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FOOTBALL PREVIEW: No. 11 Muhlenberg at No. 1 UMHB

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

“You want to challenge yourself”: No. 11 Muhlenberg prepares to defend conference title in 2022, opens season at No. 1 UMHB

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)

Riley Zayas
Riley Zayas founded True To The Cru in November of 2020 with the goal to cover the stories behind the score and give UMHB fans a closer look at the Cru while promoting the student-athletes and coaches that wear the purple and gold every day. He is also a national contributor to D3football.com and D3hoops.com, in addition to serving as a D3 women's basketball Top 25 voter. His byline has also been seen in: Sports Illustrated Kids, Horns Illustrated, College Baseball Nation, and FCA Williamson County. Follow him on Twitter @ZayasRiley.
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