Statement game leaves few questions
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So when UMHB head coach Pete Fredenburg said his team “wanted to make a statement” in its game against Christopher Newport, you had to wonder what exactly it was. By the time the game was over the statement was loud and clear: Watch out Wesley, Whitewater and even Mt. Union. This UMHB team is different.
The Crusaders absolutely rolled the Captains 51-19 in a game that was over and done with when both squads headed into the half down 30-7.
I’m not big into hyperbole but maybe different isn’t even the word to describe this year’s Crusaders. Maybe better is the word. Maybe it’s “polished” or “refined.” Or maybe it’s dominant.
From Anton Holloway to Jeff Shinn to Cody Fredenburg to Justin Bryson to Josh Welch to Freddie Rollins to Jarvis Thrasher and now Quincy Daniels, the Cru has always been a run-first, run-second football team. They run the ball often and they run it well.
Shoot, the Crusaders hold the ASC record for rushing attempts in a game (74), in a season (895), rushing yards gained in a game (576) and a season (5131) as well as yards per rush and rushing touchdowns in a game and a season. Bryson is the conference’s all-time leader in rushing yards in a season, career and rushing touchdowns in a career.
But the way they ran the ball on Saturday, with two guys topping the century mark in rushing and two others getting more than 40 yards was impressive, particularly for a season-opener.
Daniels became the latest star to emerge out of the backfield in Belton by rolling up 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 10 carries. Thrasher “chipped in” with 113 yards on 15 carries. Daniels first TD run came with just four seconds left in the half to make it 29-7 and then the Belton product went 79 yards early in the third to give the Cru a 44-7 lead.
This Crusader team is certainly not perfect yet. They gave up almost 300 yards of offense, fumbled three times and committed 15 penalties. That’s just not UMHB football.
But this rushing offense is dominant and it doesn’t matter if it’s Daniels, Thrasher or Josh Welch carrying the ball. Come playoff time (when the NCAA shafts the Crusaders and they play Trinity or Hardin-Simmons) this football team might end up back in Salem. Then the statement might be different. As in “Congratulations to the 2007 National Champions ...”
On a side note
It’s easy for me to write about UMHB, being an alumnus and all, and there is an interesting story brewing in Belton.
Wide receiver Patrick Oliver, who stands 6-7, caught two touchdown passes from Welch and finished the day with three receptions for 46 yards. Oliver is in his first season of football after a two-year career on the hardwood for Ken DeWeese’s basketball team.
Oliver transferred from Concordia-Austin and was named to the ASC All-West Division team three times in his career. He averaged 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior and helped the Cru to the ASC Tournament semifinals. In July of 2006 he signed a contract to play professionally in the Iceland Express League.
No matter the division, anyone who can earn a letter in two separate sports deserves to be applauded. And Oliver’s not just standing on the sidelines earning his letter. If anyone remembers, Welch’s favorite target in 2004 was long and lanky P.J. Williams. If Oliver can be anything like Williams was, this offense will have a little more versatility.
Conference comparison
Here’s a little comparison of the SCAC and the ASC through two weeks of the season.
The SCAC has an overall record of 9-3 through two weeks. The ASC isn’t faring so well with a 5-8 overall mark -- and that number is improved by the conference getting a win and a loss thanks to the Sul Ross/TLU non-conference game in Week 1.
Head-to-head the SCAC holds a 3-2 advantage thanks to Trinity’s wins over ETBU (23-0) and TLU (31-10). Millsaps beat Louisiana College 44-10 last Saturday. The ASC’s two wins came when Mississippi College won the Backyard Brawl 27-26 and then McMurry beat Austin College 41-35 last Saturday in Sherman.
Huntingdon is 1-1 after losing to UW-Oshkosh 34-3 on Saturday. They are 1-0 against the ASC thanks to a 26-13 season-opening win over McMurry. The Hawks don’t face any more teams from the SCAC or the ASC.
LaGrange is 0-2 overall and 0-1 against the SCAC thanks to a 28-21 loss to Rhodes on Saturday. The Panthers don’t face another SCAC opponent this season but do play Louisiana College and MC from the ASC as well as hosting Huntingdon for their homecoming game.
Speaking of Birmingham-Southern ...
As mentioned the Panthers got their first “win” since 1939 by beating the MC junior varsity 41-13. It was their first win since beating Howard 9-6 in 1939. The Panthers beat Camp McLellan 64-0 in their first game in 1918. They’ll no doubt get a stiffer challenge this week when they host SCAC opponent Rhodes in Hoover, Ala.
