Above photo by Russell Marwitz/True To The Cru/russellmarwitz.com
BELTON- The UMHB football team’s season opener is finally here, 260 days after the Crusaders captured the Stagg Bowl title on Dec. 17, 2021, in a 57-24 victory over North Central. Here is everything you need to know before Saturday night’s highly-anticipated matchup plays out.
No. 1 UMHB vs. No. 11 Muhlenberg
Date: Sept. 3
Place: Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas
Time: 6:00 p.m. CST
Streaming: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umhb/
Radio: 93.9 FM/1330 AM
Pregame Reading
3 takeaways from Larry Harmon’s first press conference of the fall
The series
This marks the first meeting between the two programs.
About the opponent: No. 11 Muhlenberg Mules
Head Coach: Nate Milne (4th Season)
Conference: Centennial Conference
Season Record (overall/conf): 0-0, 0-0
2021 Record (overall/conf): 11-2, 8-1 (Notable results: W vs Johns Hopkins, 21-6, W @ Delaware Valley, 14-0)
Names to know (stats from 2021):
OFFENSE: Sr. RB Seth Paluck (15 carries, 69 yards, 4.6 yards/carry in 2 games), Sr. WR Michael Feaster (104 receptions, 1,241 yds, 13 TD), Sr. TE Zach Deldin (10 receptions, 108 yds, 3 TD)
DEFENSE: Sr. CB John Washington (33 solo tackles, 41.0 total tackles, 3 INT), Sr. S John Lohner (35 solo tackles, 40.0 total tackles, 6.5 TFL), Sr. DE Quentin Ogren (34.0 total tackles, 15.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks), Sr. LB Owen Daddona (22 solo tackles, 39.0 total tackles, 6.5 TFL)
National Offense Ranking in 2021 (Yards per game): No. 64 (397.7 yds/game)
National Defense Ranking in 2021 (Yards allowed per game): No. 37 (279.4 yds/game)
About the No. 1 UMHB Crusaders
Head Coach: Larry Harmon (1st Season)
Conference: American Southwest
Season Record (overall/conf): 0-0, 0-0
2021 Record: 15-0, 9-0 (Notable results: vs No. 10 Hardin-Simmons, W 34-28, vs No. 7 Linfield, W 49-24, vs. No. 4 UW-Whitewater, W 24-7, vs No. 1 North Central [Stagg Bowl], W 57-24)
Names to know (stats from 2021):
OFFENSE: Sr. QB Kyle King (168-of-256 passing, 2,682 pass yds, 35 TD, 2 INT), Sr. RB Aphonso Thomas (1,128 rush yds, 5.5 yds/carry, 14 TD), Sr. WR KJ Miller (76 receptions, 961 receiving yds, 11 TD), Sr. WR Brandon Jordan (55 receptions, 1,037 receiving yards, 17 TD)
DEFENSE: Jr. LB Omari Frazier (31 solo tackles. 52.0 total tackles, 7.5 TFL), Sr. DT Pete Smith (44.0 total tackles, 12.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks), Sr. DE Sante Parker Jr. (26.0 total tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks)
National Offense Ranking in 2021 (total yards of offense per game): No. 15 (479.6 YPG)
National Defense Ranking in 2021 (total yards allowed per game): No. 11 (237.7YPG)
UMHB Two Deep Depth Chart (Per the UMHB Athletics Department)
*-Team Captain, L-Varsity Letter, SQ- Previously on varsity roster in past season(s) but has seen no playing time, TR- Transfer
Offense
Quarterback: Kyle King (Sr.-2L), Jackson Tingler (Jr.-1L),
Running Back: Aphonso Thomas (Sr. 1L), Kenneth Cormier Jr. (Jr.-2L)
Wide Receiver: Jerry Day (So.-1L), Jamaal Hamilton (Sr.-1L)
Wide Receiver: KJ Miller (Sr.-4L), Dyrius Toliver (Jr.-TR)
Wide Receiver: Brandon Jordan (Sr.-2L), Jerry Cephus (So,-JV)
Tight End: Connor Mullins (Jr.-2L), Will McClintock (So.-TR)
Left Tackle: Reuel Tandoh (Jr.-2L), Kyle Wente (So.-1L)
Left Guard: Jesse Hoke (Jr.-2L), Joseph Montez (Fr.-HS)
Center: Jeffery Sims Jr. (Sr.-4L), Jacob Dailey (So.-2L)
Right Guard: Matt Sanders (Sr.-3L), John Schnautz (So.-JV)
Right Tackle: Ethan Ruckman (Jr.-2L), John Kazmierski (Sr.-3L)
Defense
Left Defensive End: Kobe Giles (Jr.-2L), Trey Belyeu-Witcher (So.-1L)
Left Defensive Tackle: Pete Smith (Sr.-3L), Preston Johnson (So.-JV)
Right Defensive Tackle: Tristan Green (So.-1L), Jose Fuentes (So.-JV)
Right Defensive End: Sante Parker Jr. (Sr.-3L), Dorian Pittman (Fr.-HS)
Weakside Linebacker: Johnny Smith-Rider (So.-1L), Chaise Ellis (So.-SQ)
Middle Linebacker: Durand Hill (So.-1L), Braegen Berry (So.-JV)
Strongside Linebacker: Omari Frazier (Jr.-2L), Dorian Williams (Jr.-TR)
Cru (Flex Safety): Jordan See (Jr.-2L), Diarva Brown (Sr.-TR)
Free Safety: Tommy Bowden (Sr.-3L), Cameron Mitton (Fr.-HS)
Cornerback: Titus Dunk (Sr.-3L), Trashawn Adams (So.-1L)
Cornerback: Chaka Watson (Jr.-2L), Tavion Page (Sr.-3L)
Special Teams
Kicker: Anthony Avila (Sr.-3L), Jack Bruner (Fr.-HS)
Punter: Kyle King (Sr.-2L), Jack Bruner (Fr.-HS)
Punt Returner: KJ Miller (Sr.-4L), Jamaal Hamilton (Sr.-1L)
Kick Returner: KJ Miller (Sr.-4L), Jamaal Hamilton (Sr.-1L)
Long/Short Snapper: Will McClintock (So.-TR), RJ Haberer (Jr.-TR)
