Sports
UMHB finishes undefeated, faces ASC foe in playoffs
Monday, 19 November 2012 by Matthew Girard
UMHB quarterback LiDarral Bailey runs away from two Mississippi College defenders in the Cru’s 59-0 win against the Choctaws last Satuday.The No. 2-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders cruised into the postseason for the ninth straight season and won their eighth consecutive American Southwest Conference title with a 59-0 win against Mississippi College on Saturday.
After a sluggish start, quarterback LiDarral Bailey got the Cru (10-0, 7-0) going with 2:44 left in the first quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Wimby. The Crusaders then built a 35-0 lead by the end of the third quarter to finish off the Choctaws (2-8, 1-6).
The win gave UMHB its third straight undefeated season, extended its regular-season winning streak to 34 games and was the Cru's 26th consecutive ASC win.
UMHB finished with 607 yards of total offense and held MC to just 272 yards of total offense in the win.
With the win, the Cru will host ASC-conference foe and runner-up Louisiana College (8-2, 6-1) at noon on Saturday at Tiger Field. The Wildcats are making their first NCAA postseason appearance and claimed an at-large berth by being the conference runner-up.
It will be the second time the Cru and Wildcasts have squared off this season, with UMHB posting a 30-3 win in Pineville, La. on Oct. 13.
Although UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg was not excited about the prospect of facing a conference opponent in the first round of the playoffs at first, he said facing LC in the postseason gives Saturday's game a whole new meaning.
"This was the hand that was dealt us and we have to play it, but this game looms so much bigger," Fredenburg said. "This is a conference opponent and we have to make sure that we beat these guys."
Fredenburg said he is hoping the Cru can have a repeat performance against the Wildcats.
"You try to evaluate what you did good and you would like to change it up a little bit just to keep them guessing a little," Fredenburg said. "I felt like we did a nice job of stopping the run and making them one dimensional and getting a little pressure on the quarterback. We did that well, so we will obviously try to do the same thing."
LC is coming off of a 45-37 win against Hardin-Simmons last week. The Wildcats rolled up 535 yards of total offense, but allowed 575 yards of total offense.
"It was closer than the score," Fredenburg said of the two team's last meeting. "They were knocking on the door a few times and we were pretty lethargic in the first half. We've got great respect for Louisiana College and the athletes that they have. We know we are in for a dog fight, but they have to know they are in for one too."
The winner of the Saturday's game will play the winner of the Adrian/Franklin opening round game.
Tickets for the game went on sale on Wednesday to previous season ticket holders and season ticket holders can also purchase tickets from 7:30 a.m. to noon today. Tickets for the general public will also go on sale today from noon to 5:30 p.m. and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for seniors and students (ages 3 to college age) and will be sold from the Mayborn Campus Center ticket windows off of University Drive.
