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ABILENE, Texas – The jitters probably aren't completely gone from McMurry University. Despite a win in the War Hawks' first ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs Saturday over Trinity, McMurry moves to the second round to face a familiar and dominant American Southwest Conference opponent in Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday in Belton.
UMHB is in the midst of its 10th trip to the NCAA playoffs, carries an 11-0 record, won its eighth consecutive ASC title, and will have to beat the War Hawks Saturday for the second time this season in order to advance.
The Crusaders took a 28-27 win over McMurry Sept. 17 at Tiger Field sealing the game by intercepting a 2-point conversion following a War Hawks touchdown with 1:47 to play that could have given the visitors the game.
Since that day, McMurry hasn't lost a game running the table by winning its final seven regular season games, and the War Hawks took a 25-16 win over Trinity in the first round of the playoffs Saturday in San Antonio.
The Crusaders defeated the Redlands Saturday in Belton 34-13, and McMurry senior free safety
Will Morris said he wouldn't have it any other way.
“I didn't want the team from California to win, I wanted Mary Hardin-Baylor to win,” Morris said. “I want another shot at them and I want to prove not only to us but to them who really should have won that game.”
The Crusaders' record in the ASC has spoken for itself with 10 titles and 10 trips to the national titles. If that weren't enough, the Crusaders have never lost to an ASC team in the playoffs.
Hardin-Simmons, the only other ASC team to meet up with the Crusaders in the playoffs, is 0 for 3 against UMHB falling in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Morris knows it will take a valiant effort by the War Hawks in order to pull off what hasn't been done before.
“We'll definitely have to be on our P's and Q's to go up against a team like Mary Hardin-Baylor. All of us have a ton of respect for them, they have a great program. They're at the top,” said the all-American safety. “But, personally I believe we're better than them and I know our team feels the same way. But to beat a team like Mary Hardin-Baylor we're going to have to be very disciplined we've got to do what we set out to do.”
McMurry head coach Hal Mumme, who will be taking the team to a 12th game in a football season for the first time in program history, agrees with Morris that the UMHB rematch is significant.
“I think playing UMHB is kind of special from them. They didn't need to beat Trinity to gain any extra confidence,” said Mumme. “They needed the win over Trinity to get to play UMHB.”
McMurry has the No. 1 passing offense in the nation while the Crusaders' rushing offense is ranked in the top 10. Both teams have two strong defenses, so Saturday will come down to execution, and more of the same of what fans saw Sept. 17.
“We're not going to put in the wishbone or anything. We're just going to do what we do, and they are too,” Mumme said. “In the playoffs everybody's a good team, and they got there by doing certain things well.”
Kickoff is scheduled for Noon Saturday at Belton ISD's Tiger Field. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. The game will be broadcast on KZQQ 1560 AM for Abilene fans with live audio and video along with live stats provided by UMHB at http://cruathletics.com.
