BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team opened the much-anticipated 2025 season with a 30-23 win over Bethel University Tennessee (NAIA) Saturday night in Belton. The Cru used a strong second and third quarter to overtake the Wildcats and open the season at 1-0.
 
Bethel drove to the UMHB 30 on the opening drive but a forced fumble and recovery by Te'Ron Brown gave UMHB the ball back at the 50-yard line. The Wildcats responded with a pick six on the Cru's first offensive play, going ahead 7-0 at the 11:54 mark in the first quarter. UMHB responded, driving back down the field into Wildcat territory but another interception at the Bethel 12-yard line ended that effort. The Wildcats moved the ball near midfield but a penalty and a sack from Gaige Sanders forced them into a fourth-and-24, ending the series.
 
A combined 29 points were scored in the second quarter. Bethel opened with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Drew Chance but a blocked point-after attempt returned 87 yards by Joey Johnson moved the score to 13-2. UMHB kept that momentum, driving 75 yards on seven plays with a 10-yard Kirkland Michaux rush for a Crusader touchdown. Brandon McGruder ended Bethel's next drive with a strip sack. Te'Ron Brown returned that fumble 56 yards for another UMHB score, the fourth longest fumble recovery for a touchdown in program history. Bethel answered two series later, driving 42 yards on six plays for a touchdown and a 20-16 halftime lead.
 
The Cru defense shut out the Wildcats in the third quarter as the offense kept rolling. Kamerin Ferguson opened the second half with a 70-yard rush, putting UMHB back on top 23-20. Defense forced a pair of three-and-outs on the Bethel offense and the Cru tacked on another touchdown at 10:40 when Michaux connected with B.J. Stewart for a 70-yard score.
 
Bethel drove down to the Crusader 37 on the next series but UMHB's defense held on fourth down. Bethel added one more score with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to one possession. The Wildcats got another chance with 1:38 to go but Deion Drinkard intercepted a pass with 1:05 left to seal the win for the Cru.  
 
Michaux went 19-for-25, throwing for 218 yards and one score in his Crusader debut. Kamerin Ferguson led UMHB with 148 yards on the ground while Stewart was the leading receiver, tallying 108 yards.
 
Layden Roque led UMHB with nine tackles, followed by Joey Johnson with six. Dominick Battle III and Te'Ron Brown both forced turnovers while Brown also recovered two fumbles. UMHB's defense totaled eight sacks in the game.
 
Bethel had 335 yards of offense to the Cru's 362. The Wildcats totaled 108 yards on the ground and 227 yards in the air. UMHB's offensive line did not allow a single sack in the contest.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, September 20^th in an 11 a.m. contest against University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Belton for Paint it Gold weekend.