BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin Baylor football team blanked the Belhaven Blazers for the first time this season, earning a 29-0-win Saturday afternoon in Belton. The win improved the Cru to 8-0 on the season and 7-0 in league play. The Blazers fell to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in ASC action.
 
UMHB went 89 yards in six plays on its opening drive to take a lead over the Blazers. Ryan Redding capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run to give the Cru advantage. UMHB's defense forced three punts and a turnover on downs on the Blazers' following offensive possessions. Redding and the UMHB offense took over with 1:09 left in the first half and drove 46 yards for another score. Redding hit K.J. Miller with back-to-back completions for 45 yards to put the Cru in field goal range. Avila knocked in a kick from 25 yards out to put UMHB up by 10 at the half.
 
Miller gave the Cru positive field position after the Blazers' first offensive drive of the second half with a 45-yard punt return. UMHB's field goal attempt was blocked on that drive and the Blazers took over at their own 34-yard line. The Cru allowed the Blazers just three yards of offense in that drive, forcing a punt to take over at their own 48-yard line. Aphonso Thomas capped the 52-yard drive with a one-run punch to put UMHB up 17-0 with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
 
The Cru extended the lead with a pair of fourth quarter scores. Thomas ran in another score from 11 yards out at the 8:30 mark before Montana Miller plowed his way to the end zone at 2:05, sealing the 29-0 win for the Cru.
 
UMHB totaled 291 yards of offense in the contest. Ryan Redding threw 8-for-20 for 114 yards and added 51 yards on the ground. Thomas led UMHB's rushing game with 61 yards and two scores while Brenton Martin caught four passes for 57 yards as UMHB's reception leader.
 
Defensively, the Cru allowed the Blazers 237 yards but kept them out of the red zone. Jefferson Fritz led UMHB with 10 tackles, including eight solo efforts, and one tackle for loss. Jacob Mueller added eight tackles and a quarterback hurry while Akeem Jackson went for seven tackles. Khyren Deal recorded an interception for UMHB's takeaway, setting up the Cru's final scoring drive.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, November 6^th in a 12 p.m. contest against Howard Payne University at Crusader Stadium in Belton.