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MARSHALL, Texas-The East Texas Baptist University Debate Team competed in the Lee College Mendoza Debate Tournament September 17-18 in Baytown, Texas. The team returned home with a third place team finish, ahead of eight other programs in the 11-program field. 

ETBU finished ahead of Stephen F. Austin State University, Southern Methodist University, and Northwestern State University. This was the first debate tournament experience for four of ETBU's seven competitors at the event. 

Day'Lonzo Freeman had a career night for ETBU rushing for 151 yards on 11 carries for two touchdowns. Dru Smith then passed for 203 yards and three touchdowns as Richard Johnson was the top receiver at 68 yards on four catches. ETBU finished with ETBU finished the game with 17 first downs and 393 total yards of offense. Southwestern finished with 25 first downs and 591 yards of offense. Caleb Taylor led the team with 15, and Ty Parsons and Dylan Bowman pitched in 10 tackles each.

East Texas Baptist University achieved their highest enrollment in over a decade. The Fall 2016 enrollment stands at 1,456 students, 148 students ahead of Fall 2015, an 11.2 percent increase. This figure of 1,456 students represents the University's highest total enrollment since 2002 when there were 1,496 students enrolled. This semester is the third highest enrollment in institution history. 

For the second season in a row the East Texas Baptist University football team has a pre-season All-American. This year the honor belongs to Dominic Haggerty, who was named to the Football GamePlan.com All-American third-team as a return specialist.

"Our special teams played a big part in our success last year and Dominic ignited a lot of the kickoff returns," said head football coach Scotty Walden.

Haggerty was an All-ASC honorable mention pick and the ASC Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 29.

Nathan Hague, Marshall News Messenger

Many coaches and players of the ETBU football team are wearing bracelets with the word 'Elevate' written on it as head coach Scotty Walden said that sums up the team goals heading into the 2016 season.

"Our team motto this year is 'Elevate,'" Walden said. "We want to elevate this program to the next level and we want to elevate our kids' lives to the next level, spiritually, academically and athletically and that's what we're setting out to do. That's the motto we're going to live by this year.