BROWNWOOD, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team produced a 31-second game-winning drive to earn a 27-24 win over Howard Payne University Saturday afternoon in Brownwood.
 
Howard Payne opened the game with a 34-yard field goal to take a quick lead. UMHB responded with a 58-yard drive, capitalized by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kyle King to Brandon Jordan for a 7-3 Cru lead. Howard Payne responded with a touchdown late in the first, taking a 10-7 lead over the Cru.
 
HPU intercepted a UMHB pass at the beginning of the second quarter, taking over at the UMHB five yardline. The Crusader defense held, forcing the Yellow Jackets to settle for a field goal and a 13-7 lead. UMHB drove but wasn't able to respond until the 00:27 mark. Johnny Smith-Rider intercepted a pass and returned it to the Yellow Jacket 17 yardline before Jerry Day, Jr. caught a pass from King for the score. UMHB went into halftime with a 14-13 advantage.
 
UMHB extended the lead in the third quarter with a 24-yard field goal from Anthony Avila. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 41-yarder to cut the gap to 17-16 to end the third. The fourth quarter played scoreless until Kobe Giles set up a scoring opportunity for the Cru with a one-handed interception. Giles picked off a pass, giving the Cru the ball in the red zone. King hit Brandon Jordan for a 19-yard pass before Aphonso Thomas punched in the score, putting UMHB up 24-16 with 10:35 left to play.
 
Howard Payne stayed alive, scoring with 31 seconds left in the contest to tie the game. Landon McKinney completed a contested pass to Jordan Carroll for a six-yard score. The Yellow Jackets converted a two-point conversion with a pass to Otis Lanier to tie the contest at 24 with 21 seconds left in regulation.
 
King opened the next drive with a 24-yard rush to the UMHB 49 yardline. He followed that with a two-yard pass to K.J. Miller and a nine-yard throw to Jamaal Hamilton to put the Cru at the Yellow Jacket 40. Hamilton caught King's next pass for 13 yards to put the Cru in field goal range. Anthony Avila sealed the win for the Cru, kicking in a 44-yarder for the 27-24 win!
 
King completed 18 passes for 195 yards and two scores in the contest. Hamilton led all receivers with 67 yards, followed by Brandon Jordan with 51. Jordan and Jerry Day, Jr. also added touchdown passes for the Cru. Durand Hill led the Crusader defense with 18 tackles, adding two tackles for loss while Johnny Smith Rider had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.
 
Avila had a poster-day for the Cru, going 3-for-3 in point-after attempts and 2-for-2 in field goals. Avila kicked through a 24 yarder and 44 yarder, adding 263 yards in kickoffs with a 52.6 average and one touchback.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, November 12^th at Crusader Stadium in Belton. The Cru will kick off against McMurry University in the regular-season finale at 1 p.m. The game will also feature recognition of the 2022 football senior class as well as honor local first responders and military. Admission for first responders and military is free at any ticket gate on game day.