ABILENE, Texas – Sticking with no. 5 Hardin-Simmons University, East Texas Baptist University was within two scores at the beginning of the fourth quarter but couldn't find the endzone as the Cowboys held onto the win. ETBU is now 5-2 on the year and 2-2 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
ETBU finished with 353 yards of total offense with 233 yards on the ground. Paul Woodard finished with 132 yards on 15 carries, and Hymond Drinkard had 93 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Jordan Woodard recorded one touchdown. Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox had a receiving touchdown.
 
Bron Melvin led the defense with nine tackles, with one for a loss. Jahkamian Carr finished with eight tackles, two for a loss, and one sack. Dominick Williams and Keiuntray Hawkins both had a sack. Brooks Brock picked off a pass.
 
HSU started with a 14-0 lead, scoring at 8:32 on a 67-yard pass and then a 28-yard run at 3:02 in the first quarter. The Cowboys looked to run away with the game making it 21-0 at 7:45 in the second quarter on a five-yard run. ETBU answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that took over five minutes, ending with a Drinkard 18-yard run cutting the lead to 14 at half, 21-7.
 
The third quarter brought 10 more points for HSU as they jumped out to a 31-7 lead. Once again, ETBU responded with a three-play drive for a score. Woodard had a 50-yard run to the HSU 12-yard line in that drive. The next play brought an ESPN Top 10-worthy catch by Llanas-Wilcox at the back of the endzone to make it 31-14.
 
HSU scored within the fourth quarter's first minute, pushing the lead to 38-14. Five plays and 65 yards later, Jordan Woodard rushed in from 12 yards out for a 38-20 score. Drinkard then ran in a two-point conversion with 11:20 to go for the 38-22 score. After that, HSU ran almost six minutes off the clock but fumbled into the endzone at 5:52 for a touchback given to ETBU. ETBU then moved the ball to the HSU 12-yard line but ran the clock out, trying to score as the game ended.
 
ETBU will host Mary Hardin-Baylor on November 2 at 1:00 p.m. in Marshall.