PINEVILLE, La. – After more than 450 days since its last game, which saw the Border Claw head back to Marshall, Texas, the Louisiana College football team forced five turnovers by East Texas Baptist University and held onto the ball for more than 40 minutes as the Wildcats brought the Border Claw back to Pineville for the first time in five and a half years with a 23-17 win over the Tigers Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Field.

The Wildcat offense got off to a slow start with both opening drives ending in interceptions, but the LC defense wouldn't allow them to hurt the team too badly, forcing the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs following both turnovers.

On the third drive, the LC offense got into its rhythm and that resulting in good things for the Wildcats, who quickly drove down into the ETBU red zone. But up against the goal line, the Wildcats had a fourth down decision to make, with the decision being go for six. And the decision paid off as James Powell, Jr. tucked in behind his offensive line and plowed in for LC's opening score of the 2020-21 spring season to take a 7-0 lead following the after point.

The defense continued to show its dominance on ETBU's next drive as Julius Johnson intercepted the Tiger quarterback to give the offense the ball just 34 yards away from paydirt. While the ensuing drive was stall out, LC did add to its lead as Hunter Martensson connected on a 33-yard field goal to make it 10-0 LC at the end of the first quarter.

After another fourth down stop gave the Wildcats the ball back, LC stalled and had to punt, but the high winds made reading the ball tricky, and the punt was muffed by the Tiger punt returner and D'Mario Weathersby recovered it for LC at the deep in ETBU territory. The offense made the mistake pay off as Sal Palermo III found Canaan Leon at the front pylon for the touchdown and a 16-0 Wildcat lead.

ETBU wouldn't relinquish the Border Claw without a fight though, driving down for a touchdown with little more than a minute remaining before halftime to make it 16-7 at the break. The Tigers pulled closer at the end of the third quarter with a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead down to 16-10.

But the deciding moments of the game came early in the fourth quarter. With the Tigers in possession, Brandon Isaac stepped in front of a ETBU receiver and picked off a pass, returning it into ETBU territory to set up another short field for the offense. The offense responded with the score that put the game out of reach as Devin Briscoe plunged in from one yard out for a 23-10 lead with less than ten minutes left in the game. Another interception by Scotty Wisby and a sustained drive of five minutes chewed up most of the remaining clock.

ETBU would get a touchdown with less than four minutes left, but the Tigers would not see the ball or the Battle Claw again as the Wildcats killed off the remaining close to close out the team's first win since November 9, 2019.

Sal Palermo III went 11-of-18 passing for 135 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. In his first collegiate game, Devin Briscoe had 17 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown, with his longest run of the day being a 44 yarder as the team was trying to run out the clock. Canaan Leon led the receivers with four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Julius Johnson was all over the place for the Wildcat defense, finishing with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, a sack, and an interception. Brandon Isaac also contributed an interception while Scotty Wisby got his hands on two picks in the game.

The Wildcats (1-0, 1-0 ASC) look to build off the return of the Border Claw next Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi against Belhaven. Kickoff against the Blazers (0-2, 0-2 ASC) is set for 1:00 P.M. at Belhaven Bowl Stadium.