After four seasons as an affiliate member of the SAA expires at the end of this academic year, Austin College is coming back to an old home: the American Southwest Conference.
Nobody was drafted from Division III, but it didn't take long for Wesley tackle Matthew Gono to get snapped up. And he wasn't alone. Five Division III players have been signed as undrafted free agents and more than ten additional players have received rookie minicamp invites.
Nearly 30 players were nominated, but only 10 get to the semifinal stage. Who are they? Read up on the players, then cast your fan ballot for the top overall student-athlete in Division III football.
It took Ty Parsons multiple school changes to find a home at East Texas Baptist where he could showcase his skills. Now, he's also found a home in the school record books.
MARSHALL, Texas – A record-breaking day for the offense was just what the East Texas Baptist University football team needed as they took care of business against the Louisiana College Wildcats, 68-35, retaining “the Claw.” This win not only puts ETBU at 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the American Southwest Conference, but it also marks the third year in a row that “the Claw” will stay in Texas.
ETBU had a day offensively as they gained 776 yards of total offense. The day was a tremendous one for Brian Baca, who shattered a school record with 659 passing yards and seven touchdown passes. This break’s the previous record of 530 passing yards and six touchdown passes held by Dru Smith who also broke it against Louisiana College last year. Richard Johnson had nine receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns while JaQuavian Dabbs added seven receptions for 144 yards.
MARSHALL, Texas – Scoring 45 points in the second half, including 24 unanswered, the East Texas Baptist University football team used their offense to unload on the Belhaven University Blazers 79-40. This marks the third time in the last two seasons that ETBU has scored more than 70 points in a game. It also improves their record to 3-0 on the season for the second year in a row and they are now 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play.
PINEVILLE, La. – Coming down to the final series of the game in the “Battle of the Border Claw”, East Texas Baptist University picked up a first down on third-and-14 to finish running out the clock for a 64-62 win over Louisiana College. Louisiana College pulled within two points with 2:29 remaining in the game but failed to recover the on-side kick.
MARSHALL, Texas – Dominating the homecoming game from the beginning #19/22 East Texas Baptist University (6-1, 2-1) scored 76 points routing Howard Payne University (0-7, 0-3), 76-14. The win for ETBU ensures them a winning season for only the fifth time in program history and is only the second time that ETBU has had back-to-back winning seasons.
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.
Running back Aurren Cooksey was a high school star who ended up on Louisiana College's JV roster. But it was there he learned patience and perseverance, helping to propel him to being
among the nation's best.
ETBU linebacker CJ Johnson is expected to play a pivotal role all season for the Tigers, who have high hopes of repeating atop the ASC, but this time come away with a playoff bid.
Columnist Brian Lester has seen a lot of the nation suit up and battle it out on the gridiron, and he's back for his second year celebrating stars of the South. He gives you a snapshot of 10 games that should be on your radar.
Joshua Eargle resigned after three seasons at East Texas Baptist, handing over the reins to assistant coach Scotty Walden. Eargle left ETBU to take a position at Division I FCS Austin Peay as run coordinator and offensive line coach.
MARSHALL, Texas – A championship chapter was written on Saturday in the Josh Eargle era as he coached the East Texas Baptist University football team to their first American Southwest Conference championship since 2003. With a 27-21 victory over #8 Hardin-Simmons University (8-1, 3-1), ETBU is now guaranteed a share of the ASC championship as they move to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
Tyler Bates was 3 when his mom passed away, so the memories of her are difficult to recall. Except for this year, when he set a ETBU school record and sparked a standout senior season.
ALPINE, Texas – It’s been ten years since the East Texas Baptist University football team has had a winning season and with a 61-21 win over Sul Ross State University they will have it. The six wins are the most since 2005 five and ETBU has two games left to try for more wins and will now be playing for the right for first place in the American Southwest Conference next Saturday vs. Hardin-Simmons.
Kendall Roberson ended up 45 yards short of the D-III rushing record, but only played three quarters. Meanwhile, Trine ended Albion's unbeaten run and DePauw couldn't get past Ohio Wesleyan. More in Saturday's national roundup.
MARSHALL, Texas – It will be a game to remember for the ages in Homecoming 2015 as East Texas Baptist University’s Kendall Roberson rushed for 420 yards and five touchdowns as they battled the rain for a 46-13 victory over Belhaven University. Earning their fifth win, ETBU is now guaranteed of not having a losing season which is a first since 2011.
“This is huge for us to get that fifth win,” says head coach Joshua Eargle. “We played against all the elements today and our guys handled the distractions and came out ready to play today.”
MARSHALL, Texas – Fourth Quarter dominance by the East Texas Baptist University offense combined with the strong defensive effort canned Louisiana College’s thought of extending their winning streak over the Tigers (0-3/0-1), 44-34. ETBU scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win in the American Southwest Conference opener.
It wasn’t a heavyweight bout. The Texas Lutheran-East Texas Baptist game this past Saturday night was a martial arts foray of utter talent and skill that ended with a loss by one team and masterful performances by both.
MARSHALL, Texas – Setting the tone right from their first possession of the game the East Texas Baptist University football moved to 3-0 in Ornelas Stadium in 2014 as they ignited for 68 points over Millsaps College (1-2). ETBU scored 47 points in the first half en route to the 68-15 blowout over Millsap moving to 3-1 for the first time since 2008.
East Texas Baptist has rotated all three of its quarterbacks this season to put up some gaudy offensive numbers on opponents. While it’s nice for a team to have some stability under center, to those players’ credit, when their numbers are called, they don’t miss a beat.
MARSHALL, Texas – It was a happy 100th homecoming at East Texas Baptist University as all cylinders were clicking for the Tigers overcoming a 10-0 deficit and coming from behind for their first American Southwest Conference win, 52-28, over Howard Payne University. This day will always be a memorable one for East Texas Baptist as five single game individual records were broken and three team single game records.
ETBU Walks Away From Wisconsin Victorious Over UW-Platteville
September 02, 2021
