MARSHALL, Texas – With the momentum of a 30-point victory in their last contest, the East Texas Baptist University football team will have their first road trip of the season traveling to Jackson, Miss., facing Belhaven University on Saturday, Sept. 22. Entering the American Southwest Conference game, ETBU is 1-1 on the season and 1-0 in the ASC under Head Coach Brian Mayper.

ETBU came out firing on all cylinders last week after their bye-week taking it to Southwestern University, 51-21. A touchdown by Richard Johnson, a fumble recovery by Zack Biles for a 56-yard touchdown return and a 48 yard grab by Jauque Kuykendall gave the Tigers an early 20-0 lead. SU fought back into the game but the Tigers held a two touchdown lead heading into halftime at, 27-14. ETBU went on to outscore SU 23-7 in the second half, coming away with the 51-21 victory in their first ASC game of the year. Brian Baca threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson added 191 yards receiving and two touchdowns on six receptions.

As a team, ETBU averages 47.5 points per game and 990 yards of total offense, with 228 rushing and 762 yards passing through two games. Baca mans the offense, completing 54.7 percent of his passes for 720 yards and six touchdowns overall. Johnson is the Tigers' leading receiver, pulling down 12 receptions for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Kuykendall ranks second on the team in total yards (180) and third in receptions with four. On the defensive end, Garrett Gipson leads the charge, contributing 20 tackles, nine solo and 11 assisted, so far this season. Biles has managed 18 tackles thus far, including one interception, a forced fumble, and a touchdown.

BU is looking to tag its first win of the season after dropping the first two contests to Millsaps College (L, 18-3) and Texas Lutheran (23-0). In the last game, BU failed to score, against TLU on Saturday, Sept. 15. Brad Foley is the Blazer's leading rusher, averaging 6.3 yards per carry for a total of 101 yards through two games. Joey Walden is the team's leading receiver with 110 yards on seven receptions.

Series vs Belhaven
This will be the fourth meeting between ETBU and BU. ETBU has defeated the Blazers in all three matchups, thus far, winning last year, 79-40, in Ornelas Stadium. The Tigers have won every contest by an average of 28.3 points.
 

Eating Up the End Zone (Richard Johnson)
Richard Johnson needs just one touchdown reception to become the all-time leader at ETBU. He is currently tied with Tyler Bates with 33. Johnson has caught four touchdowns this year adding 15 last year, 13 in 2016, and one in 2015. He has caught three touchdowns in a game three times in his career. Below are the games he has two and three plus touchdown games:
 

Fast Touches
Jauque Kuykendall has only four catches on the season but it is for 180 yards averaging 45 yards per catch. He had a 72-yard catch vs. Wisconsin-Platteville and then had a long catch of 48 yards vs. Southwestern. His one catch vs. Southwestern was for a touchdown that put ETBU up, 20-0, in the first quarter.

First Catches
ETBU had four player earn their first catch in their first two games this year. Kane Johnson had his first collegiate catch vs. Wisconsin-Platteville posting three. He then had five vs. Southwestern. Earning their first catches vs. Southwestern were Samarick Paul, Francis Sil-Mback, and Jaydn Barral.

Career-High Tackles
Garrett Gipson had a career-game against Southwestern University with 11 tackles. He totaled seven total and four assisted along with a forced fumble and quarterback hurry. The senior now has 19 tackles on the year as it was his fifth game in his career with eight or more tackles.

Standing Tall
The ETBU defense played their best game of the year picking up six sacks, five forced fumbles with four recovered, one interception, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, nine quarterback hurries, 14 tackles for loss. Southwestern scored 14 points in the second quarter and none in the third as ETBU ran away with the game.
 
QBs Beware
ETBU recorded six sacks vs. Southwestern for minus 51 yards. Khamron Thomas led the way with two sacks for nine yards. Also earning sacks were Zack Walker (seven yards), Josh Reed (23 yards), Khilan Wright (six yards), and James Hicks (6 yards).