JACKSON, Mississippi – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team posted a third consecutive shutout for the first time in program history as UMHB rolled in a 49-0 victory over Belhaven University Saturday afternoon in Mississippi. The Cru improves 7-0 overall and 6-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops the Blazers to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the ASC on the year.
UMHB opened the scoring when Markeith Miller scored on a 12-yard run to make it 7-0 with 8:48 left in the first quarter. Miller’s 10-yard scoring run capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive to make it 14-0 Cru early in the second. Jase Hammack hit T.J. Josey with an 11-yard scoring strike with 8:41 to go in the first half to make it 21-0 UMHB at halftime. Aaron Sims returned a punt 60 yards for a score the first time the Cru touched the ball in the second half to push the lead to 28-0. Miller added a one-yard scoring run to make it 35-0. Belhaven had a chance to score, but UMHB blocked a field goal try, Jalen Martin scooped it up and lateraled to Keith Gipson for a 40-yard touchdown run to give the Cru a 42-0 advantage. DeNerian Thomas scored on a one-yard run with 6:07 left to play to close out the scoring.
UMHB held the Blazers to just 84 yards of total offense, including 36 rushing yards in the win. The Cru ran for 204 yards and finished with 354 yards of total offense in the game. UMHB also converted 7 of 11 third down tries and has now held opponents scoreless for 15 consecutive quarters.
Miller ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries for the Cru. He moved into third place on the UMHB career rushing list and took over second place on the Cru career rushing touchdown chart. Hammack was 13-18 passing for 111 yards and a score. K.J. Miller had five catches for 48 yards and had an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty. Gipson topped the Cru defense with six total tackles to go with his touchdown and UMHB added four sacks.
UMHB has now won 29 consecutive regular season games and 23 straight ASC contests. The Cru will return home to face McMurry University in a 1 pm kickoff next Saturday at Crusader Stadium. The War Hawks are 2-5 overall and 2-4 in the ASC on the season and will be coming off a bye week. Next Saturday’s game will also be Homecoming at UMHB.
