Box Score
For the first time since 2007, the "Border Claw" Trophy will be making its home in Marshall, Texas as the East Texas Baptist Tigers downed the Louisiana College Wildcats 44-34 in front of a packed crowd at ETBU's Ornelas Stadium on Saturday night.

The Wildcats had their best offensive day of the season to date, racking up 442 total yards, but it was not enough for the explosive ETBU offense, who racked up 547 total yards on the night, led by 274 receiving yards from receiver Tyler Bates.

Bates helped the Tigers take the first lead of the night at the 9:51 mark of the 1st quarter when he took a pass from quarterback Josh Warbington and broke several tackles on his way to an 80 yard touchdown romp to put ETBU up 6-0 after a missed extra point.

LC's only touchdown of the first half came when junior defensive end Brandon Zimmer picked off a Warbington pass and took it 6 yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown to put LC ahead 7-6 with 6:32 left in the 1st quarter. The Cats would trail 20-10 at halftime after adding a Charles Firmin field goal early in the 2nd quarter.

After star junior quarterback Easton Melancon was injured on an attempted trick play early in the 3rd quarter, sophomore D'Ondre Joseph would take over and lead LC on what looked like a potential second half comeback.

Joseph would lead the Wildcats on a gutsy 17 play, 77 yard drive midway through the 3rd quarter, ending with a 4 yard touchdown run from Joseph to draw the Wildcats closer at 20-17.

LC would then take a 24-20 on their next possession when Joseph found junior running back Aurren Cooksey on a swing pass for a 4 yard touchdown with 22 ticks remaining in the 3rd quarter to take their first lead since Zimmer's pick 6 gave them a 7-6 lead.

ETBU would then answer immediately with a 78 yard touchdown pass from Warbington to Bates to put the Tigers back ahead 27-24 with 13:09 remaining in the 4th quarter.

A Charles Firmin field goal on LC's next possession tied the game at 27-27 but that was as close as the Cats would get the rest of the night, as ETBU took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to take the lead for good and eventually pull away for the 44-34 win.

Joseph accounted for all three of the Wildcats' three offensive scores, throwing for 93 yards and two touchdowns  to go along with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Cooksey led LC with 97 rushing yards while Ladarius Gardner had a team-high 7 catches for 129 yards.

The Wildcats (0-3, 0-1 in ASC) will finally play their first home game of the season next week on Homecoming against Sul Ross State.