BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team dominated East Texas Baptist University Saturday in Belton, earning a 62-14 win over the Tigers. The win improved the Cru to 5-3 on the season and 4-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the Tigers fell to 4-4 overall and 0-4 in league play.
 
B.J. Stewart returned the Tigers' punt 46 yards on the opening drive, giving UMHB the ball on the 15-yard line. The Cru used four plays to score with Asa Osbourn punching it in from one yard out in a wildcat formation for the score.  
 
Izeal Jones tipped a pass that was intercepted by Samuel Steffe at 7:03 in the first quarter, setting up another scoring drive for the Cru. Kirkland Michaux found Stewart in the bottom right corner of the end zone with Stewart making an acrobatic catch for the touchdown. UMHB ended the Tigers' next drive with an interception by Da'Marion Morris. UMHB drove 19 yards with Jack Hight hitting a 35-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead. Kamerin Ferguson tacked on one more first-quarter score with 35 seconds to go in the quarter, sending UMHB into the second frame with a 24-0 lead.
 
Brandon McGruder set up a fourth-and-12 with a big sack on the Tigers' next series with Stewart returning the ensuing punt 61 yards for another Cru touchdown. B.J. Stewart opened the second quarter with a 61-yard punt return, putting the Cru up by 31.
 
Stewart opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown, putting the Cru up by 31. A big sack from Te'Ron Brown set the Cru up with good field percentage halfway through the third quarter with Michaux hitting Stewart up the middle for a 50-yard touchdown. Luke Vidal made a contested grab at the 15-yard line on the Cru's next possession and Kamerin Ferguson followed with a touchdown run, putting UMHB up 52-7 with 5:31 to go in the third. The Cru tacked on another field goal with 11:35 to play. Daunte Blake ran in a 14-yarder with 4:56 to play as the Tigers tacked on one more touchdown at the end of the contest, sealing the 62-14 win.
 
UMHB totaled 472 yards of offense in the contest, averaging 7.61 yards per play. Kirkland Michaux totaled 216 yards on 16 completions with two touchdowns while Carson Horton added three completions for 19 yards. Kamerin Ferguson put up another 100-yard contest with seven carries and two touchdowns while Trent Lacy added 41 yards and Horton had 37. Stewart led the receiving ranks with seven grabs, totaling 96 yards and two scores. Luke Vidal added five catches for 83 yards while Asa Osbourn totaled 50 yards of offense and one touchdown.  
 
Gavin Brzezinski led the defense with 10 tackles. Brandon McGruder totaled four tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, followed by Gaige Sanders with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Brody Woods forced one fumble with Steffe and Morris each recording an interception.
 
Stewart was also a big contributor in the return game, running 112 yards on five punt returns with one touchdown and 100 yards on one kickoff return for a score. Stewart is the first Crusader to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, November 8^th in a 1 p.m. contest against Hardin-Simmons University at Crusader Stadium in Belton.