ABILENE, Texas — Taking on a Top 10 team in the nation, East Texas Baptist University (3-4, 1-1) couldn't keep up with No. 2/7 Hardin-Simmons University 's(5-0, 2-0) quick scoring as they fell on the road, 63-27, on Saturday at Shelton Stadium. The passing game accounted for all four touchdowns and 300 yards, including
Jack Crawford's 71-yard touchdown pass to
Kyler Paul in the second quarter. The Tigers went 5-for-5 on fourth down and held the ball for 31:43, but Hardin-Simmons finished with 527 total yards of total offense and went 10-for-13 on third down.
Crawford completed 23 of 40 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns without an interception and added 37 rushing yards. Paul caught six passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
EJ Stovall added five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Joe Stroman recorded four tackles and returned an interception 25 yards.
Mason Stancliff led the team with nine tackles and
Arjawon Chibli had a sack.
ETBU was held scoreless in the first quarter, with three possessions ending in punts as two sacks and six penalties for 53 yards stalled the offense. Stroman stopped one Hardin-Simmons drive with an interception at the ETBU 2 and returned it 25 yards, but Hardin-Simmons led 7-0 at quarter's end and had the ball at the ETBU 6.
The Tigers got on the board in the second quarter when Crawford hit Paul for a 71-yard touchdown, making it 14-6 at 10:25. Crawford later finished a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 17-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to
Paul Woodard, cutting the margin to 21-13 with 1:52 left. Hardin-Simmons answered with a 75-yard touchdown pass and a 64-yard punt return touchdown, leaving ETBU down 35-13 at the end of the quarter.
ETBU's main response in the third quarter came on a 64-yard drive, capped when Crawford hit Paul for a 45-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10 at 8:41. Hardin-Simmons opened the quarter with a touchdown, then later answered with a 96-yard scoring drive to leave the Tigers down 49-20 at the end of the quarter.
The fourth-quarter brought an 11-play, 75-yard drive, for ETBU keeping the possession alive with two fourth-down conversions before Crawford threw a 33-yard touchdown pass with 5:29 left.
Mitchell White added the extra point to make it 56-27, but Hardin-Simmons returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and closed out a 63-27 final.
ETBU hosts McMurry University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Ornelas Stadium in Marshall, Texas, in their Homecoming game.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
First Quarter
- ETBU trailed 7-0 after Hardin-Simmons turned a short field into an 8-yard rushing touchdown and made the PAT.
- The Tigers were limited to one first down, 8 rushing yards and 1 passing yard in the quarter, going 1-for-4 on third down and punting three times.
- Joe Stroman recorded ETBU's biggest defensive play, intercepting a pass at the ETBU 2 and returning it 25 yards.
- Penalties hurt the Tigers' field position, with six flags for 53 yards, while Hardin-Simmons was not penalized in the quarter.
Second Quarter
- ETBU produced eight first downs in the quarter, including seven through the air, and held the ball for 9:36.
- Crawford threw touchdown passes of 71 yards to Paul and 17 yards to Paul Woodard, with the Woodard score finishing a 15-play, 75-yard drive.
- The Tigers converted both fourth-down attempts, but Hardin-Simmons scored 28 points in the quarter with three passing touchdowns and a 64-yard punt-return touchdown to lead 35-13 after the quarter.
Third Quarter
- ETBU's scoring drive was capped by Jack Crawford's 45-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to Paul, and Mitchell White's PAT made it 42-20.
- Hardin-Simmons outscored the Tigers 14-7 in the quarter and led 49-20 entering the fourth.
- ETBU went 6-for-8 passing for 81 yards and a touchdown in the quarter, while Hardin-Simmons finished with 100 passing yards, 46 rushing yards and two red-zone touchdowns.
Fourth Quarter
- ETBU put together an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, converting twice on fourth down before Jack Crawford's 33-yard touchdown pass to EJ Stovall.
- The Tigers converted both fourth-down tries in the quarter and totaled six first downs, including three rushing and two passing.
- ETBU passed for 64 yards and rushed for 22 in the quarter, while Hardin-Simmons produced 116 total offensive yards and added a 98-yard kickoff-return touchdown.
- Hardin-Simmons outscored the Tigers 14-7 in the fourth quarter, and ETBU finished with a 63-27 loss.
ETBU Top Performers
Jack Crawford
- 23-for-40 passing for 300 yards
- 4 touchdown passes
- 37 rushing yards on 11 attempts
Kyler Paul
- 6 receptions
- 134 receiving yards
- 2 receiving touchdowns
EJ Stovall
- 5 receptions
- 73 receiving yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
Paul Woodard
- 43 rushing yards on 15 attempts
- 4 receptions for 27 yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
Joe Stroman
- 4 tackles
- 1 interception
- 25-yard interception return
