PUYALLUP, Wash. – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team improved to 2-0 with a 29-6 win at Pacific Lutheran University Saturday afternoon in Washington.
Luke Vidal returned the opening-series' punt 54 yards for a touchdown to put the Cru on top 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest. UMHB forced punts on the Lutes' next two possessions with sacks from
Lynford Noriega,
Alyric Brown,
Thony Tshitenge and
Valentin Regalado.
UMHB held the one-possession lead through the first quarter.
Keilan Carver intercepted a pass at the 14:12 mark of the second frame and UMHB marched downfield with
Rance Purser knocking through a 36-yard field goal for a 10-0 UMHB lead.
Turnovers plagued both teams in the first with a combined three interceptions and two lost fumbles. UMHB's defense limited the Lutes to 126 offensive yards with two sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and six tackles for loss. Offensively, UMHB tallied seven completions with 86 yards in the air and added 33 yards on the ground.
BJ Stewart opened the second half returning the opening kick 92 yards for a score, putting the Cru up 17-0. UMHB's defense forced a punt on the next possession and drove back downfield with
Maurice Moore using a five-yard punch to give the Cru a 23-0 lead.
The Lutes ended the third quarter with a long drive, extending into the fourth when Jaxon Budd connected with Darius Sum for a nine-yard touchdown. UMHB answered with another scoring drive, capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass from
Carson Horton to
Will McClintock for a 29-6 lead. UMHB's defense held the Lutes scoreless through the remainder of the quarter to seal the win.
Carson Horton totaled 14 completions on 23 attempts for 221 yards and one touchdown in the contest.
Maurice Moore totaled 10 rushes for 45 yards while McClintock led the receiver core with 54 yards.
BJ Stewart and
Trace Meullion each tallied four receptions in the contest.
Gavin Brzezinski led the Cru with eight tackles, adding two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one interception in the contest.
Brody Woods,
Thony Tshitenge and
Alyric Brown each added seven tackles with Tshitenge totaling 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Keilan Carver added an interception with six tackles while
Joey Johnson also had six tackles, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
Stewart totaled 126 yards in returns with one touchdown while
Kade Kubecka had three punts for a total of 105 yards.
UMHB returns to action in the home opener on Saturday, September 19th with a 12 p.m. kickoff against Endicott at Crusader Stadium in Belton.
