Pregame: Here in San Antonio where No. 3 UMHB is facing No. 6 Trinity (TX) in the second round of the D-III playoffs. Should be a good one. Updates to follow as UMHB goes on the road in the second round for the first time since 2009.
Final: UMHB, 24, Trinity, 17
3:17 Q4: Coming out of a timeout, facing 3rd & 1 from their own 29 yard line, Horn completes a pass across the middle to BJ Stewart for a 9-yard gain, keeping the drive alive.
6:01 Q4: After coming up short on a 3rd & 3 run, Anthony Avila comes on for a 37 yd FG attempt. His kick is wide left, and Trinity is still in it, down 24-17
9:13 Q4: Trinity’s defense forces two incompletions and a punt, and takes possession on its own 35 yard line, down seven. Tucker Horn picks up a rushing first down. But on the next play, UMHB’s Sante Parker Jr. recovers a fumble forced by Omari Frazier, as the UMHB sideline goes crazy. UMHB takes over on the Trinity 40-yard line.
11:34 Q4: Tucker Horn with two huge completions, putting Trinity right back in it. He completes a deep pass to BJ Stewart to the UMHB 12-yard line then follows it with a completion to the middle of the end zone to tight end Matthew Kovacevich, cutting the UMHB lead down to just seven. Trinity has scored 10 unanswered points. UMHB leads 24-17.
13:30 Q4: UMHB tries a fake punt, but is stopped behind the line to gain, turning the ball over on downs. Trinity takes possession on its own 37 yard line.
End of Q3: UMHB, 24, Trinity, 10
1:21 Q3: Trinity crowd celebrating what looked to be a TD, but it is called back, as the officials say Trinity QB Tucker Horn was behind the line of scrimmage when he released the ball. Two incompletions later, Trinity’s FG unit comes on…FG is good…UMHB leads 24-10.
7:48 Q3: After Trinity’s TD, UMHB issues a response. Brandon Jordan with a good catch on 3rd & 4, then outruns the Trinity defenders in pursuit for his 12th TD of the season. UMHB leads 24-7.
10:03 Q3: Tucker Horn with a nice read, gets the UMHB defense out of position and completes a TD pass to Cole Monago, cutting into UMHB’s lead. UMHB leads 17-7. Most impressive drive of the day for Trinity.
14:33 Q3: After Matthew Jackson’s punt return for a TD is called back due to a penalty, Kyle King finds Jamaal Hamilton on a screen pass on the first play from scrimmage. Hamilton takes it 60 yards down the sideline for the touchdown, as UMHB leads 17-0.
Halftime thoughts:
UMHB’s defense has looked extremely sharp, stopping Trinity on both of its fourth-down attempts, and on all seven of its third-down tries. The Crusaders have made Trinity QB Tucker Horn uncomfortable in the pocket, and disrupted Trinity’s passing attack, which has been huge in keeping the Tigers scoreless. Tommy Bowden has a team-high four tackles for the Cru.
Offensively, the Cru looked shaky on its first drive of the day, but came away with points on each of its two red zone trips, scoring first on KJ Miller’s 20-yard touchdown reception, and then on a 31-yard Anthony Avila field goal three minutes into the second quarter. The offensive line has been exceptional in giving Kyle King time to throw, though Trinity has not allowed any big plays. King’s longest pass was 31 yards and the longest run went for 13.
HALF: UMHB, 10, Trinity, 0
0:49 Q2: UMHB’s defense really strong against the pass in this first half. Trinity’s Tucker Horn with an incompletion on 3rd & 3, and UMHB has the ball on its own 35 yard line after a punt.
8:00 Q2: On 3rd down, Trinity QB Tucker Horn is sacked by Sante Parker Jr. and Omari Frazier, forcing yet another Trinity punt. UMHB will take the ball on its down 12-yard line.
11:13 Q2: UMHB gets the ball down to the Trinity 5-yard line, but a holding call moves the offense back. An incompletion on 3rd and 14 from the 14-yard line brings on the kicking unit. Anthony Avila with his first field goal of the day, putting UMHB up 10-0.
12:30 Q2: Trinity tried to capitalize on a forced fumble, but ended its fourth possession on a turnover on downs, as UMHB came up with a big stop on an option play. UMHB also makes a decision to go for it on a 4th down play, and Aphonso Thomas picks up the 1st down.
End of Q1: UMHB, 7, Trinity, 0
3:49 Q1: Kyle King with some solid passing on that third drive for the Cru. Gets the ball to KJ Miller inside the 10-yard line, and Miller makes a leaping catch, getting past a Trinity defender and into the end zone for the touchdown. UMHB, 7, Trinity, 0
6:50 Q1: Both defenses are at their best midway through this first quarter. UMHB forces a Trinity three-and-out, but the Cru punts to end its second possession. Nice punt by Kyle King down to the Trinity 15-yard line. Worst starting field position for the Tigers today.
11:17 Q1: Trinity gets the ball to the UMHB 38 yd line on the opening kick, but the Tigers cannot capitalize, with an incompletion on 4th & 2. UMHB’s first drive ended in a punt, as the Crusaders were unable to pick up a first down on their first possession of the game.