Regardless of the opponent, a win counts for something -- even if it’s essentially a junior varsity one -- for a new program and it wasn’t without some bright spots. Quarterback Joe Thigpen accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) and the offense tallied 472 yards while giving up only 43 rushing yards.
Rhodes will bring in their usual tough defense and then BSU goes to Trinity on Sept. 29 to face SCAC standard-bearer Trinity.
In case you’re wondering how other SCAC teams fared in their inaugural games:
• Trinity lost to Baylor 17-0 in 1900.
• DePauw lost the first and only game they played in 1884. No record of the Tigers opponent.
• Millsaps lost to Tulane 35-0 in 1900.
• Rhodes lost their only game of 1896. There is no record of the Lynx opponent or their head coach.
• Colorado College beat the University of Denver 12-0 in the first intercollegiate football game played west of the Mississippi River.
No mascot. No problem.
Despite the NCAA’s efforts to rob McMurry of their mascot and their history they’re back on the field in 2007 under new management.
Donny Gray is in his first year at the helm and led his squad to a 41-35 road win over Austin and had a couple of individual standouts help out.
Quarterback Rashon Lewis had 180 yards rushing and 180 yards passing in a Vince Young-like performance. He did throw four interceptions but the McMurry defense, led by Gene Vogelman and C.J. Villegas. Vogelman was a man possessed with six tackles, 2.5 for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on the evening. That stat line earned him the ASC Defensive Player of the Week award. Villegas returned a punt for a touchdown and Trey Brown and Andrew Wallace each had nine tackles in the game.
I picked McMurry to win just one game in this years Kickoff preview. I hope I was wrong. McMurry has a dynamic young coach and a raw but talented roster. Here’s hoping they finish at .500 or better.
Top performers
Brian Marynowitz was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to 12 tackles and two interceptions in a 31-10 revenge win against TLU. Last year TLU upset the Tigers 14-9. Marynowityz and the Black Flag have allowed just ten points all season. They shut out ETBU in the season opener, 23-0.
DePauw’s Jevon Pruitt had a pair of interceptions in a 47-7 win over Anderson. This DePauw team is less heralded than last year but could wreak more havoc as the season rolls on.
Colorado College’s Justin Alexander had 194 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 37-21 win over Pomona-Pitzer. The 194-yard total was second most in his career, behind a 224-yard day Alexander had in 2006. He’s scored at least one touchdown in four straight games.
My infatuation with Juan Joseph’s game continues, as he was 24-for-41 for 226 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters of work. Centre’s Tyler Hinkel posted career highs with five catches and 114 yards receiving in a 22-15 loss to Maryville.
Over in the ASC, ETBU’s Kyle Pope was the lone bright spot for the Tigers offense as he tied the conference record for field goals in a game with four. Pope connected from 47, 36, 32, and 27 to tie the mark MC’s Kyle Kruse set last season.
My favorite team no one is watching had another win on Saturday. Sul Ross beat Southwestern Assemblies of God 39-7 to move to 2-0. The offense rolled up 449 yards behind Austin Davidson, T.J. Barber and Joc Quise Brown.
Davidson threw for three touchdowns, Barber ran for 114 yards and a touchdowns and Brown caught six balls for 125 yards. That’s a nice line for Brown unless you remember his otherworldly line from last week: 10 catches, 256 yards.
Regional Rankings
Still hard to get a grip on who’s legit and who’s not since we’ve only played two weeks but I think the top team is hard to argue with. The UMHB Crusaders will sit at the top until someone beats them. I know it’s only week two but am I the only one clamoring for a Millsaps/UMHB showdown? Here’s what my regional rankings look like through Week 2:
5. Sul Ross 2-0
4. Hardin-Simmons 0-1
3. Millsaps 1-1
2. Trinity 2-0
1. UMHB 1-0
I ranked Sul Ross at No. 5 because they are the only team besides Trinity in either conference with a 2-0 mark. I also can’t drop Hardin-Simmons strictly because history says they’re going to bounce back with a nice little winning streak.
Nationally, UMHB sits at No. 3 in the D3football.com poll. Trinity is No. 17 while Hardin-Simmons moved up from No. 22 to No. 19 despite a bye week. Mississippi College received votes in the poll.
Before I go I need to mention something I failed to in my first column. Ron Boerger did this column before I did and better than I do and he did a fantastic job covering the SCAC for Kickoff 2007. Ron is a D3football.com icon and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out his efforts publicly.
Once again, any comments or suggestions are welcome. If you know of a story like Patrick Oliver’s from your area, let me know. I’d love to share it with the rest of the South. Holler at me at chris.allman@d3football.com.