PINEVILLE, La. – Keeping the "Border Claw" for a fourth year in a row, East Texas Baptist University never lost the lead in a 48-27 victory over Louisiana College in American Southwest Conference play. LC pulled within 14 points with, 41-27, with 11 minutes left in the game but strong defensive play ended any threat of a Wildcat comeback. ETBU is now 4-3 overall and 4-2 in the ASC.
 
Jeremiah Robertson had a career day with 17 rushes for 157 yards and one touchdown. Brian Baca threw five touchdown passes and was 17-for-30 for 199 yards. Tarek Beaugard finished with 98 yards receiving on three receptions and one touchdown. Richard Johnson, Jauque Kuykendall, Dominic Haggerty, and Gavin Raines also had receiving touchdowns.
 
The defense only allowed LC one third down conversion all night (1-of-15) and one fourth down (1-of-5) was made. Tremell Scott led the team with eight tackles with both Zack Biles and Garrett Gibson had six tackles. Aaron Buckley recorded two interceptions for 148 yards and one touchdown while Hardy Hill also had a pick. 
 
It only took three minutes for ETBU to score in the first quarter on their second possession when Baca found Beaugard for a 48-yard pass as the drive took just 42 seconds (12:17). Kuykendall made it 13-0 with 5:53 left to go in the first quarter on an eighty-yard reception on Baca's second passing touchdown of the night. LC pulled within six, 13-7, on a 43-yard pass at the 4:20 mark but ETBU answered on their next possession when Haggerty trotted in from eight yards out making it 20-7 (2:11). 
 
A momentum shift took place in the second quarter for ETBU on a defensive stand. LC drove down to ETBU's seven-yard line for a first and goal. Three straight rushes put the ball on the one-yard line for fourth goal trailing, 20-7. LC's call was a rush to the right side of the center that was stuffed by Quaylan Beckley and Zack Walker as ETBU took the ball over on downs and kept a 13-point lead. ETBU took over on downs and drove 31-yard before having to punt. Another key moment in the game took place as a shanked punt that went just five yards hit off an LC player and ETBU recovered at the 33-yard line. Two plays later, Robertson broke free for a 64-yard run pushing the lead to 20 points, 27-7, with 7:44 left in the half. 
 
The last two minutes of the first half may have been the game changer, also. ETBU punted the ball away and LC took over on their own 23-yard line. They drove to their own 47-yard line looking to score before the half but was picked off by Buckley at the ETBU 35-yard line as he returned it to the LC five-yard line. On the first play, Beaugard threw an interception in the endzone and LC returned it to ETBU's 42-yard line with nine seconds left. One pass to the sideline stopped the clock with six seconds left as LC was looking to score from ETBU's 32-yard line. That's when LC's Mason Jordan threw a pick-6 to Buckley who ran it back 88-yards as time expired making it 34-7 at the half.
 
The third quarter was rather quiet as Johnson caught a 10-yard pass putting ETBU up 41-7 with 4:39 to go. LC then started an offensive splurge that went into the fourth quarter. They scored at the 1:45 mark on a 32-yard pass to Battaglia which started three straight scores for the Wildcats.
 
LC scored on their first two possessions in the fourth quarter as both touchdowns went to Battaglia to pull with 14-points, 41-27 with 11:09 left to play. It was Leo Brownfield that came through on the ensuing kickoff with a 50-yard return putting ETBU on the LC 32-yard line. Five plays later, Raines caught a pass from four-yards out which was Baca's fifth of the night completing the scoring for the night and a 21-point lead, 48-27. LC's next two possessions ended on fourth downs being denied by ETBU's defense as the Tigers ran out the last four minutes of the clock for the win.
 
ETBU will host Sul Ross State University next Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for Homecoming at Ornelas Stadium.