MARSHALL, Texas – An all-around team effort by East Texas Baptist University led to a 57-12 victory over LaGrange College. It is the first time since the spring 2021 COVID season that ETBU has scored 50+ points in a game as they move to 1-0.
ETBU finished the night with 687 yards of total offense as
Kaden Brown had over a 200 quarterback rating going 26-of-30 for 315 yards five touchdowns as four were passing. Brown threw to 14 different receivers as
Zay Thomas led the way with seven catches for 80 yards.
Jalen Smothers followed with two catches for 79 yards and one touchdown.
Chase Walker and
Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox both had touchdowns, too.
Paul Woodard rushed for 115 yards on 13 attempts and one touchdown. Brown then added 70 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Hymond Drinkard recorded 60 yards on the ground with a 55-yard run and one touchdown. Woodard's 100-yard game is the first since 2022 when Melik Hamilton had a 100-yard game vs. Sul Ross State.
"The offense showed up bigtime tonight," said head coach
Calvin Ruzicka. "We showed tonight that we can play balanced football. Both sides of the ball played well tonight as defense made some stops and turnovers."
The defense forced two turnovers with a fumble and pick-6 holding LaGrange to just 208 yards of total offense (100 rushing, 108 passing). ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jahkamian Carr picked up where he left off in 2023, gaining a sack on a forced fumble, leading the team with six tackles.
Mason Stancliff also added six tackles with three solo.
Jordyn Williams recorded the pick-6 on an 85-yard run just as LaGrange was knocking on the door to score.
It was a slow first quarter as ETBU led, 7-3. On the opening drive, after holding LaGrange to three-and-out, ETBU went 74 yards on six plays in just over three minutes for the first score of the year. Brown found Smothers for a 35-yard touchdown pass making it, 7-0. LaGrange hit a field goal on their second drive to pull within four at 6:24. ETBU drove down the field on their next possession but missed a field goal it remained, 7-3, after one quarter.
ETBU's offensive momentum picked up in the second quarter scoring four touchdowns. On all four possessions, ETBU scored with two drives taking just two plays. The first drive went 79 yards on 10 plays ending on a Llanas-Wilcox nine-yard touchdown pass from Brown at 08:00 on the board. ETBU's defense forced another three-and-out as two plays later Drinkard busted through the line for a 55-yard touchdown run and a 21-3 lead (5:20). LaGrange held the ball for just over two minutes ending in their second field goal of the game. After a 25-yard kickoff gain by Drinkard, ETBU scored in two plays, again. Woodard started the series with a 67-yard rush to set up the Brown touchdown pass to Thomas from eight-yards out, making it 28-6.
Holding LaGrange to another three-and-out, ETBU received the ball back with 50 seconds to go on their own 10-yard line. The series started with a 44-yard pass to Smothers and followed on a 16-yard catch to
Tyson Nonette to the LaGrange 30-yard line. With 37 seconds left, ETBU took a timeout and five plays later, Brown hit Walker for a 15-yard touchdown as time expired ending the half. ETBU went into the locker room with a 35-6.
ETBU scored just seven points in the third quarter and 15 in the fourth for the 57-12 final. The defense shut out LaGrange in the fourth quarter and allowed just a touchdown in the third. Brown had a four-yard rush on the opening drive of the third quarter going 71 yards on 11 plays making it 42-6. LaGrange scored with 3:38 to go in the third to come within 30 points, 42-12.
Woodard had a three-yard rush for the final offensive touchdown to begin the fourth quarter at 14:14. That drive went nine-plays and 72 yards for a 57-12 lead. Just under 11 minutes later, as LaGrange was driving at ETBU's 15-yard line, Williams picked off the LaGrange pass sprinting 85-yards for the final score, 57-12.
ETBU travels to Little Rock, Ark., to face Hendrix College the War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m.
