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."
The game was moved up to an 11:00 a.m. start from the original 6:00 p.m. start with the forecast of the inclement weather coming to East Texas. ETBU handled Belhaven and the new starting time well finishing with 594 yards of total offense as 521 yards came on the ground.
Roberson produced the career day with an American Southwest Conference and ETBU single game rushing record of 420 yards on 33 carries. He also touted the rock into the end zone five times which is second best in the history of the ASC and the most by a conference player this season.
"It was a great day," says Roberson. "Our offensive linemen and receivers did a great job of helping get me past the line of scrimmage. Our offensive line continues to get better each week and I love those guys as they have helped me to become a better player."
Roberson's touchdown runs were of 80 yards, 69, yards, 43 yards, six yards, and three yards. Before halftime, he already had scored two touchdowns and had 256 yards rushing. In the last two weeks, he has combined for 584 yards and nine touchdowns.
His first touchdown came in the first quarter with 12:21 on the clock from three-yards out and thein with 6:26 left in the second he went 69 yards for a 20-0 lead. In between his two touchdowns his counterpart Jourdan McNeill, who had 96 yards rushing, recorded a two-yard touchdown run.
To finish out the scoring in the first half was Tyler Bates as he returned a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown making it 26-0 with 1:31 left in the half.
Belhaven put a score on the board in the third quarter at the 12:06 mark on a 13-yard pass as ETBU held a 26-7 lead. Less than a minute later, Roberson kicked it into high gear, again, on an 80-yard touchdown jaunt on the second play of the drive as ETBU extended their lead to 25 points, 32-7. Six minutes later Roberson picked up his fourth touchdown from six-yards out at the 5:30 mark and then just before the third quarter ended he found a hole in the defense for a 43-yard dash for his fifth touchdown. That touchdown put ETBU up 46-7. Belhaven added one score in the fourth quarter on a three-yard pass as it became 46-13.
Xavier Davis had a career day with 3.5 sacks, seven tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. It was the second week in a row that ETBU has allowed just 13 points and the team recorded eight sacks and one interception by Sam Williams.
"I really thought we were active today and getting after the quarterback," says Eargle. "They have a couple quarterbacks that are really good and know how to play and I was really pleased how we handled them today."
The fifth win of the year ETBU is the most since 2011 and in Eargle's third year it is the most wins for him in a season. ETBU has not had a winning season since 2005 when the team went 6-4.
ETBU travels to Alpine, Texas, next Saturday, October 31st, to face Sul Ross State University in ASC play and will put their undefeated 2-0 record on the line at 2:00 p.m.