ABILENE, Texas — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team earned a 26-14 road victory over McMurry University Saturday afternoon in Abilene. The win improved the Cru to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
McMurry opened the scoring with a 26-yard rushing touchdown at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead. UMHB responded on its next possession, as
Carson Horton connected with
BJ Stewart for a 64-yard touchdown pass at the 8:31 mark.
Dax Dunham added the extra point to bring the Cru within one.
UMHB took its first lead early in the second quarter when an errant snap on a McMurry punt resulted in a safety, giving the Cru two points and a 9-8 advantage. The Cru extended its lead later in the quarter after
Thony Tshitenge intercepted a McMurry pass and returned it two yards to the 10-yard line. Three plays later, Horton found
Will McClintock for an eight-yard touchdown pass at the 4:52 mark. Dunham's extra point put UMHB ahead 16-8 and the Cru carried that lead into halftime.
McMurry cut into the deficit with a two-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, bringing the score to 16-14. The War Hawks lined up to go for two but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed them back to the 23 where the UMHB defense denied the attempt to keep the lead. The Cru responded in the fourth quarter, putting together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown reception by
Trace Meullion from Horton at the 10:51 mark.
Dunham capped the scoring with a 45-yard field goal at the 3:27 mark of the fourth quarter, securing the 26-14 conference road victory for UMHB.
Horton completed 17 of 24 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Stewart led the receiving corps with seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Meullion added three receptions for 57 yards and a score. McClintock also hauled in a touchdown reception.
The Cru defense limited McMurry to 220 yards of total offense and tallied two interceptions. Tshitenge and
Cody Chapman each recorded an interception, while the defense combined for four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Joey Johnson led UMHB with eight tackles while eight different Crusaders tallied tackles for loss.
UMHB returns to action Saturday, October 31, hosting Schreiner University at 1 p.m. at Crusader Stadium in Belton.
