MARSHALL, Texas — After a strong first half against No. 13 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-1, 4-0), East Texas Baptist University (3-6, 1-3) gave up a kickoff return to start the second half as the Crusaders scored 21 points to take command of the game, 42-28. ETBU's
Cameron Carr returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the third quarter as ETBU converted nine of 13 third downs and went 3-for-3 in the red zone.
Mary Hardin-Baylor finished with 401 yards at 7.2 yards per play, with 214 passing yards and 187 rushing yards, and scored on a kickoff return and an interception for 14 of their 42 points. ETBU held the ball for 32:17 and produced 166 rushing yards and 155 passing yards.
Jack Crawford completed 18 of 24 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns;
EJ Stovall caught five passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns; and
Paul Woodard added 99 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Kyler Paul also had a receiving touchdown.
Montrevian Cushionberry recorded five tackles and an interception with a 24-yard return as
Jalen Wilridge led the team with seven tackles.
ETBU's main first-quarter push was a 16-play, 72-yard drive from its own 2-yard line that reached the Mary Hardin-Baylor 26 before
Mitchell White's 43-yard field-goal attempt missed with 2:08 left. The Tigers moved the chains seven times in the quarter and held the ball for 11:55, while Mary Hardin-Baylor managed one first down as the quarter ended scoreless, 0-0.
Cushionberry intercepted a pass and returned it 24 yards to start the second quarter, setting up Crawford's 4-yard touchdown pass and Cavazos' kick for a 7-0 lead on a six-play drive. The Tigers answered a Mary Hardin-Baylor interception return for a touchdown with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Crawford's 9-yard touchdown pass and
Pedro Cavazos' PAT to tie it 14-14 with 1:02 left in the second quarter. Mary Hardin-Baylor scored again using their two-minute offense with 34 seconds left to take a halftime lead over ETBU, 21-14.
Carr gave ETBU its scoring highlight in the third quarter, returning a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown at 4:24 before Cavazos' PAT made it 35-21. The Tigers' offense had one possession in the quarter, picking up one first down before punting. Mary Hardin-Baylor scored on the quarter-opening kickoff return and on its final two drives to take a 42-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
ETBU held Mary Hardin-Baylor scoreless in the fourth quarter and put together an 80-yard scoring drive, capped by Crawford's 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul and
Mitchell White's extra point to make it 42-28. The drive included a 22-yard run by
Paul Woodard, a 15-yard run by Ja'Michael Cooper, and a 14-yard Crawford completion to Paul on third down. The Tigers took over at the Mary Hardin-Baylor 49 after the ensuing onside kick, but a fumble on the next play gave the ball back, and Mary Hardin-Baylor finished with a 42-28 win.
ETBU visits Howard Payne University on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood, Texas, to finish out the season.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
First Quarter
- ETBU controlled possession for 11:55 and finished the quarter with seven first downs to Mary Hardin-Baylor's one.
- The Tigers went 4 of 6 on third down, while Mary Hardin-Baylor converted 1 of 2.
- ETBU's 16-play, 72-yard drive started at its 2-yard line and reached the Mary Hardin-Baylor 26 before Mitchell White missed a 43-yard field goal.
- The quarter ended scoreless, with ETBU rushing for 44 yards and passing for 62.
Second Quarter
- ETBU went 3-for-3 on third down and scored touchdowns on both red-zone trips, including a 12-play, 75-yard drive that tied the game at 14-14 with 1:02 left.
- Montrevian Cushionberry's 24-yard interception return helped set up the Tigers' first touchdown, but Mary Hardin-Baylor also scored on a 33-yard interception return.
- Mary Hardin-Baylor outscored ETBU 21-14 in the quarter and led 21-14 at the end of the second quarter, finishing the quarter with 87 passing yards and 63 rushing yards.
Third Quarter
- Mary Hardin-Baylor outscored ETBU 21-7 in the quarter and led 42-21 after the third quarter.
- The Tigers' scoring came on Cameron Carr's 84-yard kickoff return and Pedro Cavazos' PAT.
- ETBU was limited to 10 rushing yards, seven passing yards and one first down on its lone offensive possession, while Mary Hardin-Baylor had 85 rushing yards and 61 passing yards.
- Mary Hardin-Baylor controlled possession for 10:27 and converted three of four third downs plus its only fourth-down try.
Fourth Quarter
- ETBU scored the quarter's only points on a nine-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Jack Crawford's 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul and Mitchell White's PAT to make it 42-28.
- The Tigers finished the quarter with 52 rushing yards, 29 passing yards and four first downs, while converting their lone red-zone trip into seven points.
- ETBU kept Mary Hardin-Baylor scoreless on two red-zone trips, including a missed 28-yard field goal and a final possession that ended at the ETBU 19.
- A lost fumble at the UMHB 50 ended the Tigers' late possession after the touchdown, and Mary Hardin-Baylor closed out the 42-28 final.
ETBU Top Performers
Jack Crawford
- 18-for-24 passing for 155 yards
- 3 touchdown passes
Paul Woodard
- 99 rushing yards on 23 carries
- 4 receptions for 18 yards
EJ Stovall
- 5 receptions for 46 yards
- 2 receiving touchdowns
Montrevian Cushionberry
- 5 tackles
- 1 interception
- 24 interception return yards
Cameron Carr
- 1 kickoff return touchdown
