MARSHALL, Texas – Into the second half of the football season with four games remaining, East Texas Baptist University is heading to Brownwood looking for their first American Southwest Conference win. Facing Howard Payne University, who is also winless in the ASC, ETBU will be trying to gain their first win since September 21st.
“Howard Payne is very similar to the opponents we have already played,” says head coach Joshua Eargle. “They have a young quarterback that can throw the ball and he is doing a great job. We have our hands full again this week as they are a good football team.”
Both teams come into the contest at 2-4 and averaging over 34 points a game. Overall, ETBU leads the series, 8-5, but are only 1-3 in Brownwood as seven of the wins have come in Marshall. Howard Payne has not won a game in the series since 2006 with taking a 24-17 victory in Brownwood.
This game will also mark a homecoming for Eargle as he grew up in Brownwood and played two years at Brownwood High School before finishing his career at Sulphur Springs High School.
The way the two offenses have been playing could mean that a shootout may take place. Howard Payne is averaging 449 yards of offense per game passing for 316 yards. They have thrown 18 touchdown passes while rushing for nine and average 34.8 points per game. ETBU has a slight advantage in offense with 481 yards of total offense but mirror Howard Payne in passing at 317.8 yards per game and have thrown for 21 touchdowns.
Richard Young leads the Howard Payne offense throwing for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns in just six games for an average of 306 yards per game. Those numbers lead the ASC in passing as he averages over 80 yards more per game than the second place quarterback. He has a .628 completion rate and thrown a 78-yard touchdown. Five receivers have more than 200 yards receiving this year as Colby Mica leads the team with 525 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
ETBU has used a committee of quarterbacks to run their offense due to injuries. Eight different players have thrown a pass this year for ETBU as Trevor Spear has started the last two games vs. Louisiana College and Hardin-Simmons. He is averaging 145 yards per game in the air with two passing touchdowns and an 80 percent completion rate. Josh Warbington has also started two games and leads the team with 932 yards passing, 11 touchdowns, and has a 62.8 completion rate. It will be a game time decision to see who will start against Howard Payne.
Toi Glover sits at third in the ASC in rushing for ETBU with 629 yards and averages 104.8 yards per game. He has had three 100-yard rushing games and four rushing touchdowns. Jamaine Sherman and Tyler Bates are constants for ETBU quarterbacks as Sherman is averaging 104.8 yards receiving per game with five touchdowns. Bates leads ETBU with six touchdowns and averages 70.7 yards per game.
Leading the Howard Payne rushing attack is Zarron Dove with 75 yards per game. He has found the endzone five times and has 450 yards on the year. Mica has been the go-to receiver with 525 yards averaging 87.5 yards per game and caught five touchdown passes.
Defensively, Jordan Shaw leads the team with 51 tackles. Jason Disney has been the leader at the linebacker position with 48 tackles gaining 11 tackles-for-loss for negative-40 yards. He also has three sacks and three pass break ups.
Drew Benge became the team leader in tackles this past game for ETBU with a career high 13. He now has posted 43 tackles with two for a loss and two interceptions. Ja’Kory Hunter leads the team with six tackles-for-loss (minus-17 yards) while Dominque Bailey leads the ASC in passes defended at 15.
Saturday’s match up could be dog fight to the end with the defenses battling or a shoot out with a high scoring affair. In the ASC, you never know what will happen week in and week out with the close competition amongst each other.
“Howard Payne has been scoring a lot of points on offense and playing some good football,” says Eargle. “Young has been lighting the ASC up with his numbers throwing the football. This is the American Southwest Conference and you are going to play tough football every week.”
The game can be heard entirely on www.etbusports.com on the ETBUSportsNet while you can listen to the second half on ESPN 1450 AM. Play-by-Play will be brought to you by Mike Midkiff.
