MARSHALL, Texas – Following a dominating win over Louisiana College to retain the battle of the border claw, the East Texas Baptist University football team prepares to make the long trip to Alpine, Texas, for another tough American Southwest Conference. ETBU is looking to earn their 6
th win of the year and move to 4-2 in the ASC.
It was a great game for ETBU last week against Louisiana College as the Tigers ran off with a 68-35 win and the offense picked up 776 yards. Leading the way was
Brian Baca, who set two program records with 659 passing yards and seven touchdown passes, in his first collegiate start. His performance earned him ASC Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as a member of the D3football.com Team of the Week.
Richard Johnson had nine receptions with two touchdowns on 197 yards.
JaQuavian Dabbs collected 144 yards on seven catches.
On defense,
Ty Parsons (17 tackles) and
Caleb Taylor (14 tackles) led ETBU with Taylor also having 1.5 tackles for loss, forcing a fumble, and two pass breakups. He would be named the ASC Defensive Player of the Week.
ETBU head football coach
Scott Highsmith talked about the honors for the two.
"They're the two most deserving individuals that I can think of," said Coach Highsmith. "Both of these guys are model students, model citizens, and model players and that's what you're looking for. Its guys like these two guys that keep you in the profession and make the hardships of this profession really worth it. You see these two guys that are responding to your leadership, responding to who you are as a person and really to the point where they become an extension of you on the field. And that's what you're looking for in all of your players."
With a 5-2 record and 4-2 in the ASC, ETBU sets out for their longest road trip of the season when they head out to Alpine to take on Sul Ross State. Last season, ETBU was handed a defeat by the Lobos, 47-18, to finish the season at 7-3.
Coach Highsmith expects a good challenge from SRSU saying, "They have a lot people that can run and they are very athletic. They had a successful year last year and they have a lot of people coming back offensively and defensively. They've always had people that had a lot of athletic ability and I think they've got it harnessed in the right direction. They have a good coach out there. He's doing a great job."
Kickoff starts at 6:00 PM on Saturday.
