BELTON–Week 1 is here. Kickoff is less than 24 hours away. Pretty soon, the 27th season of Crusader football will have officially begun, with UMHB’s season-opener against a Top 10-ranked NAIA opponent in Bethel University (TN).
And we’re here to bring you complete coverage of Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup, with this preview presented by Duke Realty, a proud sponsor of True To The Cru.
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All-Time Series History
This is the first matchup between UMHB and Bethel, but UMHB is 9-3 all-time versus NAIA opponents. The last time UMHB played an NAIA opponent was a one-sided win for the Cru, defeating Southern Oregon, 52-12, in 2011. In the previous 12 matchups against NAIA opponents, UMHB averaged 46.6 points per game and allowed 18.8 points per game. In road games against NAIA opposition, the Crusaders are 4-2.
A look at The Cru
On the road in the season-opener for the second consecutive season, UMHB is more than ready for the 2024 season to get underway. Almost from the time the final whistle blew on the 2023 season, it seemed the conversation around Cru Football, both locally and nationally, surrounded this season opener. Not this particular matchup, but more so the idea of beginning with a fresh slate and a 10-game regular season schedule open with possibilities. A young roster and some untimely injuries in 2023 contributed to UMHB’s 6-4 record and the first season in which the Crusaders were left out of the NCAA playoffs since 2003. But there is more experience on the roster on both sides of the ball this fall. Returning starters for both the offense and defense, as well as kicker/punter Edwin Lopez on special teams, provide a foundation. The presence of a number of talented transfers and freshmen has only boosted the quality depth and skill level of UMHB’s offense and defense. And that will all be put to the test on Saturday against a Bethel squad that has already faced its first opponent of the season and was ranked No. 8 in the NAIA’s Preseason Top 25.
This will be UMHB’s first game played on Tennessee soil and they enter with a 10-3 record all-time in road season openers. Overall, The Cru is 22-4 in the first game of the season, and it marks UMHB’s first season opener against an NAIA opponent since 2009, as we covered in a feature earlier this week.
The Cru, who were picked No. 2 in the ASC Preseason Poll, will return to Belton following this matchup, set for the home opener against Westgate Christian University. UMHB’s first Division III opponent of 2024 comes a week after that, when the Crusaders travel north to Whitewater, Wisconsin on Sept. 21.
3 Players to Watch
Isaac Phe, QB: Phe was in uniform for last year’s season opener at UW-River Falls, though it seemed doubtful he’d get game reps being the third QB on the depth chart. As it turned out, injuries pressed the true freshman into action, and he started the final nine games of 2023, throwing for 20 touchdowns and 1,738 yards. He has improved through the offseason as he enters the first season-opening start of his career.
Jerry Day Jr., WR: Phe’s top target last fall was Day, who is also back, and will be a key contributor to UMHB’s passing attack. The Louisiana native caught 38 passes for 484 yards and five scores in 2023, and was named Second Team All-ASC for his efforts. Expect Day to have plenty of targets on Saturday, though UMHB’s receiving corps is fairly deep, which should allow Phe to distribute the ball to a number of different receivers throughout the contest.
Gavin Brzezinski, DB: The Leander product spent the entirety of last season with the JV team, but is making the move up to varsity as a starter this fall. A 6-2, 200-pound defensive back who will play the “Cru” position (a flex between safety and linebacker, to put it simply), Brzezinski stood out in UMHB’s first scrimmage and is a strong tackler in addition to reading the opposing QB well in pass coverage.
Scouting the Wildcats
By Benji Ward, True To The Cru contributing writer
Bethel (TN) is a premier program at the NAIA ranks and opened the season ranked 8th in the NAIA preseason poll. Last season, Bethel posted an 11-2 record and made it to the NAIA quarterfinals, having won seven of their eight games at home.
Early this season, Bethel appears to be picking up right where they left off. The Wildcats enter the weekend sitting at 1-0 after last week’s 20-6 victory over Point University; a slow, slugfest of a game that had a 7-0 score in favor of Bethel at the half. Bethel scored early in the fourth quarter, making the score, 14-0. Point pulled within one score with 11 minutes left in the fourth, but Bethel put the game away on a late score, which held on until the final whistle.
A balanced offense, Bethel posted 149 yards through the air and 150 yards in the ground for 299 total yards of offense last week. A high-powered offense, the Wildcats led the Mid-South Conference in total yardage last season, averaging 437.3 per game. They will look to get back into that range against The Cru on Saturday, and amongst their many strengths is a tough offensive line, which helped the Wildcats rush for over 2,000 yards last season. All five starters stand at over 6-foot-1, and three are 6-foot-3 or taller, including senior left guard Tyrell Winn, at 6’2, 340 lbs.
Bethel’s defense had four interceptions last week, including Jacious Clark’s 58 yard pick-six. Not surprisingly, they led the Mid-South Conference in interceptions last season, tallying 21. The Wildcats are coming off a 2023 season in which they allowed just 16.0 points per game and surrendered 231.8 yards per game.
3 Players to Watch
Avuan Rucker, QB: Rucker completed 7 of his 12 passes for 2 touchdowns in Saturdays win. He also made a few plays on the ground with his longest rush being for 11 yards. Rucker came off the bench for Ben Nixon and shined. Look for Rucker to be under center this weekend and perhaps cause problems for the UMHB defense.
Teejay Taylor, WR: Taylor was a strong part of the Wildcats struggling offense last weekend. Taylor caught 6 passes tallying 73 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came late in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice and secure the victory for the Wildcats.
Jazzir Merricks, Safety: Merricks was a force on the defensive side of the ball in week 1, with 2 solo tackles and 2 assists for 4 tackles total. He also had an interception.
Follow the action
WATCH: Bethel will stream the game on Boxcast. Link here.
LISTEN: Ward Whites will have the play-by-play once again with Jordan Cox, who has previously done play-by-play for men’s and women’s basketball, doing the color. Listen on KMIL 105.1 FM.
STATS: Bethel will have the live stats on its website here.
Week 1 ASC schedule
LaGrange at ETBU, Friday, 7:00 p.m., Marshall, Texas
UMHB at Bethel (TN), Saturday, 1:00 p.m., McKenzie, Tennessee
Hardin-Simmons at Howard Payne, Saturday, 6:00 p.m., Brownwood, Texas
