MARSHALL, Texas – Setting the tone right from their first possession of the game the East Texas Baptist University football moved to 3-0 in Ornelas Stadium in 2014 as they ignited for 68 points over Millsaps College (1-2). ETBU scored 47 points in the first half en route to the 68-15 blowout over Millsap moving to 3-1 for the first time since 2008.
"We came out with the mindset that we had the best passing and rushing attack in the nation. The whole night they gave us everything we prepared for and we were ready and wanted to score every time we touched the ball," says quarterback Josh Warbington.
ETBU finished the night with a program best 715 yards of total offense and 68 points. The 68 points is the most since 2003 when ETBU put up 66 against Sul Ross State. The 715 total yards breaks the 683 yards set last season.
"We came out real strong tonight," says senior wide receiver Stephen Alfred. "The coaches told us what to do and where to be at the right time and I feel our offense is really good. I'm proud of our team and glad to be a part of it."
Warbington finished the night passing for 391 yards and five touchdowns tying the program record he set last year. Finishing the night going 20-of-24, he had a rating of over 200 with his longest pass being 78 yards. Alfred (115 yards) and R.J. Hester (102 yards) both had over 100 yards receiving and Jourdan McNeill collected a career-high 127 yards rushing.
Kendall Roberson added two touchdowns for ETBU with a 54-yard run in the second quarter (10:21) and a 78-yard pass reception in the second quarter (1:15) from Warbington. Johnny Garrett earned his first collegiate touchdown on a three-yard run.
Tyler Bates threw one touchdown pass to Roy Butler from 36-yards out (9:08) in the second quarter. He then caught a 14-yard pass from Warbington in the fourth quarter to make it 54-14. R.J. Hester had the first score of the night from the second play of ETBU's first possession with a 78-yard pass from Warbington.
This is only the fourth time a team at ETBU has started off the season at 3-1 and is the first since 2008. Head coach Joshua Eargle says this about the start, "I couldn't be more excited about the start about this university and the young men in that locker room. I think ETBU as a whole stands for excellence and our young men played in a such a way to inspire each other tonight. I believe this was a family type win tonight for us."
Brandon Darjean added points to the board in the fourth quarter with a 'pick 6' going 85-yards for his first career interception and touchdown. His return made it 61-15 with 9:30 left in the game. Steven Segler led the defense with 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Overall the defense recorded two interceptions (Darjean, Josh Battle), two sacks (Jacques Guillot, David Jaynes), eight tackles-for-loss, and one forced fumble and recovery. Jaynes was an all-around player with five tackles, one sack, two tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and recovery, and one quarterback hurry.
"The defense did a wonderful job tonight as we came out and played for one another and for each other," says Hunter Jameson. "We knew what we had to do when we came out here and the coaches put us in good position to make the plays."
Jameson finished the night with 11 tackles, five of which were solo, and 0.5 tackles-for-loss.
ETBU is now off for two weeks as they have a bye next week and then travel to Seguin, Texas, to face Texas Lutheran at 6:00 p.m. on October 11th.