MARSHALL, Texas — Battling down to the end of the game, East Texas Baptist University's comeback bid fell short as they dropped a close game to Texas Lutheran University, 61-54, on Saturday at Ornelas Stadium. ETBU answered a 35-16 deficit with 17 unanswered points spanning late in the second quarter and early in the third, but the push was not enough to overcome Texas Lutheran as ETBU is now 2-2 on the year.
Both offenses produced large yardage totals, with ETBU throwing for 421 yards without an interception while Texas Lutheran finished with 680 yards between 440 passing and 240 rushing. ETBU's passing game produced quick scores, including scoring drives featuring 60- and 49-yard completions from
Jack Crawford. He finished the game going 25-of-38 for 422 yards and four touchdowns.
Paul Woodard had 16 carries for 136 yards while
Bryson Linnear had a rushing touchdown.
EJ Stovall finished with seven receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Kyler Paul and
Jordan Jones both had a receiving touchdown.
On defense,
Toby White led the team with 10 tackles as both
Adrian Porter and
Javonte Motley had eight.
Josiah Dawsey recorded a sack while
Chance Bloodsaw and
Marcus Palmer shared a sack. On special teams,
Mitchell White made four field goals with two from 29-yards, a 35-yarder, and a 26-yarder.
The Tigers answered Texas Lutheran's opening score with a 67-yard drive, capped by Crawford's 27-yard touchdown pass to Jones and
Pedro Cavazos' kick to tie it at 7-7. After a defensive stop, ETBU moved back in front on White's 29-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead, but Texas Lutheran responded with a touchdown to take a 14-10 edge.
Brandon Kennedy's 64-yard kickoff return gave the Tigers a late chance, and the quarter ended with ETBU at the Texas Lutheran 8.
TLU went up 28-13 and then 35-16 before ETBU answered the 19-point deficit late in the second quarter, going 59 yards in 48 seconds before Crawford threw a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:29 left and the Tigers added a two-point conversion. After the defense forced a punt, ETBU moved 52 yards in the final 39 seconds, helped by Crawford's 38-yard completion, and White made a 29-yard field goal as time expired to trail TLU, 35-27, at the half.
ETBU turned the third quarter into a series of quick scoring answers, with Crawford hitting Paul for a 60-yard touchdown and
EJ Stovall for a 49-yard score. After Texas Lutheran moved ahead 47-39, Woodard's 36-yard run helped set up
Bryson Linnear's 1-yard touchdown, and
David Red's successful two-point try tied it at 47-47. ETBU finished the quarter with 172 yards of offense and went 3-for-3 on third down.
The Tigers answered an early Texas Lutheran touchdown with a 57-yard drive, converting fourth-and-3 on Woodard's 12-yard run to the TLU 3 before Crawford scored from 3 yards out and
Pedro Cavazos' PAT tied it at 54 with 10:23 left. After Texas Lutheran moved back ahead 61-54, ETBU drove to the TLU 6, but penalties pushed the possession back and the drive ended on downs at the TLU 36. Texas Lutheran ran out the remaining clock, and ETBU fell 61-54.
ETBU visits Louisiana Christian on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. at Wildcat Field in Pineville, La., to play for "The Claw."
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
First Quarter
- ETBU trailed 14-10 after the first quarter despite scoring on both completed offensive drives in the quarter.
- Crawford completed 7 of 9 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, with the Tigers recording all five of their first downs through the passing game.
- ETBU answered Texas Lutheran's opening touchdown with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Crawford to Jordan Jones, then added a 29-yard field goal from Mitchell White.
- Kennedy's 64-yard kickoff return gave the Tigers the ball at the Texas Lutheran 14 late in the quarter.
Second Quarter
- ETBU scored 17 points in the quarter, including Mitchell White field goals from 26, 35 and 29 yards.
- Crawford led a 59-yard touchdown drive in 48 seconds, capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass, and the Tigers added White's 29-yard field goal at the quarter's final horn.
- Texas Lutheran produced 21 points in the quarter behind 178 passing yards and two touchdown passes, including a 71-yard score.
- ETBU completed 11 of 17 passes for 136 yards in the quarter and went into halftime down 35-27.
Third Quarter
- ETBU scored 20 points in the quarter and tied the game 47-47 on Bryson Linnear's 1-yard touchdown run and the ensuing two-point conversion.
- Crawford threw touchdown passes of 60 yards to Paul and 49 yards as the Tigers finished the quarter with 122 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.
- ETBU converted all three third-down attempts and did not punt or turn the ball over, while Texas Lutheran held possession for 10:22 and ran for 146 yards with two touchdowns.
Fourth Quarter
- Texas Lutheran outscored ETBU 14-7 in the fourth quarter and finished with a 61-54 win.
- The Tigers tied the game at 54 on Crawford's 3-yard touchdown run and Pedro Cavazos' PAT after Paul Woodard converted fourth-and-3 from the TLU 15 with a 12-yard rush.
- ETBU finished the quarter with 48 rushing yards and 51 passing yards but was stopped on downs on its final possession.
- Penalties hurt the Tigers in the quarter, with five accepted flags for 53 yards compared with one for 7 yards against Texas Lutheran.
ETBU Top Performers
Jack Crawford
- Completed 25 of 38 passes for 422 yards
- 4 touchdown passes
- 1 rushing touchdown
EJ Stovall
- 7 receptions
- 179 receiving yards
- 2 receiving touchdowns
Paul Woodard
- 136 rushing yards on 16 carries
- 3 receptions for 18 yards
Mitchell White
- Made all four field-goal attempts
- Long field goal of 35 yards
Toby White
- 10 tackles
