BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team cruised to a 54-0 win over Huntingdon College on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Crusader Stadium in Belton. The win marked the first of the 2022 NCAA Division III Playoffs for the Cru and 17^th consecutive first-round win.
 
Huntingdon drove deep into Crusader territory on their first offensive drive but a fumble recovery from UMHB's Mason Cavness gave the Cru it's first turnover of the game. UMHB followed that with a 71-yard scoring drive, capped by a 20-yard rush up the middle from Aphonso Thomas.
 
Linebackers Johnny Smith-Rider and Durand Hill teamed up to thwart the Hawks' next drive. Smith-Rider tipped a pass to Hill, who secured the interception and takeaway at the Cru 36-yardline. Both teams traded punts on their next drives before UMHB drove 50 yards on eight plays for another score. Brandon Jordan caught a nine-yard pass in the end zone for the 14-point lead.
 
UMHB opened the second quarter with a 97-yard scoring drive. The Cru took a two-yard loss on the first play but Brandon Jordan caught a 27-yard pass to get the Cru moving. Kenneth Cormier, Jr. went for 35 yards on the next three plays with 13 ground yards and a 22-yard reception. King followed that with back-to-back completions to K.J. Miller for 37 yards, including the 20-yard touchdown grab.
 
Huntingdon strung together a 13-play, 46-yard drive to close the first half but their 29-yard field goal attempt went wide to preserve the shutout. UMHB limited the Hawks to just 124 total offensive yards in the first half, allowing just three third-down conversions and forcing three punts.
 
Kyle King opened the second half with a 50-yard touchdown pass to K.J. Miller on the second play from scrimmage to put the Cru ahead four scores. Kenneth Cormier, Jr. was the next Crusader to score, putting six on the board with a 17-yard run to the end zone. Jamaal Hamilton followed that with a 47-yard touchdown reception, putting the Cru up 42-0 after the first three frames.
 
Cormier, Jr. opened the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown punch, capping an 80-yard drive for a 48-0 lead. Montana Miller followed that with a 15-yard touchdown run halfway through the quarter, giving UMHB the 54-0 win. UMHB's defense held the Hawks scoreless to secure the shutout, recording the program's fourth postseason shutout.
 
UMHB's offense totaled 651 yards on 65 plays. King completed 18 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns in the contest. K.J. Miller totaled six catches for 145 yards and two scores while Jamaal Hamilton added four catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Jordan added two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown while Kenneth Miller, Jr. led the Crusader ground game with 91 total yards. Montana Miller, Aphonso Thomas and Kenneth Cormier, Jr. all ran in touchdowns for the Cru as UMHB totaled 289 yards on the ground.
 
The Cru limited Huntingdon to 255 yards in the game with just 111 rushing yards. Chaka Watson led the Cru with eight tackles, followed by Durand Hill with seven. Trey Belyeu-Witcher and Sante Parker, Jr. both forced fumbles while Mason Cavness added a fumble recovery. Hill also added one interception for three total turnovers.
 
UMHB advances to the NCAA Second Round and will travel to Trinity University for a noon kickoff on Saturday, November 26^th. More information on that game will be available at www.cruathletics.com.