FB: American Southwest Conference

[umhb2001]

Wow, what a game. Incredible, and we didn't play our best.

Walking into the stadium, HSU was pumped up. They were riled up and ready to go. I really expected to see HSU come out and fire on all cylinders. When we got the ball to start the game, which, I can't remember us starting with the ball on offense in a while, much less driving and scoring on the first possession, I knew we were going to win. In years past, our team would get the ball to start the game against a solid opponent, and we would go 3 and out or get one first down and then out. This was a methodical 7 play, 75-yard drive, and Markeith...Showed...Up. 197 yards rushing tonight against a defense that had been stellar.

On the night, 0 passing TD's for the Cru, and keeping a vaunted HSU offense off the scoreboard for the first shutout of the season is crazy.

I wasn't sure if Hemphill would play or not since he was on the 2 Deep, but I don't think he makes a difference. HSU had two players go over 100 yards last week, this week they had 109 total rushing yards. Wow.

UMHB definitely has some stuff to work on, but things are going in the right direction. Go Cru!

[Kelly Boggs]

Not much to say that has not already been said. The potential of this UMHB team is off the chart. The remainder of the season the challenge will be to continue to improve and stay healthy.

A lot of questions were answered for me last night: O line is playing much better than last year's group. The D line is stout. The  loss of a preseason All-American at linebacker before the season was not devastating; the backers are solid.

In my opinion: The strength of this year's CRU defense is the secondary. The defensive line is very, very good, but not as dominating as last season's. Many times last night Hooper had time to pass, but the CRU secondary had receivers blanketed. On Hooper's one interception, the receiver looked to be open, but Fritz closed on it so fast and made the play. The team speed of UMHB is once again amazing.

Would Hemphill have made a difference? Maybe. Who knows. He didn't last year. The only way for HSU to find out is to win out and make the playoffs. I have a feeling if the Cowboys make the post season, HSU and UMHB will meet in the first round. Just one man's opinion.

Captain Obvious here, but KJ Miller and Aaron Sims are arguably among the most dangerous return duos in D3. Miller is a Houdini; Sims uses his blockers well and both are lightning fast. They are fun to watch. I was stunned that HSU kept punting it deep and giving one or the other an opportunity at a return.

[MUC57]

Just in case you haven't looked at the MIAC board, Coach John Gagliardi, former coach at St. John's, passed away this morning. He was the winnintest coach in college football history.
Thought I'd let you know!

[umhb2001]

Not much to say that has not already been said. The potential of this UMHB team is off the chart. The remainder of the season the challenge will be to continue to improve and stay healthy.

A lot of questions were answered for me last night: O line is playing much better than last year's group. The D line is stout. The  loss of a preseason All-American at linebacker before the season was not devastating; the backers are solid.

In my opinion: The strength of this year's CRU defense is the secondary. The defensive line is very, very good, but not as dominating as last season's. Many times last night Hooper had time to pass, but the CRU secondary had receivers blanketed. On Hooper's one interception, the receiver looked to be open, but Fritz closed on it so fast and made the play. The team speed of UMHB is once again amazing.

Would Hemphill have made a difference? Maybe. Who knows. He didn't last year. The only way for HSU to find out is to win out and make the playoffs. I have a feeling if the Cowboys make the post season, HSU and UMHB will meet in the first round. Just one man's opinion.

Captain Obvious here, but KJ Miller and Aaron Sims are arguably among the most dangerous return duos in D3. Miller is a Houdini; Sims uses his blockers well and both are lightning fast. They are fun to watch. I was stunned that HSU kept punting it deep and giving one or the other an opportunity at a return.

That was the best closing speed on a ball I think I've ever seen. I thought, "Well, here's a TD for HSU", then suddenly Fritz picked it off. It was pretty remarkable what he did.

[umhbalum]

Just in case you haven't looked at the MIAC board, Coach John Gagliardi, former coach at St. John's, passed away this morning. He was the winnintest coach in college football history.
Thought I'd let you know!

Rest in Heaven coach

[QB Jock Itch]

Ditto  the assessments of the game, here's my worthless 2 cents:

It was awesome!!!

