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Salem, Virginia – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team could not generate enough offense to overcome several costly mistakes as the Cru fell to Mount Union 12-0 in Stagg Bowl XLV Friday night in Salem, Virginia. UMHB lost for the first time since December 2015 and had its 29-game winning streak snapped with the loss. The Purple Raiders win their NCAA record 13th Division III football title with the win.
The Cru had a chance to open the scoring when UMHB drove to the Purple Raiders' 16-yard line on the final play of the first quarter. A run for no gain, three-yard loss on a pass and a sack set up a fourth and 18 for the Cru. Carl Robinson III hit Bryce Wilkerson for a 12-yard gain, but UMHB turned the ball over on downs. Wilkerson returned a Mount Union punt 58 yards for a touchdown on the next drive, but a running into the kicker penalty wiped out the score. The Cru would go on to turn the ball over on downs. Mount Union threatened to break the deadlock, but Jefferson Fritz intercepted a D'Angelo Fulford pass at the goal line to end that drive, but Robinson was intercepted on the next play to get the ball back for Mount Union. Alex Louthan hit a 31-yard field goal to give the Purple Raiders a 3-0 lead with 1:10 left in the first half. It marked the first time UMHB had trailed all season as the Cru was held to just 92 yards of total offense in the half.
Fritz intercepted another Fulford pass midway through the third quarter to end another Mount Union drive. After a Cru first down, Robinson was intercepted by Louis Berry to take momentum away from UMHB again. The Cru defense stepped up to force a turnover on downs, but the UMHB offense was once again able to produce. On the next possession, Fulford lofted a pass towards the end zone, the ball bounced off two Cru defenders hands and into the arms of Purple Raiders receiver Justin Hill for a 42-yard score and a 10-0 Mount Union lead. Nick Brish broke through to sack Robinson for a safety on the next UMHB possession to stretch the lead to 12-0 and effectively put the game out of reach.
The Cru offense managed just 144 yards of total offense in the game with only 38 of those coming on the ground. UMHB turned the ball over on downs twice, had two passes intercepted and gave up eight sacks. The Cru defense held the Purple Raiders to 229 yards of total offense with 92 of those coming on the ground. UMHB intercepted a pair of passes but managed just one sack.
Robinson was 11-19 passing for 106 yards and he ran for nine yards on 16 carries. Jonel Reed caught six passes for 67 yards and Markeith Miller added 35 rushing yards on 20 attempts. The Cru played much of the game without injured receiver T.J. Josey. Tommy Brown and Brazos Fuller topped the UMHB defense with seven tackles apiece and Fritz had two picks.
Fulford was 12-21 passing for 137 yards and a score and he added 27 rushing yards on six carries. He threw two interceptions after being picked off just three times through the first 14 games of the year. Hill caught three passes for 73 yards and the game's only touchdown. Jawanza Evans-Morris rushed for 45 yards on 18 attempts. Brish posted 11 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.
This is the first time UMHB has been shut out since Mississippi College posted a 28-0 win over the Cru in 1998. It is just the second shutout UMHB has suffered in 249 games in program history. The Cru was the defending Division III National Champion and finished the year at 14-1. Mount Union closed out the season at 15-0 and even the all-time series between the two teams at 2-2.
UMHB was playing in the Stagg Bowl for the third time in program history. The loss closes out the careers of 13 Cru seniors.
