Sports
No. 2 Crusaders open conference play with 76-28 win
Friday, 19 October 2012 by Matthew Girard
UMHB runningback Stephen Salinas dashes through the defense during the Crusader’s win against Trinity University. UMHB remained undefeated with its 76-28 win against Sul Ross University last SaturdayThe University of Mary Hardin-Baylor kept two impressive streaks going as the No. 2-ranked Crusaders crushed Sul Ross State University 76-28 in Alpine on Saturday.
The win not only kept the Crusaders (4-0, 1-0) perfect on the season and their first American Southwest Conference game of the season, but the 48-point win was also UMHB's 28 consecutive regular season win and 20th straight ASC win.
Senior quarterback LiDarral Bailey had a career day with 333 yards passing, which was also a single-game record for UMHB. Bailey also tied a school mark with four touchdown passes on the day.
"I think the development of LiDarral Bailey has really been special this year," coach Pete Fredenburg said. "He's grown as a leader and a quarterback and obviously the coaches have had a great deal to do with it, but he's also taken the role to be this kind of leader and do the job he's been doing."
The Crusaders racked up 762 yards of total offense and held Sul Ross to 355 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers.
This week, UMHB returns home for the first time since it's 34-7 season opening win against Kean University and will take on Texas Lutheran University on Saturday at Tiger Field.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0) are also coming off of their first ASC win this season after downing East Texas Baptist, 34-28.
TLU fell behind 14-0 in the firs quarter, but were spurred by Casey Davis' 97-yard kickoff return early in the third quarter to tie the game at 21-21. Quarterback Brent Peavy, who was 19-of-32 passing for 220 yards and a touchdown, sealed the game for the Bulldogs with 7:41 left in the game with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Williams.
"They are very well coached, they are disciplined and they've got a good nucleus of guys that know what they are doing," Fredenburg said. "The quarterback is a kid that can run and throw, so it will be a challenge."
Texas Lutheran is averaging 30.5 points per game and allowing 27.5 points per game. UMHB is averaging 47.8 points per game and are allowing 22 points per game, but have given up 28 points on defense in its last two games.
Kickoff for the game at Tiger Field is 6 p.m. The game will also be broadcast on 1400 AM KTEM.
