The Pirates hit the road for the first time in 2014 after forcing seven turnovers on defense, Southwestern matches up with the high-flying offense from East Texas Baptist.
2014 Southwestern Football
Southwestern Pirates (1-0)
East Texas Baptist (1-1)
Saturday | September 20 | 7 p.m. | Orleans Stadium | Marshall, Texas (Weather) | Ticket Information
VIDEO/AUDIO: KMAC Sports (click here)
Merle Bertrand (play-by-play), Phillip Dowden (color), Daniel Chancellor (sideline)
LIVE STATS: East Texas Baptist link
COMPLETE NOTES IN PDF FORMAT – Click Here
THE GAME
Southwestern heads to Marshall, Texas, to try and slow the high-flying offense of East Texas Baptist. Last year the Tigers took a 56-10 win in Georgetown, but the Pirates are carrying momentum from a historic 27-20 win last week. The Pirate defense was impressive and received national accolades from their performance against Sul Ross State but will have their work cut out for them against a Tiger offense that is averaging over 500 yards of total offense per game.
THE SERIES
The Pirates and Tigers will meet for the second time since reinstating football ... Last year Southwestern fell to ETBU 56-10 as the Tigers built an early 21-0 lead ... Southwestern ... Southwestern and East Texas Baptist both resurrected football after at least 50 years as the Tigers restarted football in 2000
THE COACHES
Joe Austin (Concordia-St. Paul '01)
Austin is in his sixth year as a head coach and second at Southwestern after spending the previous four seasons at Hanover College where he led the Panthers to back-to-back second place finishes in the HCAC. He was also the offensive coordinator at the University of Dubuque after spending time at Augsburg College and his alma mater, Concordia-St. Paul.
Joshua Eargle (Memphis '01)
Eargle takes over at the helm of the Tigers after assistant coaching stops in NCAA Division I and II and led ETBU to a 3-7 record in his first season. Eargle's roots are originally from East Texas as he has made coaching stops in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma before returning to East Texas. He was most recently defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Okla.
QUICK HITS
• Southwestern picked up the first win in school history since Nov. 4, 1950 when the Pirates knocked off Austin College 27-7. That season in 1950 also saw the Pirates start the season 1-0 after a 28-7 win against Texas State.
• The Pirate defense was impressive on Saturday forcing seven turnovers - four interceptions and three fumbles. First-year corner, Nik Kelly picked off the Lobos twice as Tanner Rogers and DeeJay Johnson both added a pick as well. All three fumbles were forced by All-SCAC defensive end Justin Broussard. • Both Rogers and Kelly were honored for their impressive numbers on Saturday. Rogers earned SCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and was joined by Kelly to earn national defensive player of the week honors by The Dream Bowl.
• Bourssard and linebacker Tyler Frisby joined Rogers to all recorded double-digit tackles in the win. Rogers led the way with 11 as Frisby and Broussard added 10 each. Bourssard also added 2 sacks as Rogers finished with 4 tackles for a loss and 1 sack as well.
• Lost in the excitement of the impressive defensive play, was a 100-yard rushing performance from Justin Pelt. Pelt got his first start at running back after moving from quarterback last season to finish with 106-yards on the ground. He also caught one pass for 20-yards and touchdown.
• Bryan Hicks threw for all four of Southwestern's scores as he completed 14-of-37 for 185 yards through the air. Hicks spread the ball around as six different receivers recorded a catch and all four touchdown pass' going to different receivers as well. Dante Smith led the way with 6 catches for 63 and a score.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Southwestern earned a historic 27-20 win last Saturday against Sul Ross State. With seven forced turnovers the Pirate defense highlighted the win.
OFFENSE
The Pirates took advantage of three of the turnovers to put points on the board in the win. Quarterback Bryan Hicks - who earned SCAC Special Teams POW honors - threw for 185 yards and 4 touchdowns, all different receivers. Dante Smith who made the move to receiver led the way with 6 catches for 63 yards and a score. Also, running back Justin Pelt crossed the 100-yard mark with 106 yards rushing on 15 carries.
DEFENSE
Seven turnovers were impressive for a Pirate defense that saw LB Tanner Rogers earn SCAC Defensive POW honors and national player of the week accolades as well. Rogers led the way with 4 tackles for a loss and an interception while adding a game-high 11 tackles. Nik Kelly picked off two passes to also lead the way for the Pirate defense after having a INT erased from the books against HSU. Justin Broussard was also impressive with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for a loss. The defensive end also forced 3 fumbles which the Pirates recovered all three.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Hicks earned SCAC Special Teams honors as he punted twice with both punts landing inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 46 yards per punt with a long of 55. Colton Williams and Alan Peralta combined for 60 yards in kickoff returns.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Texas Baptist rallied last week for a huge win after a blowout 98-20 loss to NCAA II Texas A&M-Commerce. The Tigers posted 600 yards of total offense against Austin College for a 43-27 victory
OFFENSE
Despite the lopsided loss to open the season, the Tigers are still averaging over 500 yards of total offense through two games. QB Josh Warbington threw for 359-yards and 408-yards in the first two games while adding 6 TDs. Roy Butler and Tyler Bates have been top targets for the Tigers each with 12 catches and a touchdown each. Stephen Alfred has been Warbington's favorite target near the goal line with 3 TDs and averages 127yards in two games. Jourdan McNeill is the leading rusher for ETBU with 72-yards and a touchdown while returner Toi Glover has totaled 67-yards and 2 scores.
DEFENSE
David Jaynes has been a key component to the Tiger defense with 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 2 fumble recoveries. He also has 10 tackles and has forced two fumbles and a safety. Hardy Hill is the Tigers' leading tackler with 14 - 9 of which have been solo tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Wayne Grice earned ASC Special Teams POW honors after six returns for 138-yards against Austin College. Punter M. McCulloch has 13 punts for 36.5 yard average with two punts inside the 20-yard line.