BELTON, Texas – Taking on the top team in NCAA Division III, it was the second half that was the difference as East Texas Baptist University fell to #1 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 50-14. ETBU was down, 26-14, at the half before UMHB scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. UMHB scored 28 points off of ETBU turnovers and a punt return for a touchdown. ETBU is now 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the American Southwest Conference.
ETBU was led by
Brian Baca's 311 yards passing going 24-of-38 with one interception.
Jeremiah Robertson was the top receiver with 72 yards on six receptions while
Tariq Gray had 67 yards and
Samarick Paul 66 yards.
Jalen Blanton recorded the only touchdown reception of the day.
Anton Clark led the defense with seven tackles (six solo) with an interception and a sack. KJ Kelly and
Zach Pike also had seven tackles each.
James Wright IV recorded a sack and a half while
Chad Pajestka had a sack.
Robertson put ETBU in front early, 7-0, on a four-yard run just five minutes into the game (10:10). That drive was set up off of Clark's interception on UMHB's opening drive. Clark picked off UMHB's Jase Hammack at the 45-yard line and returned it to the 20-yard line. Six plays later, Robertson rolled in giving ETBU the lead. UMHB responded on the following drive going 64-yards ending on a 25-yard pass to tie the game up with 6:26 on the clock. ETBU took the kick-off and went from their 20-yard line to UMHB's 38-yard line threatening again, but turned the ball over on downs after a fourth-and-four wasn't converted. Both teams traded possessions the rest of the first quarter as it ended tied, 7-7.
UMHB punted the ball just four plays into the second quarter and it only took their defense three plays to intercept Baca at their own 28-yard line ending at the 19. The very next play, UMHB ran in from 19-yards out for the 14-7 lead. Again, both teams punted on their next possessions and then UMHB received two points on ETBU's third possession of the quarter on a bad snap that went out of the end zone for a 16-7 lead (8:03). Receiving the ball back after the safety, UMHB went 49 yards in four plays to move the score to 23-7 (6:42). Answering back, ETBU drove 76 yards in just over three minutes as Blanton and Baca connected on a 28-yard pass to cut the lead to nine, 23-14. UMHB did add three more points before the half on a 52-yard field goal taking a 26-14 lead into the locker room.
The difference in the game came in the second half as UMHB capitalized on ETBU's turnovers scoring 24 points. ETBU opened the third quarter threatening with a drive that started at the 18-yard line. Moving the ball up to midfield, ETBU fumbled as UMHB took over at the 50-yard line. Six plays later, UMHB scored making it 33-14 (10:07). ETBU once again took their next possession to midfield but had to punt. UMHB drove to ETBU's 24-yard line and kicked a 41-yard field goal pushing the lead to 36-14 (1:23) to finish off the scoring in the third quarter.
UMHB scored at the 11:53 mark in the fourth quarter when they returned an interception 73-yards for a 43-14 lead. Their final score came on the ETBU's next possession with a 79-yard punt return ending the score at 50-14 (9:12). ETBU did drive down to the UMHB 10-yard line on their next possession but a fumble ended any threat of a second half score. UMHB ran the clock out after that turnover to end the game.
ETBU will be back home next week hosting McMurry University at 2:00 p.m. in Ornelas Stadium.
