ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football used an explosive second quarter to secure a 30-point win over Hardin-Simmons University Saturday in Abilene. UMHB topped the Cowboys 50-20 in the contest, shutting out the Cowboys offense in the second half for the second consecutive year.
 
Hardin-Simmons used a three-play, 45-yard drive to gain a lead with 11:27 left in the first quarter. UMHB responded with back-to-back field goals from Anthony Avila to even the contest at six after the first quarter.
 
HSU opened the second quarter with a six-play, 75-yard drive to find the end zone again with Kevi Evans catching the 43-yard pass from Gaylon Glynn. Jerry Day, Jr. responded for UMHB, catching a 44-yard pass from Kyle King for six points and the tie with 12:26 left in the second. That score held until the 5:33 mark when Anthony Avila kicked his third field goal of the game to put the Cru up by three. The Cowboys responded again when Kevi Evans caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Glynn for a 20-16 HSU lead.
 
UMHB took over from there, scoring 20 unanswered points in the final 3:42 of the second quarter. K.J. Miller returned a Cowboy kickoff down to the HSU three yard line. Brandon Jordan capped the long return with a four-yard touchdown grab from King for another Cru score. UMHB's defense scored the next 14 points with back-to-back fumble recoveries from Johnny Smith-Rider and Durand Hill. Smith-Rider forced a fumble at 3:30 left in the second and returned it 15 yards for the score before Trey Witcher forced another HSU fumble at 2:56 with Durand Hill returning that one 33 yards for the score. Kenneth Cormier, Jr. punched in a pair of third quarter runs for two more touchdowns, sealing the 30-point win for the Cru.
 
Kyle King threw 21 completions for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Aphonso Thomas led the Cru with 70 total yards rushing while Cormier added 56 yards and a pair of scores. K.J. Miller was the Cru's leading receiver, totaling 9 yards for 94 yards. Jerry Day, Jr. added 116 yards on four grabs while he and Brandon Jordan each caught touchdown passes. 
 
Johnny Smith-Rider and Titus Dunk led the Cru with six tackles each while Smith-Rider added one forced fumble, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. Durand Hill added two fumble recoveries while Omari Frazier and Trey Witcher each recorded forced fumbles. Frazier also added an interception, giving the Cru four turnovers in the contest. 
 
Anthony Avila went three-for-three in field goals and added five extra point kicks in the contest. Miller led the Cru's return game with four returns for 135 yards while Kyle King totaled three punts for 123 yards and one inside the 20.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, October 1^st in a 2 p.m. contest against Austin College at Crusader Stadium in Belton.

(Note: This article was updated on September 26, 2022 at 9:13 PM)