WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team jumped to an early lead against No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Saturday in Whitewater, cruising to a 35-17 win over the Warhawks. The win marked just the sixth regular-season non-conference loss the Warhawks have suffered since 2004 and just the 18th home loss for UWW since 2000. The Cru improved to 2-1 on the season while UWW fell to 2-1 overall.
UMHB's defense came out firing on all cylinders. Te'Ron Brown pressured the UWW quarterback with 12:44 left in the first, forcing a desperation throw that Durand Hill intercepted and returned for a touchdown to open the game with a 7-0 Cru lead. The Cru recorded another turnover three plays later when Da'Marion Morris picked off another pass. The Cru offense was forced to punt with 10:17 left and downed the kick at the UWW three-yard line. Morris struck again three plays later, recording another interception, and returning it for the Cru's second score of the contest.
The Warhawks forced a turnover on the Cru's next possession but the defense responded again with Robert Williams forcing and recovering a UWW fumble for another turnover. Phe completed five passes in the ensuing drive, capping the series with a 30-yard touchdown throw for a 21-0 Crusader lead. The Warhawks were limited to just 51 yards of offense with four first-quarter turnovers.
The Warhawks added a second-quarter score off a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown. UW-Whitewater forced a turnover at 2:03 and threatened to score but UMHB's defense answered with Durand Hill recovering a fumble on the Cru 39-yard line with 1:43 to play in the half. Phe opened that drive with a 37-yard completion to A.J. Williams before completing a pass to T.J. Rone for another 12 yards. Asa Osbourn scored on the next play, finding the end zone off an 11-yard pass from Phe for a 28-7 Cru margin.
UMHB totaled 158 yards on 28 offensive plays, totaling 11 completions in the half. The first half saw eight total turnovers with UMHB winning the battle 5-3 in recoveries.
UWW opened the third quarter with a scoring drive. The Warhawks set up with a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line but the Crusader defense held, forcing a 21-yard field goal. Both teams exchanged punts before Kamerin Ferguson broke loose on the Cru's next series, taking off for 96 yards to score a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and breaking the program record for longest rushing touchdown. The Warhawks drove into the red zone again but the Cru held, forcing a turnover on downs to preserve the 25-point lead.
The Warhawks added a fourth-quarter score with a blocked punt returned for another touchdown. UWW followed with a recovered kick and drove all the way to the Cru's six yard-line before Daniel Keith recovered a fumble to seal the win for UMHB.
UMHB totaled 307 yards of offense in the contest, putting up 199 yards passing and 108 yards on the ground. Phe went 16-for-22 with 199 yards and one touchdown in the air. A.J. Williams led the Cru's receiving ranks with three grabs for 100 yards and a score, followed by Asa Osbourn with three grabs, 26 yards and a touchdown. Kamerin Ferguson was the Cru's ground leader, rushing for 112 yards on six carries.
The Cru defense did not allow a single offensive touchdown in the contest, giving up just three points. Durand Hill and Da'Marion Morris led the Cru with 10 tackles each. Hill added one fumble recovery and one interception while Morris had one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, two interceptions and one pass breakup. Gavin Brzezinski added six tackles and two breakups and Justin Hines-Moore had six tackles and two sacks. UMHB totaled five interceptions and three fumble recoveries in the contest.
The win marks the first regular-season win for the Cru against the Warhawks and the second win in Whitewater. UMHB returns to action on Saturday, September 28th in a 1 p.m. contest against John Melvin University at Crusader Stadium in Belton.
