Cowboys Fall To UMHB

Nov. 18, 2006

Final Stats

BELTON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons saw its football season end with a 33-21 loss to conference rival Mary Hardin-Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championships, Saturday afternoon in Belton.

UMHB led 17-7 at halftime and the Crusaders moved the lead to 24-7 when Jarvis Thrasher broke free for a 65-yard touchdown on the opening possession of the second half.

The Cowboys answered with back-to-back touchdown drive. Jordan Neal hit Will Galusha for his second touchdown of the game and then after a stop by the defense the Cowboys drove again and Neal hit Carrillo for a 7-yard touchdown with :20 to go in the third quarter.

With all of the momentum of the two touchdown drive and HSU thought they had a stop of the Crusaders in the fourth quarter when UMHB apparently was forced to punt. After the Cowboys, tried to run a player off the field and then the official on the HSU granted a timeout, UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg lobbied the officials for a penalty on HSU for illegal substation.

After a four or five minute discussion the officials changed the call to a penalty and gave the Crusaders the yardage necessary for a first down. The Crusaders then went on down the field for a touchdown and was able to hold on to the lead, forcing a fourth down sack and a fumble for a safety on HSU's final two drives.

UMHB opened the scoring with a 4-play, 30-yard drive capped by an 8-yard run by Welch with 11:42 left in the first quarter. HSU tied the game at seven on a 10-yard TD pass from Neal to Galusha. Zach Newcomb's 22-yard field goal put UMHB up 10-7. Kelvin Kirby then picked off a Neal pass at the Crusader 18-yard line and UMHB went on a nine-play, 82-yard drive with Freddie Rollins crashing in from two-yards out with 15 seconds left in the first half to give UMHB a 17-7 edge at the break.

Neal finished 19-36 for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Carrillo caught seven passes for 80 yards and a score and Galusha added four grabs for 67 yards and two scores. Chris Jones and Rob Galusha had 10 tackles each to lead the Cowboys.

HSU ends its season with a record of 8-2 for the fifth time in the last six years. UMHB improved to 9-2 with the win and will host Washington and Jefferson next weekend at Tiger Field.