JACKSON, Miss. — In an exciting game in Mississippi that came down to the final drive, East Texas Baptist University lost a heartbreaker to Belhaven University, 45-44, on Saturday. ETBU had 400+ yards of total offense as
Paul Woodard finished with four touchdowns as three came from rushing.
Woodard rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries and added a kick return touchdown of 96-yards for 300+ yards total offense.
EJ Stovall caught five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Jack Crawford completed 14 of 29 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
Rayvon Sauls recorded six tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.
Lemahjae Collins led the team with eight tackles and
Toby White had an interception for 65 yards.
ETBU generated explosive production through Woodard, who had a 73-yard touchdown run. The teams both produced on the ground and through the air, with the Tigers rushing for 232 yards and passing for 195 while Belhaven rushed for 241 and passed for 244. Belhaven converted 11 of 17 third downs to ETBU's 2 of 9, and the Tigers were charged with 15 penalties for 122 yards.
Woodard gave ETBU its fastest scoring swings of the first quarter, returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and later breaking a 73-yard touchdown run at 5:15 before
Pedro Cavazos' PAT tied the game at 21-21. In between, the Tigers put together a 70-yard scoring drive that included Crawford's 27-yard completion to
Vontez Martin and a 15-yard touchdown pass. The defense stopped Belhaven on fourth-and-6 at the ETBU 35, and the quarter ended tied 21-21.
ETBU closed the second quarter with a goal-line stop, as Sauls recovered a Belhaven fumble at the ETBU two-yard line as time expired.
Paul Woodard broke a 39-yard touchdown run earlier in the half, and Crawford found
Brandon Kennedy for a 7-yard score with 3:32 left. The Tigers finished the quarter ahead 34-31.
Toby White intercepted a Belhaven pass at the ETBU 34 and returned it 65 yards to the Belhaven one-yard line, and Woodard scored on the next snap before Cavazos' PAT made it 44-31.
Mitchell White finished a 10-play ETBU drive with a 28-yard field goal at 10:06 before the Woodard touchdown. Belhaven answered late with a touchdown and extra point, and the Tigers finished the third quarter ahead 44-38.
ETBU was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, and a fourth-down fumble gave Belhaven the ball at the ETBU 44 before the home team scored and added the PAT for a 45-44 lead with just under six minutes to play. The Tigers' defense forced a punt to give the offense one final possession, and Crawford helped move the drive to the Belhaven 28-yard line with a fourth-down completion before an interception with nine seconds left. Belhaven kneeled out the final seconds to finish off a 45-44 result.
ETBU hosts Centenary College at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Ornelas Stadium in Marshall, Texas on Family Day.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
First Quarter
- ETBU scored 21 points in the quarter, including Paul Woodard's 96-yard kickoff return touchdown and 73-yard rushing touchdown.
- The Tigers produced 123 rushing yards and eight first downs, while Belhaven had 131 rushing yards and five first downs.
- ETBU went 3-for-3 on Pedro Cavazos PAT kicks, but also committed six penalties for 60 yards and lost one fumble.
- The defense stopped Belhaven on fourth-and-6 at the ETBU 35, and the teams ended the quarter tied 21-21.
Second Quarter
- ETBU scored 13 points in the quarter and led 34-31 at halftime, with Paul Woodard's 39-yard touchdown run and Crawford's 7-yard touchdown pass to Kennedy accounting for the touchdowns.
- The offense produced 153 yards in the quarter, including 107 rushing yards, and did not punt or commit a turnover.
- ETBU stopped Belhaven's final red-zone possession when Sauls recovered a fumble at the ETBU 2 as time expired; the defense also broke up five passes in the quarter.
Third Quarter
- ETBU outscored Belhaven 10-7 in the quarter and carried a 44-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
- Toby White's interception and 65-yard return to the Belhaven 1 set up Paul Woodard's 1-yard touchdown run, with Pedro Cavazos' extra point making it 44-31.
- Mitchell White added a 28-yard field goal, and the Tigers finished 2-for-2 in the red zone for 10 points in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
- Belhaven scored the quarter's only points, tying the game at 44 on a touchdown with 5:55 left before adding the PAT for the 45-44 final.
- ETBU finished the quarter with 67 passing yards but minus-14 rushing yards, went 0-for-4 on third down and was sacked twice.
- The Tigers forced an early fumble when Lemahjae Collins knocked the ball loose and Seyram Tamakloe recovered, but ETBU also lost a fumble and threw an interception in the quarter.
- ETBU's final possession covered 50 yards and included a fourth-down conversion to the Belhaven 28 before an interception at the Belhaven 6 with nine seconds left.
ETBU Top Performers
Paul Woodard
- 238 rushing yards on 19 carries
- 3 rushing touchdowns
- 4 total touchdowns
EJ Stovall
- 5 receptions
- 117 receiving yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
Jack Crawford
- 14-for-29 passing
- 195 passing yards
- 2 passing touchdowns
Rayvon Sauls
- 6 tackles
- 1 sack
- 1 fumble recovery
Toby White
- 1 interception
- 65-yard return
- 3 tackles
