Here in the press box as No. 3 UMHB prepares to host No. 13 Bethel (MN) in an NCAA quarterfinal matchup in Belton. Updates to follow below.
3:21 Q4: Anthony Avila connects on his second FG of the day and UMHB leads 41-28. Wow
5:34 Q4: Aphonso Thomas with a 26 yard rushing TD and UMHB leads 38-28. The Crusaders have completely switched the direction of this game.
8:41 Q4: UMHB’s Titus Dunk reads the slant route well and comes up with an interception. UMHB has a chance to go up by two scores right here, starting with the ball on their own 46 yd line.
10:31 Q4: UMHB scores 14 points in the blink of an eye. Kenneth Cormier scores from 12 yards out and the two-point conversion to Brandon Jordan is good. UMHB leads 31-28. Major momentum shift in Belton.
12:15 Q4: After KJ Miller’s TD, the UMHB defense puts together one of its best stops of the day, forcing Bethel to punt after a three-and-out, including a big forced incompletion on 3rd & 9. UMHB has the ball on the 50-yard line.
13:55 Q4: NOBODY is going to catch him! KJ Miller with a 65-yard TD reception, as he caught the ball then raced down the sideline, breaking at least one tackle as he made it a one-possession game. The two-point conversion attempt fails, and Bethel leads 28-23.
14:11 Q4: Bethel opens the fourth quarter with a TD pass to Joey Kidder, who was being covered well, in the back corner of the end zone. Bethel leads 28-17.
End of Q3: Bethel, 21, UMHB, 17. Another long possession for the Royals, who have the ball on the UMHB 10-yard line.
6:56 Q3: Anthony Avila’s 23-yard field goal is up and good for UMHB. Bethel leads 21-17. Two false-start penalties inside the 10-yard line hurt the Cru’s chances to get into the end zone on their first drive of the second half.
10:21 Q3: Bethel marches down the field on the first drive of the second half, ending it with Micah Niewald’s over-the-shoulder catch for a TD. Bethel leads 21-14. Nice drive by Bethel with a number of solid completions.
End of Q2: UMHB, 14, Bethel, 14: With Bethel threatening on the UMHB 22-yard line, Roste is hit as he throws and Dorian Williams makes a leaping interception, ending the first half with the score tied at 14 apiece.
2:21 Q2: Aphonso Thomas breaks 4 tackles on a 17-yard run down the sideline, reaching the end zone and tying the score at 14-14. A couple of big completions to KJ Miller and Brandon Jordan on that drive as well.
5:52 Q2: On 3rd & 6, Joey Kidder catches a pass from QB Jaran Roste on a slant route for a Bethel TD. PAT is good, and Bethel leads 14-7. BU opened the possession with three straight first downs. Also saw BU’s offense set up with 5 receivers out wide and an empty backfield for the first time today.
11:09 Q2: UMHB’s Kenneth Cormier Jr. with a 15-yd rushing TD, tying the score at 7-7. Excellent run by Cormier to put UMHB on the board
12:44 Q2: UMHB elects to keep the offense on the field on 4th & 2 in BU territory. But the ball hit the turf after the snap, and Bethel tackled King behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 3 yards. BU begins its drive on its own 33-yard line. UMHB’s defense steps up, holding BU to one yard gained on 3 plays.
End of Q1: Bethel, 7, UMHB, 0
3:09 Q1: David Geebli fights through contact and gets the ball just across the goal line for a Bethel TD from 6 yds out. Bethel leads 7-0
6:40 Q1: Talk about turnovers. On the play immediately following Durand Hill’s interception for UMHB (1 play into BU’s second drive), BU forces a fumble on the UMHB 38-yard line and gets the ball back. Still tied 0-0.
7:46 Q1: UMHB gets the ball back after forcing a Bethel punt. But a pass breakup from BU’s Devin Williams on 3rd &4 forces the Crusaders to punt the ball back. BU starts its second drive on the UMHB 42-yard line.
11:14 Q1: Bethel ends UMHB’s first drive on an interception by Matthew Feldick. Bethel begins its first drive on the BU 45-yard line.
Bethel wins the coin toss and defers. UMHB to receive to begin the game.
