Covering UMHB Athletics and the stories behind the score
BELTON, Texas- It has been three seasons since UMHB last battled Linfield on the gridiron. And yet, a rivalry still remains between the two programs, who are separated by 2,007 miles, and have established themselves as the D-III powerhouses in the west over the last decade.
BELTON, Texas- There is no doubt that in the playoffs, regardless of the margin of victory, achieving the win is the bottom line. As quarterback Kyle King said postgame on Saturday, “It’s just survive and advance at this point.”
BELTON, Texas- UMHB’s history against Trinity (TX) on the gridiron is extensive to say the least.
The two programs, separated by just 138 miles, have met on nine occasions. The Tigers were the first team UMHB ever faced, as the two squared off in San Antonio to begin the Cru’s inaugural season in 1998. That contest ended in a 37-14 loss for the Crusaders, as did the next three meetings, the later two of which were contested in the playoffs. UMHB’s first playoff opponent in program history was Trinity in 2001. And the Crusaders’ first playoff win came in 2004 against…you guessed it, Trinity.
BELTON, Texas- Last week, UMHB’s defense rose to the occasion, shutting out Belhaven, the ASC’s top rushing attack.
But the task does not get any easier this week, with Howard Payne coming to Belton. Though the challenge might be similar, facing a talented offense, the formations UMHB is preparing for are completely different. Unlike last week, when they prepared for the hard-nosed running game of Belhaven, the Crusaders are gearing up for the…
BELTON, Texas- Entering the 2021 season, it was thought by many that UMHB’s September portion of the schedule would feature its toughest two tests of the regular season in ETBU and Hardin-Simmons. And that partially proved to be the case, with the Cru narrowly defeating Hardin-Simmons behind a late touchdown and game-sealing interception.
But the final two home games of the conference schedule are shaping up to be challenges in themselves for the Crusaders, who are 7-0 on the year.
BELTON, Texas- In his press conference prior to Saturday’s 49-3 victory over Texas Lutheran, UMHB head coach Pete Fredenburg brought up the linebackers unit on multiple occasions. Without senior captain Mikkah Hackett, there were questions about the Cru’s depth at the position.
But those questions were put to rest in Saturday’s win, as UMHB’s three leading tacklers were all linebackers; Omari Frazier, Jacob Mueller, Akeem Jackson. Additionally, younger standouts such as Durand Hill stepped up, keeping the Bulldog offense at bay.
BELTON, Texas- The UMHB football team greatly benefited from its first bye week of the season last week, and so did head coach Pete Fredenburg, who noted that he had “one of the best Saturdays” he can remember with an opportunity to witness a phenomenal slate of D-I games.
BELTON, Texas- Bye weeks do not come often for UMHB head coach Pete Fredenburg and his team. But this is one of those such weeks, following the Crusaders’ 56-0 victory at Austin College on Saturday.
Above photo of KJ Miller by Russell Marwitz/True To The Cru BELTON, Texas- The UMHB football team had what head coach Pete Fredenburg called “a letdown” in the first half of last Saturday’s 34-28 win over Hardin-Simmons. At Monday’s news conference, Fredenburg made it clear that the Crusaders’ would be working on their first half […]
BELTON, Texas- It is a regular season game unlike any other for the UMHB football team. Every year, it is a contest circled on the schedule. One that is a source of pride for the fanbase that wins, and draws out supporters in the thousands. After all, it is hard to find another rivalry game where the winner has gone on to win at least a share of the conference title in every year since 1998.