Fast Start Sends ETBU to Victory Over HPU Guaranteeing Winning Season
BROWNWOOD, Texas – Starting fast in the first quarter, East Texas Baptist University ran away with a 38-17 win over Howard Payne University in their second meeting this year. ETBU is now 6-3 on the year securing their first winning season since 2019. It is also the first win in Brownwood since 2017. ETBU finished with over 400 yards of offense passing for 291 yards while rushing for 134 yards. Kaden Brown accounted for four touchdowns with one rushing and three passing going 26-of-34. Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox had 107 yards receiving on seven catches and one touchdown. Brown also led the team in rushing with 51 yards on 10 carries. The defense held HPU to 17 points as they produce two sacks and three interceptions. Keewon Grismore collected two interceptions with five tackles. Conner Jones led the team with six tackles as Dominick Williams and Jahkamian Carr each had a sack. Neiman Suller had the other interception. Two of ETBU's first offensive possessions ended in touchdowns. They took the opening drive 61 yards as Brown rushed up the middle for a three-yard touchdown. After an interception on their second possession, ETBU started their third possession at midfield after Grismore intercepted the HPU pass. Brown found Hymond Drinkard for a 25-yard touchdown pass at 7:26 for a 14-0 lead. HPU hit a 35-yard field goal just over a minute into the second quarter to come within 11, 14-3. The Yellow Jackets intercepted Brown's pass on the next possession but then gave it back to ETBU as Sullen took the interception to the three-yard line. Paul Woodard punched it in on the next play making it 21-3. That score stood the same at halftime. It was a defensive battle in the third quarter as neither team scored. Both teams combined to score 31 points in the fourth quarter. Pedro Cavazos sailed a 43-yard field goal through the uprights for a 24-3 lead. HPU then found their endzone for the first time at 8:33 pulling to within two scores, 24-10. Zay Thomas gave ETBU a 21-point lead, 31-10, at 4:52 when he was on the receiving end of a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brown. HPU didn't back down scoring at 2:52 to stay within 14, 31-17. ETBU's final drive went 57 yards in five plays as Llanas-Wilcox found his way into the endzone from three yards out for the 38-21 score. HPU tried to score in the final minute and a half but ETBU stopped the Yellow Jackets on four straight plays at the five-yard line. ETBU will face #4 Hardin-Simmons University in Ornelas Stadium on Saturday in the final game of the year at 1:00 p.m.
