MARSHALL, Texas – Going neck-to-neck with no. 24 Mary Hardin-Baylor, East Texas Baptist University was unsuccessful in earning the win over the Crusaders, 27-14. ETBU is now 5-3 and 2-2 in the ASC.
 
ETBU had 341 yards of total offense, led by Kaden Brown. Brown threw for 292 yards and one touchdown with 25 yards rushing. ETBU had just 49 yards rushing with one touchdown. Zay Thomas recorded 89 yards receiving, and Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox had 84 yards and one touchdown.
 
The defense held UMHB to just over 300 yards of total offense and 142 yards rushing. Keewan Grismore led the team with 13 tackles, with six being solo. Bron Melvin added 10 tackles and one interception. Tyler Wilkins posted two pass breakups.
 
UMHB took their opening possession 74 yards in 4:50 for a 10-yard touchdown run. On ETBU's second possession of the first quarter, UMHB stopped the Tigers on fourth and one at the ETBU 34-yard line. ETBU's defense allowed just six yards in the series, and UMHB missed a 45-yard field goal. ETBU fumbled on their next possession at their 48-yard line, but the defense forced a three-and-out to start the second quarter.
 
A UMHB punt landed at ETBU's 10-yard line eight seconds into the second quarter. It took four passes for 79 yards and two rushes for 11 yards by Woodard and Brown to get into the end zone. As Woodard was going in, he fumbled, and offensive lineman Devon Jolly fell on it for the touchdown as ETBU tied the game. Two punts followed, but UMHB answered just before halftime on a nine-play, 65-yard drive for the seven-point lead, 14-7.
 
ETBU opened the second half, forcing a UMHB three-and-out, and then recovered a muffed punt return at the Cru's 48-yard line. ETBU drove to UMHB's 26-yard line but was stopped on a fourth down for the second time in the game as the Cru took over. Nine plays later, UMHB extended their lead to 14, 21-7, on a 37-yard touchdown pass. ETBU fumbled on their next possession at their 45-yard line, but Hanley picked off a UMHB pass on the next play at the eight-yard line.
 
Taking the momentum into the fourth quarter after the interception, ETBU drove again to the UMHB 37-yard line but was stopped short for the third time in the game on a fourth down, turning the ball over. The Cru capitalized once again on the turnover with a 10-play drive over five minutes, making it 27-7 on a 23-yard touchdown pass at 5:39. ETBU finally found the endzone on the next possession with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Llanas-Wilcox to pull within 13, 27-14. UMHB took the kickoff and ran over two minutes off the clock, turning the ball over on downs with 14 seconds left. ETBU gained nine yards before time ran out.
 
ETBU will travel to Brownwood, Texas, next Saturday as they face Howard Payne University at 1:00 p.m.