ABILENE, Texas – A slow start for #17 East Texas Baptist University turned into a come from behind victory in their first American Southwest Conference game of the year, 67-31, over McMurry University. ETBU trailed 7-6 after the first quarter but added 20 points in the second quarter to take the lead en route to over 700 yards of total offense on the day. ETBU moves to 5-0 which continues to be the program's best start ever.
"We overcame a sluggish start and turned this into a victory for us," says head coach Scotty Walden. "I am so proud of this team as they were resilient in what they do as they came back and made some big plays."
Finishing the day with 706 yards of total offense, several players had career days. Dru Smith tied the ETBU single game record for touchdown passes with five moving into the ranks with Josh Warbington and Seth Hubbard. He also finished the day with 464 yards passing going 33-of-49 and one interception. Jourdan McNeill produced four touchdowns as a career-high which is second best in a game behind Kendall Roberson's five touchdowns from last year. McNeill also produced his fourth career 100-yard rushing game with 104 yards on 26 carries.
The receiving core of Chase Sojka, Richard Johnson and Xavier Gray all had over 100 yards each. Johnson was on the receiving end of three touchdown pass for 112 yards which both are career-high. Sojka's 190 yards receiving is a career-high as he also had a touchdown. Gray then added 120 yards, a career-high, too, on five receptions. Also catching a touchdown was Derrick Ledet.
Forcing four turnovers and coming away with three of them, ETBU's defense became stronger as the game went on. They gave up 17 points in the first half but then came out strong in the second half forcing three turnovers and gaining two back. Ty Parsons led the defense with nine tackles as five were solo with one sack. Khilan Wright also added a sack.
McMurry took a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game but McNeill answered with a one-yard run at the 10:09 mark missing the two-point conversion. McMurry then extended their lead to 14-6 on a 73-yard run in the second quarter only to see ETBU score 20 straight points to take at 26-14 lead. Johnson caught the next two touchdown passes of eight and 27-yards at the 7:20 and 1:43 marks to put ETBU ahead for good, 19-14. With 23 seconds left to play, McNeill rushed up the middle from seven yards out for the 12-point lead. McMurry took the momentum back just before the half with a 37-yard field cutting the lead to nine, 26-17.
It was all ETBU in the second half as they came out on fire scoring 41 points in two quarters. ETBU did not allow any McMurry scores in the third quarter and had three touchdowns overall. McNeill added his third touchdown of the day at the 12:42 mark and then Johnson had his third touchdown of the day with 2:40 in the quarter making it 40-17. Ledet recorded his touchdown with just 34 seconds left from one-yard out making it 47-17.
McMurry did find the end zone twice in the fourth quarter but ETBU had already taken control of the game. At the 8:57 mark McNeill leapt across the goal line for his fourth touchdown and then three minutes later Sojka recorded his first touchdown from nine-yards out. Gray finished off the scoring for ETBU with 1:20 left in the game on a 20-yard pass from Smith for the 67-31 final.
The biggest test of the season will come next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. as ETBU will host #3 Mary Hardin-Baylor in Ornelas Stadium in the Tackle Cancer game. Both teams will be playing for the right to stay on top of the ASC.