MARSHALL, Texas – Coming up short in the fourth quarter, East Texas Baptist University fell in their homecoming game to Texas Lutheran, 41-34. ETBU had the lead heading into the fourth quarter but failed to score as TLU put up 14 points coming back to defeat ETBU. ETBU is now 4-2 on the season and 3-2 in the ASC.
ETBU started the game off well as
Dru Smith connected on a 43-yard pass to Xavier Grey for the games' opening points (12:30). Later, Smith added a five-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 (7:44). TLU had a chance to cut the lead in half late in the first quarter, but ETBU's defense made a big stop on fourth and goal. However, the position on the field wasn't favorable as ETBU was forced to punt, which game TLU a good field position.
TLU took advantage of that with a four-yard run by Jordan Braden as the drive was only three plays to start the second quarter. ETBU would return the favor with a touchdown pass from
Brian Baca to
Cameron Goodlett for five yards and a 21-7 lead (9:21).
ETBU's defense would recover a fumble forced by
Zack Walker and recovered by
Caleb Taylor in the middle of the second quarter. That turnover led to three points on a field goal by
Ryan Travis and it was 24-7 on a 43-yard make (7:56). TLU would answer with a touchdown to cut the lead to ten points at 24-14 with 3:27 left in the half.
The Bulldogs would continue the momentum as they scored to cut the lead down to 24-21 in ETBU's favor with 8:54 on the clock in the third quarter. Travis would make his second field goal to make the lead to 27-21 just under two minutes later (7:04). TLU took the ball and committed another fumble which ETBU took advantage of. Smith made TLU pay and threw a 44-yard strike to
Richard Johnson to make it 34-21 on the first play (5:29). But that would be the last score by ETBU all game long as TLU would score 20 unanswered points for the rest of the game. ETBU would go on a last-minute drive to try and tie it up but TLU's defense forced a fumble with six seconds left to end the game.
Smith went 14-of-29 with 239 passing yards and two touchdowns while Baca added an 8-of-13 performance for 56 yards and a score himself. Grey caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Ty Parsons led all tacklers with 20 tackles while
Zackary Biles added 14 of his own while Taylor and
Hardy Hill added 12 and 10 tackles respectively.
ETBU will be back in action next week when they host Louisiana College at 2:00 PM at Ornelas Stadium.
