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Belton, TX –
Javicz Jones intercepted a McMurry University two-point conversion attempt with less than two minutes remaining to preserve the lead, and the Cru used another pick with just 11 seconds left to preserve the win as 3
rd-ranked UMHB held off McMurry 28-27 in American Southwest Conference showdown Saturday night in Belton. The Cru withstood a 56-minute lightning delay and the War Hawks furious second-half comeback to improve to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the ASC. McMurry falls to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the ASC with the loss.
UMHB jumped out to a 28-6 lead with 8:41 left in the second quarter before the lightning delay hit. McMurry would dominate play the rest of the way and went for the win in the final two minutes. Jake Mullin hit Delfonte Diamond with a six-yard TD pass with 9:31 left in the third quarter to cut the UMHB lead to 28-14 following a two-point conversion. UMHB was driving toward a lead-stretching score midway through the fourth when D.J. Baiza picked off a pass and took it back 81 yards for a score to pull McMurry to within 28-21. The Cru would pin the War Hawks at their own nine-yard line, but McMurry drove 91 yards in nine plays and Mullin hit R.J. Long with a 15-yard scoring strike to cut the gap to 28-27 with 1:47 to go. The War Hawks went for the win, but Jones was in perfect position to pick off Mullin's conversion attempt. McMurry would recover the ensuing onside kick attempt, but was whistled for illegal touching, forcing a re-kick. This time,
David Wassermann recovered for the Cru. UMHB could not run out the clock and McMurry would have one more chance with 24 seconds left. Mullin threw an incompletion before
Eric Nelson picked off his next pass at the 50-yard line to clinch the win.
UMHB dominated the first half, storming back from a 6-0 deficit with 28 straight points.
LiDarral Bailey scored on runs of three and one yard to give UMHB a 14-6 lead.
Darius Wilson added a 13-yard scoring run and
Ryan Metcalf stripped the ball from Mullin and went 15 yards for a TD on the final play before the horn sounded the lightning delay.
The Cru would not score after the teams returned to the field 56 minutes later, but the UMHB defense made what would prove to be a game-saving stand on the final series of the first half. McMurry drove to the Cru one-yard line, but UMHB forced three straight incompletions to keep it a 28-6 game at the half.
Wilson finished with a career-high 222 rushing yards on 30 carries and Bailey was 12-20 passing for 138 yards. The Cru rolled up 323 yards on the ground and finished with 461 yards of total offense. UMHB turned the ball over three times and killed itself with 13 penalties for 137 yards.
Ty Dooley topped UMHB with 10 tackles and Jones had nine to go with his interception on the two-point play.
Mullin was 35-57 for 288 yards and three scores for McMurry, but he was picked off twice and committed the costly fumble before the delay. Long hauled in nine passes for 100 yards and Diamond added nine grabs for 84 yards and two scores. The War Hawks only managed 309 yards of total offense. Austin Cleere led the McMurry defense with 12 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
UMHB will return to action with a 1:00 PM kickoff at Hardin-Simmons next Saturday. The Cowboys were shocked by Mississippi College 45-28 tonight. The Cru has now won 11 straight games against McMurry in a series that will likely end with the War Hawks move to Division II next season.
