SEGUIN, Texas – A back and forth battle in Central Texas went to East Texas Baptist University as they held off a late Texas Lutheran University surge, 24-21, moving to 4-0 on the year. It is ETBU's first 4-0 start since 2016 when current UTEP head coach Scotty Walden was leading the program.
 
ETBU's offense never found a groove in the game but finished with 408 yards of offenses as 271 came on the ground. Paul Woodard earned his fourth straight 100-yard plus rushing game with 170 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Jordan Woodard added 46 yards and Bryson Linnear had 45 yards. Shai Markajani threw for 137 yards and one touchdown with an interception. Devin Phillips recorded two catches for 83 yards a 69-yard touchdown reception.
 
Defensively, ETBU had five sacks, one interception, a forced fumble, and 11 tackles for loss. Dominick Williams led the team with nine tackles (seven solo) earning a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss for 11 yards. Taylor Jacobs and Kemur Johnson both had six tackles. Josiah Dawsey recorded two sacks, Will Bowers had 1.5 sacks, and Elijah Sims 0.5 sacks. Mason Stancliff earned the interception.
 
Coming down to the final seven minutes of the game, ETBU had a seven point lead, 21-14. Forcing TLU to turn the ball over on downs, ETBU took over at their own 44-yard line. Linnear came into the drive with fresh legs and gained 32 yards in the drive putting ETBU on the 10-yard line of TLU. The Bulldogs defense kept the Tigers out of the endzone forcing a Mitchell White 25-yard field for the 24-14 lead with just over three minutes to play.
 
ETBU's defense took on one final task to stop TLU but the Bulldogs slowly drove down the field as the drive started at their own two-yard line. White's kickoff and a strong special teams tackle by Kyree Corbin put the Bulldogs in a bad position. TLU, though, ran a slower offense and nine plays later had a 29-yard touchdown throw with just under a minute to play to come within three, 24-21. Their ensuing onside kick was recovered by Stancliff as ETBU ran out the clock for the win.
 
The third quarter was dominated by ETBU but no points were added. They had two drives into the red zone that resulted in a fumble a the two-yard line and a missed field goal. Then, just two minutes into the fourth quarter, ETBU had another fumble at the TLU seven-yard line as three red zone trips ended in no points.
 
The first half brought 21 points but it was a battle back and forth. TLU scored on their opening drive going 92 yards ending on a 72-yard pass for the 7-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Markajoni found Phillips down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown pass for the 7-6 lead. It wasn't until 10:25 in the second quarter that TLU took the lead, 14-7, converting their two-point conversion on a six-play drive. Four minutes later, ETBU went 38-yards on the ensuing drive to tie the game at 14 on a Paul Woodard run from five-yards out tying the game at 14. ETBU's defense held TLU to a three-and-out on the next possession and took over at their own 28-yard line with four minutes left in the half. On a fourth-and-one a the TLU 48-yard line, Paul Woodard broke free for a touchdown up the middle and the 21-14 lead at the half.
 
With the win, ETBU is now 4-0 for the first time since 2016 when they started 5-0 under Walden. ETBU will host No. 16 Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, October 4, at 1:00 p.m. starting American Southwest Conference play.