JACKSON, Miss. – Battling through a tight second half and showing why they continue to be one of the best in nation, #17/#18 East Texas Baptist University pulled through a close second half, 60-47, over Belhaven University. The win puts ETBU at 4-0, which continues to be the best start in program history, and spoiled the stadium opener for Belhaven.

"I am so proud of our team on a hard fought win. Our guys showed a ton of resiliency down the stretch to win a tough game on the road," says head coach Scotty Walden.

ETBU had the lead the entire game but Belhaven was within seven points twice in the second half. The momentum changer came after Belhaven pulled within seven, 46-39, with 9:37 left to play. ETBU fielded a short kickoff and returned to the Blazers 40-yard line. Five plays later Dominic Haggerty scored his first of back-to-back touchdowns to put ETBU in control Haggerty rushed in from nine-yards out putting ETBU back up, 53-39. On the ensuing kickoff, ETBU's special teams forced a fumble recovering the ball at the 27-yard line. Three plays later Haggerty gave ETBU a 21-point lead with 7:16 left in the game. Haggerty's second touchdown took the wind out of Belhaven's sail as ETBU finished with the 60-47 victory for their fourth straight win.

Dru Smith led the potent offense as he finished with six overall touchdowns passing for four and rushing for two. He finished with 381 yards passing and four touchdowns leading the offense to a total of 592 yards. ETBU rushed for 207 yards and threw for 385 yards. Chase Sojka finished with eight receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown. Jourdan McNeill added 89 yards rushing while Haggerty had 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Another defining defensive moment for ETBU came early in the third quarter. Belhaven drove down to ETBU's two-yard line as ETBU held onto a 15-point lead, 39-24, and stopped four straight plays as Belhaven turned the ball over on downs. The drive was a four-minute drive that ended with two pass incompletions and two denied rush attempts. Leading the defense was Ty Parsons who finished with nine tackles and one for a loss. ETBU recorded four sacks on the day with two from Andre Welch.

ETBU owned the first quarter, 16-3, scoring on a Smith run and Richard Johnson reception. Smith gave ETBU an 8-0 lead with 8:39 left in the quarter with a three-yard run converting the two-point conversion to Sojka. After a field goal by Belhaven two minutes later, ETBU's Johnson landed a 14-yard pass from Smith making it 16-3 with another two-point conversion courtesy of Sojka.

In the second quarter Belhaven started to catch back up to ETBU's offense scoring 14-points. Pulling within nine to ETBU, 19-10, with 6:59 on the clock, Belhaven's defense gave up a two-yard run to Smith as ETBU made it, 25-10. Belhaven matched ETBU's touchdown as they were within eight, 25-17, with 2:36 left in the half. ETBU responded with a quick two-minute offense marching down the field going 75 yards in seven plays ending on a Xavier Gray 12-yard reception for a 32-17 halftime lead.

Once again, Belhaven kept in the game bouncing back to start the third quarter on an eight-play 60-yard drive to come within eight, 32-24. Johnson's 39-yard reception with 11:55 in the third quarter put ETBU back up by 15, 39-24. Belhaven finished out the scoring as they would cut ETBU's lead to seven, 39-32, at the 4:43 mark. Momentum shifted at the beginning of the fourth quarter when Sojka broke open on a 59-yard touchdown pass putting ETBU's lead back at 14, 46-32. That was the first of three scores by ETBU in the fourth quarter as they pulled away for their fourth win of the year.

ETBU travels to Abilene, Texas, next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. game vs. McMurry University.