MARSHALL, Texas – For the fourth time in program history, and the first in Ornelas Stadium in 23 years, East Texas Baptist University posted a shutout with a 28-0 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State. ETBU is now 2-0 on the year as it is the first time since 2016 and 2017 that the program has produced back-to-back 2-0 starts.
 
It was a night for program accomplishments as Dominick Williams became just the fourth player in program history to collect four or more sacks in a game. C.J. Johnson holds the record with 4.5 sacks from 2017 as Williams joins Chad Glover (2004) and Darel Johnson (2000) as the only players with four sacks in a game.
 
Paul Woodard became the first running to have 100+ yards in back-to-back games since Jeremiah Robertson in 2019 when he posted five 100+ yard games. He had three straight in the early season and then two more games in a row later in the season.  This is Woodard's fifth 100-yard rushing game in his career as he posted 134 yards on 16 rushes
 
Defensively, ETBU recorded their first shutout in 15 years and posted the first in Ornelas Stadium since 2002. ETBU's last shutout came in 2010 on the road in Brownwood, Texas, defeating Howard Payne, 24-0. The only shutout at home was October 12, 2002, when ETBU had a 31-0 victory over Sul Ross State. There are now four shutouts in program history with two at home and two on the road.
 
It was a balanced attack for ETBU's offense with 381 yards putting 196 yard on the ground and 185 in the air. Shai Markjani produced a career-night with three passing touchdowns. Chase Walker, Kobe Chambers, and Cullen Crain all caught touchdown passes as Keegan Davis had a rushing touchdown. Bryson Ortega-Duplechain led the team with eight catches for 86 yards.
 
The defense forced five fumbles, recovering two, and recorded an interception with seven sacks. After Williams four sacks, Colton Wilson had 2.5 sacks and Kyle Zalick recorded an interception. Tory Jacobs also provided nine tackles with half a sack.
 
OPSU took the opening possession and marched down the field to ETBU's 23-yard line on a third-and-12, Williams had his first sack of the night on a six-yard loss causing a fumble that he recovered. ETBU threw an interception five plays later to give the ball back to OPSU. Just two plays later, ETBU's Tory Jacobs forced a fumble as Elijah Sims recovered it at the OPSU 25-yard line. It took just one play as Markajani sailed a pass to Walker for the first score and 7-0 lead. That led to three straight scores in the first quarter and a 21-0 lead. At 3:38, Davis collected his first touchdown this year on a five-yard run at 3:38. Then, just 53 seconds before halftime, Chambers caught a 20-yard pass from Markajani to make it 21-0. Crain finished off ETBU's scoring in the second quarter on a four-yard reception to make it 28-0.
 
Both teams couldn't find rhythm in the second half with a combined five punts, two fumbles, and two turnover on downs. OPSU threatened to score in the fourth quarter driving to ETBU's 12-yard line but a fumble ended their chances for a score.
 
ETBU travels just 30 minutes East on Saturday, September 20, to face Centenary College at 6:00 p.m.