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MARSHALL, Texas – Dominating the homecoming game from the beginning #19/22 East Texas Baptist University (6-1, 2-1) scored 76 points routing Howard Payne University (0-7, 0-3), 76-14. The win for ETBU ensures them a winning season for only the fifth time in program history and is only the second time that ETBU has had back-to-back winning seasons.
"This is a big time win for our program. We knew if we got this win right here number one it would only be the second time in program history to have back-to-back winning seasons and then only the fifth winning season in program history," says head coach Scotty Walden.
In one of the best all-around games of the year for ETBU, the offense finished with 679 yards of total offense, 10 touchdowns (5 rushing, 5 passing), and 76 points while the defense recorded four interceptions, four sacks, and forced and recovered two fumbles. ETBU had nine different players score a touchdown as Richard Johnson was the only player with two touchdowns. The win puts ETBU at 6-1 overall and is the first back-to-back winning seasons since 2002 (6-4) and 2003 (9-3).
For the second time this season Dru Smith tied the single game record for touchdown passes with five and threw for 319 yards. He was 21-of-34 with no interceptions and the longest pass of 61 yards in the game. Johnson was his top target with 99 yards receiving on five catches with two touchdowns while Chase Sojka had 82 yards receiving. The running game was spread around with Day'Lonzo Free with 79 yards and one touchdown and Jourdan McNeill with 72 yards and one touchdown.
The defense was again led by Ty Parsons 10 tackles. Desmond Oliver posted two tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble and recovery. Zach Biles, Ben Ashton, Marcus Harris, and Verry Jackson all had a pick.
ETBU started quickly winning the coin toss and then only taking three plays to score in the game. In just 47 seconds, ETBU went 54 yards ending in a Johnson touchdown after a Sojka 47-yard reception. Two series later, Freeman had his touchdown on the day from two-yards out as ETBU went 82-yards in five plays for the 14-0 lead. It only took five plays to score the third touchdown of the day on a Smith to Cam Peters 34-yard touchdown pass making it 20-0. HPU scored on a fourth down from 27-yards out for their only score in the first half.
The second quarter 14 more points scored by ETBU. Sojka put ETBU up 28-7 when he caught a 29-yard pass from Smith for his only touchdown of the day. McNeill then added a score with 28 seconds left in the quarter to take a 34-7 lead at the half.
Scoring 42 points in the second half, ETBU added 21 points in each quarter. Biles recorded a 'pick 6' at the 14:02 mark going 32-yards extending the lead to 41-7. HPU crossed the goal line for only the second time at the 9:10 mark on 14-yard pass. ETBU then scored on a Johnson reception with 7:38 to go from 10-yards out followed by a Xavier Gray five-yard touchdown reception for the 55-14 lead.
In the fourth quarter, three different players reached the pay dirt with Brian Baca going in from one-yard out at the 9:46 mark for a 62-14 lead. Jordan Martinez punched through from 14-yards out with 7:51 remaining to go up 69-14 and then Chris Respass dove in from four-yards out for the final score making it 76-14 with 3:18 left.
ETBU travels to Pineville, La., next Saturday for the rival game at 6:00 p.m. against Louisiana College.