RAIDERS MOVING ON! | Harper, Murphy, Tyeskie all sign with ETBU

East Texas Baptist University got a haul of talent for the 2024 season and beyond last week, when West Rusk High School seniors (from left) Zach Tyeskie, Noah Murphy and Ty Harper all signed with the program. ETBU, in Tyeskie, gets the District 11-3A, Division 2 defensive lineman of the year, and in both Murphy and Harper, players who were weapons on both sides of the ball for coach Rafe Mata’s Raiders. West Rusk went 10-3 in the 2023 season, won their district championship once again (and defeated then-unbeaten Troup along the way) and had another long playoff run, into the UIL Class 3A third round. Tyeskie finished with 32 total tackles, four for loss. Murphy finished with 1,232 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 172 carries in the ’23 season, averaging about 112 yards a game and 7.2 yards a carry. He also had five catches for 56 yards and a score, and on defense, had 35 tackles, one for loss, a sack, four quarterback hurries, and a caused fumble. Harper had 330 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 26 carries. Harper also had 16 catches for 331 yards and six touchdowns, and averaged almost 21 yards a catch last season. On defense, Ty had 34 tackles, three interceptions for 131 return yards, defended six passes and had a fumble recovery. ETBU is located in nearby Marshall. The Tigers went 5-5 in the regular season, beating Sul Ross, but then losing their final two games (to Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin Simmons) but finishing with a 4-6 record at home. The Tigers play in the American Southwest Conference. Congratulations, guys, and ETBU, you corralled three good ones. (Photo courtesy of WEST RUSK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS)