Recap: Osbourn’s late TD, Hill’s interception, send UMHB Football to Second Round of 2024 playoffs

SAN ANTONIO — Early in the week, UMHB head coach Larry Harmon noted the similarities between his current team and the 2004 squad that went to the program’s first Stagg Bowl. Both entered the postseason in similar positions, and on Saturday, it turned out that their first playoff games also had several parallels.

In 2004, UMHB went on the road and won at Trinity, 32-13, in the opening round. Saturday was the same situation with the same winner, though in much tighter fashion than the 2004 edition, as Asa Osbourn carried the ball across the goal line for the go-ahead score with 1:47 left and the defense closed out The Cru’s 29-22 victory in San Antonio.

Abilene now awaits. The reward for Saturday’s win? A trip to Hardin-Simmons, the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament, next Saturday. And even more notably, the second-round duel will be the third meeting between UMHB and HSU in the last seven weeks, with the Crusaders seeking to keep a five-game playoff win streak against the Cowboys alive. 

UMHB had 321 yards of total offense, with 133 of those coming on the ground led by Osbourn’s 71. While Trinity outgained The Cru (350 to 321), and UMHB punted six times to Trinity’s five, The Cru took advantage of a botched field goal attempt by Trinity, a pair of missed PATs, a blocked punt, and a fumble recovery. Those all added up, too much for Trinity to overcome as UMHB sealed a trip to the second round.

The defense headlined UMHB’s early success, holding Trinity to eight total yards on its first two possessions, both of which were three-and-outs. The special teams units directly contributed as well, with Joey Johnson blocking Trinity’s second punt. The kick went just 14 yards, setting up The Cru on Trinity’s 37-yard line. It took six plays for UMHB to get into the end zone, with a key 21-yard completion to Jerry Day Jr. on 3rd & 8 coming just two plays before Wright found Christopher Gacayan for an eight-yard score.

After another Trinity punt and an interception of Wright by Trinity’s Cade Rabson, the Tigers answered with a drive that took them down to the UMHB 4-yard line, and facing 4th & goal, the Tigers opted for a field goal attempt. But that went awry, as the snap was high and holder Raider Horn was forced to abandon the field goal attempt, scrambling towards the goal line. But he was stopped two yards short. 

Trinity’s next possession ended with another turnover, this time a fumble that UMHB’s Da’marion Morris recovered on The Cru’s own 10-yard line. With the Tigers threatening to tie the score, Ryan Back completed an 18-yard pass to Johnny Milo that would have put Trinity in the red zone. But Milo fumbled, and it took just four plays for The Cru offense to turn that into a touchdown, as Wright completed passes of 51 and 32 yards. The 32-yard score to Ranius Daramola deep down the middle of the field put UMHB up 14-0 with 9:43 left in the second quarter. 

But late in the second quarter, Trinity’s offense finally found success in the form of points, going on an eight-play, 81-yard drive that cut the deficit to 14-6 with 1:54 until halftime. Back’s one-yard touchdown run capped that scoring drive, and Trinity’s defense carried the momentum over, forcing a quick three-and-out from UMHB. The Tigers took advantage of their last opportunity before halftime, going 52 yards in four plays, as Alejandro Tavarez pulled in a 31-yard pass with 48 seconds left, getting Trinity within two, 14-12. 

UMHB, who received the second half kickoff, went on the longest drive of the afternoon to open the third quarter, taking seven minutes off the clock. In that span, The Cru ran 12 plays, going 76 yards, with nine of those being running plays. Wright was also 3-for-3 passing on the drive, finding Tyler Woods from five yards out for a two-possession lead, 21-12. 

But then came a missed field goal and back-to-back punts from UMHB, keeping the door open for Trinity, who cut the Crusader lead back to two on a 63-yard touchdown drive that ended the third quarter and began the fourth. In that stretch of three straight stops, Trinity’s defense held UMHB to a total of 35 yards. Down 22-19, the Tigers got the ball back with 11:23 to go and proceeded to take four minutes, 27 seconds off the clock in a 39-yard drive that ended with Tyler Huettel’s 43-yard field goal. 

It put Trinity in the lead, 22-21, but that lead didn’t last. UMHB’s offense marched down the field behind Asa Osbourn, who carried the ball five times for 39 yards, including the go-ahead one-yard touchdown, on the 71-yard scoring drive. 

UMHB added a two-point conversion on AJ Williams’ catch at the back of the end zone, giving The Cru a 29-22 lead, and putting the ball back in Trinity’s hands with a 1:45 left. But the Tigers offense made slow progress upfield, and didn’t cross midfield until less than 30 seconds remained, on Raider Horn’s 4th & 6 catch for 16 yards to the Crusaders’ 43. 

But the very next play sealed UMHB’s win, as Back dropped back and threw to the middle of the field, straight into the hands of Dorien Hill. The freshman linebacker tallied his first career interception in one of the game’s biggest moments, with Tigers already inside Crusader territory. 

UMHB stat leaders

Passing: Jake Wright (13/18, 170 yds, 2 TD, INT)

Rushing: Asa Osbourn (15 carries, 71 yds, TD), Kamerin Ferguson (15 carries, 57 yds, TD)

Receiving: Asa Osbourn (2 receptions, 58 yds), Ranius Daramola (1 reception, 32 yds, TD)

Tackles: Dorien Hill (10), Durand Hill (10)