miami Dolphins in their 27-20 loss to Houston.

Lex Hilliard of Kalispell, Mont., had 86 yards in total offense and his first two NFL touchdowns as Miami tried to rally from a 27-0 deficit against the Texans. Dan Carpenter of Helena, Mont., kicked two field goals and two extra points.

Carpenter’s first field goal was a 27-yarder just before the half.

Hilliard scored his first NFL touchdown on a 2-yard run early in the third quarter. He added a 10-yard TD catch from Chad Henne with 9:25 remaining. Carpenter kicked the extra point after both of Hilliard’s touchdowns, a combination that University of Montana fans saw 45 times in the 2004, 2005 and 2007 seasons.

Carpenter added a 38-yard field goal with 2:30 remaining to pull the Dolphins within seven, but Houston recovered the onside kick.

Hilliard had nine catches for 74 yards and three rushes for 12 yards.