Title: Sul Ross Drops ASC Opener to No. 3 UMHB

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2007

Story:

BELTON – No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor held Sul Ross to seven points in each half as the Crusaders coasted to a 55-14 win over the visiting Lobos in the conference opener for both teams. (Box)

UMHB collected 482 yards of total offense for the day with 289 off the ground. The Lobos were held to 206 yards as Sully punched up 122 yards through the air. Both teams combined for 12 penalties for 96 yards. Sully coughed up the ball once for the entire game.

T.J. Barber led the Pack with 18 carries while netting 96 yards and posted one of Sully’s two scores for the afternoon. QB Austin Davidson completed 9 of 27 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Davidson was sacked three times by Crusader defenders and suffered three pick offs. Joc Quise Brown captured four receptions but was held to just 27 yards by one of the elite defenses in the nation. Brown managed a trip into the end zone just seconds before the half.

Chris Redin led the Lobo defense with seven tackles and a breakup while Jarrett Ballew and Cole Tarlton recorded six stops. Milo Garza posted a forced fumble while Kyle Braddick grabbed two fumble recoveries. Aubrey Lightheard tallied a sack in the effort.

For the second time this season, a Lobo opponent returned the opening kickoff as UMHB’s Quincy Daniels hauled in an 88-yard return just sixteen seconds into the contest. Joel Munoz’s extra-point kick was good and the Crusaders grabbed an early 7-0 lead. UMHB struck again on their next two possessions off the pass. The extra points put Mary Hardin-Baylor up 21-0 with 11:43 left in the first period.

The Crusaders scored again at the 2:36 first quarter mark as Jarvis Thrasher scampered six yards into the Lobo end zone. The extra attempt was good giving UMHB a healthy 28-0 advantage. Mary Hardin-Baylor went to the run again in the second period as Daniels ran for 14 yards and pay dirt. Munoz’s kick was good with the Cru up 35-0 with 6:45 left until the break. Thrasher then trotted 2 yards after a 5-play, 67-yard scoring drive. Munoz connected on the extra point to put UMHB up 42-0 with 3:13 left until intermission.

Sul Ross saw the spotlight with 8 seconds to go in the half as Davidson found Brown on a 10-yard touchdown pass capping a 7-play, 83-yard march. The extra point kick by Michael Van Wagner was good with a 42-7 score at halftime.

UMHB’s Josh Welch brought the leather home on an 11-yard run over midway through the third period. Backup kicker James Crawford booted the extra point to spread Mary Hardin-Baylor’s lead 49-7 with 6:55 left in the third.

The Crusaders attacked for the final time of the outing as Tommy Vadell scored on a 2-yard hopper. The attempted two-point conversion failed but UMHB sported a 55-7 advantage with 15 seconds left until the fourth quarter.

The Lobos would see the end zone for the second and final time of the day as Barber sliced his way 68 yards into the Crusader end zone. Van Wagner’s kick was good with the score 55-14 with 10:42 left in regulation as the Cru walked away with the victory.

Sul Ross drops to 2-1 and 0-1 in conference while UMHB improves to 2-0 and 1-0 in ASC play. The Lobos will face the Tigers of East Texas Baptist University in a rare 3:30 p.m. kick in Sully’s home opener next weekend at Jackson Field.

2007 SEASON STATS