Box Score ABILENE, Texas – Trying to make a push for the NCAA playoffs in a top 25 match up, the #21 East Texas Baptist University Tigers didn't have the day they wanted against #10 Hardin-Simmons University. After the first series of the game, ETBU had trouble with HSU's defense as they were handed their second loss of the year, 66-30.
HSU defense gave ETBU trouble all day as the Tigers finished with just 465 yards of total offense. Richard Johnson finished with a career-high 227 yards receiving and broke the single season record for touchdowns in a season. He caught ETBU's first touchdown of the game on an 84-yard toss from Dru Smith for his 13th touchdown of the game breaking Stephen Alfred's record of 12 set in 2014. Smith threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns. Jourdan McNeill gained his 16th rushing touchdown of the year and produced 62 yards rushing. With 57 yards receiving, Chase Sojka now has over 1,000 yards receiving on the year. Caleb Taylor led ETBU with 15 tackles as Ty Parsons had 13 tackles. Garrett Gibson had ETBU's lone sack on the day.
Firing on all cylinders on their first possession, ETBU took two plays to score as Smith found Johnson down the sideline as he raced for six points 35 seconds into the game. Johnson then received the two-point conversion as ETBU had an 8-0 lead. HSU fired right back scoring in two plays after the kickoff on a 54-yard strike cutting the lead to one, 8-7. The next four series went in favor of HSU as ETBU went three and out on two series and turned the ball over on downs. HSU capitalized on all the possessions and by the end of the first quarter it was 20-8. ETBU couldn't find the end zone the rest of the first half as HSU took a 31-8 halftime lead.
HSU extended their lead to start the second half on the opening kickoff returning it 96 yards for a touchdown pushing the score to 38-8. ETBU didn't score again until the end of the third quarter when McNeill bounced in from eight yards out making it 52-16. With 9:25 left in the game, Sojka grabbed a touchdown from Smith from 14-yards out as Johnson caught the two-point conversion for a 59-24 score. ETBU's last score came with 3:44 remaining when Brian Baca tossed a nine-yard pass to Dionte Johnson for a final score of 66-30.
ETBU will finish their season against Sul Ross State University on Saturday, November 12th, at 12 p.m. in Ornelas Stadium for senior day. If ETBU can win, it will be their eighth win of the year which would be the second most wins in program history.
