MARSHALL, Texas – Clashing in Louisiana for the "Border Claw", East Texas Baptist University travels to Louisiana College for the annual border rivalry on Saturday at Wildcat Stadium. ETBU has won the last three meetings and will look match their longest winning streak vs. LC.
 
The "Border Claw" was taken back to Texas in 2015 after LC had won seven straight years. Overall, ETBU leads the series, 10-9-1, with two meetings in 1948 and 1949 going 1-0-1. The very first meeting was a 0-0 tie in 1947 before LC won in 1948, 14-12. 
 
In the last three years, ETBU has scored a combined 176 in those meetings with the largest win last year, 68-35. Since 2013, besides last year, each game has been within 10 points. LC won from 2008 to 2014 with 2013 (31-24) and 2014 (52-49) some of the closest contests in that seven-year run. ETBU then won in 2015, 44-34, and 2016, 64-62, before the blowout last year, 68-35. 
 
ETBU is coming off a tough loss to Texas Lutheran, 28-21, on a last second touchdown putting them at 3-3 on the year and 3-2 in the ASC. Brian Baca threw for three touchdowns going 25-of-42 for 271 yards. His top receiver was Richard Johnson catching all three touchdowns and finishing with 179 yards receiving. Defensively, Josiah Dykes had 11 tackles to lead the team.
 
Baca is currently fourth in the NCAA Division III in passing yards per completion (17.7) and ninth in total offense (332.8 yards per game). Dominic Haggerty is fifth in kickoff return average (35.7) and ninth in kickoff return touchdowns (1). 
 
Offensively, ETBU is averaging 38.8 points per game and 488 yards of total offense. They pass for 324 yards and rush for 164 yards per game. The defense is giving up 35 points per game and 429 yards of total offense. 
 
Individually, Baca has thrown for 1,830 yards, 16 touchdowns, and has a 157.6 passing efficiency averaging 305 yards per game. He has also rushed for seven touchdowns and has 167 yards rushing. Haggerty has gained 333 yards on the ground with two touchdowns averaging 5.1 yards per rush. Johnson has amassed 639 yards receiving on 33 catches and eight touchdowns. Tarek Beaugard has 362 yards receiving and four touchdowns. 
 
Garrett Gibson has 54 tackles on the year to lead the defense. Dykes is second at 47 and has five passes defended and one interception. Zack Biles leads the team with two interceptions and has 33 tackles. The secondary recorded seven interceptions with 30 break ups and 37 passes defended. Overall, the defense has 14 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and eight fumble recoveries.
 
Louisiana College comes into the rivalry game coming off a big win over McMurry University, 35-23, and is 3-3 and 3-2 in the ASC. They were down 17-14 at the half and then scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the win. Mason Jordan threw for 244 yards and one touchdown on 23-of-40 passing. Drake Battaglia was 1-of-1 for 28 yards and one touchdown. Aaron Woods rushed for 110 yards on 21 carries with two rushing touchdowns while Melvin Young III had 62 yards rushing and one touchdown. Drake Battaglia had 101 yards receiving on eight receptions while Leondre James had one receiving touchdown. Orel Ledet, Jr., led the defense with nine tackles. The defense also had four sacks and two interceptions. 
 
Averaging 27 points per game, LC is averaging 302 yards of total offense averaging 256 yards passing per game and 46 yards rushing. They have had 12 fumbles and lost seven and only given up four sacks. Woods leads the team in rushing with 193 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan has thrown for 926 yards on 67-of-131 passing with two interceptions and nine touchdowns. Battaglia has 451 yards receiving with four touchdowns while JoJo Robinson has 477 yards receiving and five touchdowns. On defense, Ledet, Jr., has 62 tackles with one interception. Julius Johnson has 57 tackles with three passes defended and break ups. 
 
The 21^stmeeting between the two teams starts at 6:00 p.m. from Wildcat Field on Saturday.