WHITEWATER, WI –The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III National Championship with a 24-7 win over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Saturday afternoon in Whitewater. UMHB improved to 14-0 on the season while the Warhawks fell to 13-1.  
 
UMHB and the Warhawks went back-to-back in a scoreless first quarter with both teams ending their offensive possessions in punts. UMHB drove late in the first quarter and went into the second with a third-and-one at the UWW 46-yardline. Kyle King threw three consecutive passes for 41 yards before connecting with Brandon Jordan for the first score of the game.
 
Mikkah Hackett intercepted an underthrown ball on the Warhawks' next possession and UMHB capitalized with a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive, capped by another Jordan touchdown catch. The Cru defense held on the next possession to force a UWW punt. UMHB drove to the Warhawks' 27-yard line before Anthony Avila put three more points on the board with a 44-yard field goal at the 6:01 mark. UW-Whitewater responded late, driving into the Crusader red zone before Max Meylor hit Tyler Holte for nine yards and a score with 1:04 left in the half.
 
The Cru added one more score in the second half when Kenneth Cormier punched in a one-yard run for six more points. UMHB's defense held the Warhawks scoreless in the second half to secure the Cru's third trip to the NCAA national championship game.
 
King led UMHB's offense, throwing 22-for-23 with two touchdowns and 309 yards in the air. Brandon Jordan led UMHB's receiving efforts, catching 11 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns while Aphonso Thomas rushed for 84 yards on 26 carries. Defensively, Akeem Jackson led the Cru with 11 tackles and one forced fumble. Keith Gipson added nine tackles while Khevon Shepard added six. Pete Smith and Sante Parker both recorded tackles for loss while Hackett and Jackson both recorded turnovers. UMHB totaled 378 yards of offense and limited the Warhawks to 271.
 
UMHB will face reigning national-champion North Central (Illinois) in Stagg Bowl XLVIII. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. (CT) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton Ohio. Tickets are $10 for students and children, $20 for general admission and $35 for club level seating. For more information about Stagg Bowl XLVIII, visit https://go.umhb.edu/stagg-bowl.