WHITEWATER, WI – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team dropped a close 28-24 decision to No. 6 UW-Whitewater Saturday afternoon in Whitewater. The loss dropped the Cru to 1-1 while the Warhawks also moved to 1-1 on the season.
 
UMHB opened with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a one-yard punch from Aphonso Thomas for a game-opening touchdown. The Warhawks responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive to even the game. UWW took their first lead of the game with 6:03 left in the second quarter, capping a 95-yard drive that ate up 11:15 off the clock with a 17-yard touchdown grab from Tyler Holte. UMHB got three more points on the board to end the half with a 43-yard field goal from Anthony Avila.
 
The Cru defense held the Warhawks to a punt in the opening drive of the third quarter then took the lead back with a touchdown at 11:26 mark. Brandon Jordan caught a pair of passes in that drive for 31 total yards before Aphonso Thomas punched in a two-yard run for the score. The Warhawks scored again with 5:54 left in the third quarter when Evan Lewandowski found Tyler Holte for 18 yards and a touchdown.
 
Kyle King found Brandon Jordan again for 11 yards and a score with 2:55 left in the third, giving the Cru a 24-21 lead with one quarter left to play. UMHB had a big chance to score late in the fourth but couldn't find the end zone, giving the Warhawks the ball with 2:47 left to play. UWW drove 99 yards for the score, with Evan Lewandowski finding Tommy Coates for nine yards and the lead.
 
UMHB got the ball back with just 19 second left but couldn't score again, giving the 28-24 win to the Warhawks. King complete 15 of 20 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. K.J. Miller led UMHB with nine receptions for 109 yards while Brandon Jordan added five catches for 107 yards. Aphonso Thomas was the Cru's leading rusher, totaling 69 yards on 17 carries with two scores.
 
Johnny Smith-Rider totaled eight tackles with one tackle for loss while Omari Frazier and Jordan See each added five tackles.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, September 17^th in the American Southwest Conference opener against Southwestern University. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. at Crusader Stadium. UMHB will also officially dedicate Fredenburg Field during pregame of that contest.