After coming up just short in their bid to knock off No. 18 Hardin-Simmons in their American Southwest Conference opener last week, the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets will attempt to rebound against the East Texas Baptist Tigers.

Kickoff between the Yellow Jackets (3-1, 0-1) and ETBU (2-2, 1-0) is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Gordon Wood Stadium.

Reflecting on last week’s 40-33 setback at Hardin-Simmons, HPU first-year head coach Kevin Bachtel said, “We played extremely hard overall. We matched their physicality which we felt would be a key. I can pinpoint a few plays in my eyes that made a difference in the game – the kickoff return, we dropped a ball that was going to be a first down and potentially a huge gain, and we fumbled when we were moving the ball. Those are the things I felt turned it. At the end of the day it goes back to what we’ve been preaching about finding a way to finish, they did and we didn’t. We had our chance and didn’t take care of business, so now it’s next opponent up.”

Despite last week’s loss, the Yellow Jackets currently possess the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense statistically in the American Southwest Conference.

The Yellow Jackets average 44 points and 496 yards – 363 passing and 133 rushing – per game, with four turnovers, while the defense yields 13 points and 268 yards – 174 through the air and 94 on the ground – per outing, with 13 takeaways.

The offense is sparked by quarterback Landon McKinney (66 of 120 for 886 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs) and receivers Gus Charles (25-408, 4 TDs), Jordan Carroll (18-280, 4 TDs), Deon Collins (13-164, 3 TDs) and Samuel Sims (9-106). Weapons out of the backfield include Javian Myles (259 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 14-127, TD receiving), Reece Rodgers (114 rushing yards, TD; 9-74 receiving); and Blessing Ngene (89 rushing yards, 3 TDs).

“We have to take care of turnovers and be consistent offensively,” Bachtel said of the goals against ETBU. “We need to get the ball in peoples’ hands, make sure we’re catching the ball, and hold on to the ball in terms of turnovers.”

Standouts for the Yellow Jacket defense include KJ Kelley (34 tackles, 3 interceptions), Jessie Paris (25 tackles, 4.5 for loss), KD Bookman (18 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Jacob Korrodi (16 tackles, 1 interception), and KC Cornelius (15 tackles, 1 interception).

“We didn’t tackle as well at certain points last week and we had previously,” Bachtel said. “We need to tune up some tackling. We fly around, no question about effort.”

East Texas Baptist (2-2, 1-0) is coming off a 35-7 victory over Austin College in its conference opener last week. The Tigers also own a 38-37 victory over Hendrix with losses of 34-14 to Louisiana College and 60-7 to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

The Tigers average 24 points and 304 yards – 184 passing and 120 rushing – per game.

“Their M.O. is they want to run the football and throw it when they have to, but they don’t mind throwing it on any down,” Bachtel said. “They’re trying to run the ball more than I feel like they did last year.”

Leading the charge for the East Texas Baptist offense are quarterback Cornelius Banks (33 of 67 for 535 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 32 rushing yards, 1 TD), receivers Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox (14-248, 4 TDs) and Konan Stardourmire (10-118, TD), and running backs Jaden Thomas (210 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Paul Woodard (114 rushing yards).

Defensively, ETBU is yielding 35 points and 358 yards – 220 through the air and 138 on the ground.

Top tacklers for the Tigers include Joey Verret (31 tackles), Jahkamian Carr (21 tackles, 2.5 sacks), Daevien Willis (19 tackles), Kenneth Bradley (18 tackles), and Kyle Zalick (13 tackles).

“Their front four on defense is really good, really athletic at the ends so they’re going to really test our offensive line, our tackles,” Bachtel said. “Defensively they’re coached well and they’re going to be in the right spot and tackle well.”

—

American SW Conference		Conference Wins	Conference Losses	Overall Wins	Overall Losses
Hardin-Simmons		1	0	3	1
East Texas Baptist		1	0	2	2
*Sul Ross		1	0	2	2
Mary Hardin-Baylor		1	0	1	3
Howard Payne		0	1	3	1
McMurry		0	1	2	2
Austin College		0	1	1	3
Texas Lutheran		0	1	1	3

* Not eligible for ASC Championship due to reclassification

—

Week 6 Games (Oct. 5-7)

East Texas Baptist at Howard Payne

Hardin-Simmons at McMurry

Mary Hardin-Baylor at Texas Lutheran

Sul Ross at Austin College

—

Week 5 Games (Sept. 28-30)

Hardin-Simmons 40, Howard Payne 33

Sul Ross 37, Texas Lutheran 34

East Texas Baptist 35, Austin College 7

Lyon College 52, McMurry 14

Mary Hardin-Baylor, OPEN

—

Week 7 Games (Oct. 12-14)

Austin College at Howard Payne

Texas Lutheran at Hardin-Simmons

Sul Ross at Mary Hardin-Baylor

McMurry at East Texas Baptist