MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team fell victim to a second-half surge at Bethel (Tenn.), falling 20-10 to the Wildcats Saturday in McKenzie. The loss opens the Cru at 0-1 while Bethel improved to 2-0.
 
Bethel drove 40 yards to open the first quarter but Justin Hines-Moore thwarted the effort with a sack to force a turnover on downs. UMHB responded on their second drive of the game, pushing seven plays for 40 yards, capped by an Edwin Lopez 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 Cru lead.
 
The Cru held that lead until the 8:23 mark in the second quarter when Jacious Clark forced a fumble off a quick reception, returning it 70 yards for the go-ahead score. The Wildcats intercepted on the Cru's next offensive series but UMHB's defense held on at the end, limiting the Wildcats to just 24 yards and holding Bethel to a field goal. The Cru drove again late but wasn't able to score, sending the game into halftime at a 10-3 deficit.
 
UMHB totaled 160 yards of offense in the first half, completing 10 passes and averaging four yards per rush. The Cru limited the Wildcats to just 93 yards of offense with four completions and 3.8 yards per carry.
 
The Cru quickly evened the contest on the first possession of the second half, driving 66 yards for the score. Kamerin Ferguson and Asa Osbourn combined for eight carries on the drive before Isaac Phe found Christopher Gacayan for back-to-back receptions. Gacayan caught a 21-yard pass from Phe before scoring on a 15-yard throw to even the game at 10.
 
Both teams traded empty possessions until the 10:47 mark of the fourth quarter when Oziel Hernandez kicked a 43-yard field goal to put the Wildcats on top. Bethel added another score later in the quarter and thwarted the Cru's next offensive drive with an interception.
 
Bethel held on through the remainder of the quarter to secure the 20-10 win. Phe threw 19 completions for 186 yards and a score. Ferguson led the Cru with 77 yards on the ground while Jerry Day Jr. and Christopher Gacayan each led with five receptions.
 
Defensively, UMHB held the Wildcats to 285 yards of offense on 63 plays. Durand Hill and Gavin Brzezinski led the Cru with nine tackles each. Hill had one sack for seven yards lost while Brzezinski had an interception for the Cru. UMHB totaled two sacks and six tackles for loss in the contest, forcing one fumble with one fumble recovery.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, September 14^th in a 6 p.m. contest against Westgate Christian University at Crusader Stadium in Belton.