Jon Wallin - Sports Information Director, UMHB

MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team scored on its opening possession and never looked back as the Cru rolled to a 50-15 victory over East Texas Baptist to close out another undefeated regular season Saturday in Marshall. UMHB improves to 10-0 overall and finishes 9-0 in American Southwest Conference play.

Markeith Miller scored on a three-yard run on UMHB’s second offensive play to make it 7-0 with 12:10 remaining in the first quarter. Miller added a four-yard TD run to stretch it to 14-0 with 7:27 to go in the first period. Aaron Sims added a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 21-0 after the first stanza. The Cru defense would force a turnover on downs and a 90-yard drive ended with Miller’s nine-yard touchdown scamper. Anthony Avila tacked on a 42-yard field goal to push the lead to 31-0 at halftime. Avila added a 29-yard field goal on the opening possession of the second half before Brian Baca scored on a 10-yard run and ETBU scored two points off a blocked extra point to cut it to 34-8. DeNerian Thomas hit T.J. Josey with a 45-yard scoring strike to push it to 40-8, Thomas scored on a seven-yard run and Avila kicked a 38-yard field goal to push it to 50-8. Jeremiah Robertson’s four-yard touchdown run cut it to the final margin with 7:08 left to play.

The Cru rolled up 246 rushing yards and 395 yards of total offense in the victory. UMHB held ETBU to 85 yards in the first half and 284 total yards for the game. The Cru forced four turnovers and recorded three sacks. UMHB did not turn the ball over but committed 12 penalties for 132 yards in the win.

Miller ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns and tied Quincy Daniels’ UMHB and ASC record of 57 career rushing touchdowns. Josey caught three passes for 85 yards and a score and Sims tied a UMHB single-season record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown of the year. De Jackson had a career-high 11 tackles for the Cru and Jefferson Fritz intercepted two passes. Fritz tied Javicz Jones’ school single-season mark with his eighth interception of the season.

Baca ran for 78 yards for ETBU and was 14-27 through the air for 174 more yards. Tarek Beaugard had a team-high three catches for 64 yards for the Tigers. Zack Biles had a game-high 13 tackles to lead the ETBU defense.

UMHB capped the ninth undefeated regular season in program history and likely locked up a #1 seed in the postseason with the win. The Cru will now advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships for the 17th time in program history. The 32-team field for the postseason will be announced at 4:30 pm Central Time on Sunday.

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