BELTON, Texas – Taking the lead in the fourth quarter over no. 14, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, East Texas Baptist University couldn't hold onto the lead as the Crusaders came back to hand the Tigers their first loss, 42-28. ETBU is now 3-1 and 0-1 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
ETBU finished with 366 yards of total offense, passing for 249 yards with 117 rushing. Kaden Brown went 14-of-23 for 249 yards and three touchdowns. For the second game in a row, Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox had over 100 yards receiving with 122 and a touchdown. Zay Thomas and Chase Walker also recorded touchdowns. Jordan Woodard led the team with 63 yards rushing as Paul Woodard posted a rushing touchdown.
 
Keewan Grismore led the defense for the second week in a row with 10 tackles and an interception. Bron Melvin followed with nine tackles and an interception.
 
UMHB struck first at 10:35 on a one-yard run for the 7-0 lead. Just 19 seconds later, Brown found Llanas-Wilcox on the first play for 78 yards to tie the game at seven. Both teams followed with two punts each to end the quarter. Melvin finished the half with an interception as UMHB tried a quick offense, being tackled at the 21-yard line as ETBU was down 13 at the half, 27-14.
 
ETBU started the second half on fire with a 50-yard strike from Brown to Thomas on the first play to take the 14-7 lead at 14:51. UMHB answered with a six-play, 62-yard drive to tie the game at 14 with 11:52 to go. After ETBU turned it over on the first play, the Tiger defense stopped UMHB to regain the ball. ETBU turned the ball over again three plays in, and this time, UMHB scored three plays later for a 21-14 lead. ETBU punted after taking almost four minutes off the clock, and UMHB followed with an eight-play, 74-yard drive to make it 27-14 as ETBU blocked the extra point.
 
It was a defensive battle in the third quarter, but ETBU went 90 yards in 6:12 on 10 plays, pulling within six, 27-21. Paul Woodard rushed in from two yards out with 2:21 on the clock. Forcing a three-and-out to start the fourth quarter, ETBU took over at their 20-yard line. Talking three minutes off the clock and going 80 yards, Walker put ETBU in the lead on a 12-yard pass from Brown with 10:57 to go in the game for a 28-27 lead.  Once again, UMHB put together a long drive, going 86 yards in 6:35 with 15 plays to re-take the lead, 35-28, with 4:17 to go. ETBU took the ball back from their 20-yard line, and two plays fumbled as UMHB recovered. One play later, the Crusaders were in the endzone, making it 42-28 at the 3:21 mark. ETBU couldn't recover as they fell to the Crusaders, ending their three-game win streak.
 
ETBU will be home on Saturday, October 12, hosting Howard Payne University at 1:00 p.m.