Sports
No. 2 Crusaders down Louisiana College to stay unbeaten
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 by Matthew Girard
UMHB runningback Elijah Hudson breaks a tackle during a recent game. The Crusaders take on rival Hardin-Simmons on Saturday.In another tough road contest, No. 2-ranked UMHB won its sixth game in a row thanks to a blocked field goal return for a touchdown last Saturday against top 25 and American Southwest Conference foe Louisiana College in Pineville, La.
After two missed first-half field goal attempts by Chad Peevey, the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 ASC) held a 3-0 lead late in the second quarter and were preparing to extend that lead with another field goal attempt with 0.1 seconds on the clock.
UMHB's Korey Steward broke through the line and blocked the kick and Javicz Jones scooped up the ball and returned it 95 yards for the touchdown, swinging momentum the Crusader's way the rest of the game.
The Crusaders (6-0, 3-0 ASC) then broke the game open as LiDarral Bailey (17-of-22 passing for 229 yards and three touchdowns) hit Geoff Myles and a 640yard touchdown pass on the first offensive play of the second half.
The defense then took over, holding the Wildcats to just 42 yards rushing and 300 yards of total offense in the 30-3 win.
The win was the Cru's 22 consecutive ASC victory and kept UMHB a top the ASC standings.
UMHB will again face a team that is hoping to end the Crusader's streak and take sole possession of first place this week against rival Hardin-Simmons (4-2, 3-0 ASC).
Coach Pete Fredenburg said his team is taking it one game at a time and focusing on getting better.
"We've had a theme all year long of this being a process," Fredenburg said. "We knew the three road games were going to be tough, so we've really addressed our football team on staying even keel and not getting to emotional for any game."
Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Tiger Field will also play a part in the postseason as the winner has gone on to the NCAA Division III National Championships every year since 2003.
"It's going to be a process and it's not going to be a finished product until the last game," Fredenburg said. "Young guys are growing and developing and getting better, and the mature guys are really starting to carry the team."
Hardin-Simmons is coming off of its fourth consecutive win after downing East Texas Baptist University 42-22 last week. Quarterback Logan Turner threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys gained 489 yards of total offense and gave up 332 yards of total offense against ETBU.
In the first three games of the season, the Cowboys were allowing 42.6 points per game, but have since allowed just 10.6 points per game in three ASC games.
"Their defensive coordinator is an old friend and I know he's a very good football coach," Fredenburg said. "It was going to take him a little bit to get them going, but I think that they've got everything rolling right now and they have a lot of confidence."
Fredenburg said the Cowboys will be a tough opponent for the Crusaders.
"They are very well coached," Fredenburg said. "Then you add the emotion of this game into the equation, this will be a big test for us."