Anytime you have 2 really good teams together anything can happen. It stinks to not to have Hemphill wasn't able to play. To see the real test. No disrespect to Zai Zai.

UMHBs D is legit. D-Line does their job well, a little bit of pressure on the QB would be nice but we didn't run a lot of twist and stunts, more heads up. LBs stepped up and played extremely well. What the DBs can do makes the rest of the D so much better. You don't have to blitz that much. DBs top notch.

Punt returners are the best in the country at all levels!!!

Kicking game needs help immediately!! Turns out I just moved up on the depth chart and I don't even play anymore. Free chick fil a for anyone that can kick XPs consistently. I'm looking for my flat toe shoe now!!

Offense is very very good!! Anytime you can win running or passing it's dangerous.

O-Line was the players of the game for me. Protection✓ creating running lanes✓ blitz and stunt pick ups✓ getting the stamp of approval from"The Jock Itch"✓ (yes I went 3rd person, I still pumped after moving up on the depth chart)

WRs didn't get a lot opportunities to show their catching abilities, but man these cats love to block. Still the best WR core in D3.

RBs run hard!! I'm not worried about the turnovers, it hasn't been a problem, unfortunate but not reoccurring issue.

QBs Jase is the guy!! No question managed the offense well, showed good leadership, excellent pocket awareness, delivered accurate balls while getting blasted, not the fleetest of feet but I don't need my QB to run a 4.2   40, just keep getting the 5 yrds on read options. Thomas is an athlete!!! The last TD was unbelievable. I'm still 50/50 on the QB switch at the goal line. We've already had some false start penalties.

All in all hsu is a good team they just ran into a buzz saw. Great game and as always Go CRU

[Kelly Boggs]

FYI and FWIW: I had some time on my hands and was curious as to examine Hardin Simmons deepest penetrations into UHMB territory in Saturday's game. According to the game box score, here is what I found:

HSU crossed midfield five times in the game:
First time was in the 2nd quarter when the Cowboys took the ball to the UMHB 41.
Second time was late in the 2nd when (aided by a 15 yard penalty) HSU advanced to The CRU 37.
The third time was early in the 3rd where the Cowboys made it to the UMHB 49.
The final two penetrations into CRU territory came in the 4th quarter when HSU advanced the ball to the UMHB 41 and 48 respectively.

The closest HSU came to sniffing the UMHB goal line was the CRU 37. That particular drive was ended by a Jefferson Fritz interception.

Like I said, just a FYI and FWIW.

[Mr. Ypsi]

FYI and FWIW: I had some time on my hands and was curious as to examine Hardin Simmons deepest penetrations into UHMB territory in Saturday's game. According to the game box score, here is what I found:

HSU crossed midfield five times in the game:
First time was in the 2nd quarter when the Cowboys took the ball to the UMHB 41.
Second time was late in the 2nd when (aided by a 15 yard penalty) HSU advanced to The CRU 37.
The third time was early in the 3rd where the Cowboys made it to the UMHB 49.
The final two penetrations into CRU territory came in the 4th quarter when HSU advanced the ball to the UMHB 41 and 48 respectively.

The closest HSU came to sniffing the UMHB goal line was the CRU 37. That particular drive was ended by a Jefferson Fritz interception.

Like I said, just a FYI and FWIW.

What an amazing defense (and that was NOT against some Podunk offense!)  For the first time this season I moved UMHB above UMU in the fan poll.  Great as they are, I don't think the Raiders could have shut-out HSU.  I doubt the Cru will take over the top spot in either the fan poll or the 'real' one, but I'll bet they get a few more first-place votes.

I also moved UWW up from 9th to 5th.  Only a team that is beginning to resemble the Stagg Bowl Warhawks of old could have shut-out high-powered UWO.

[umhb2001]

According to the HSU radio broadcast, Hemphill is out for at least 3 weeks, presuming yesterday was week 1, it should be two more.

[Kelly Boggs]

HSU has TLU in 2 weeks. The playoffs have started for the Cowboys. They can't afford a second loss.

[umhb2001]

HSU has TLU in 2 weeks. The playoffs have started for the Cowboys. They can't afford a second loss.

TLU can beat them. Course, we didn't have a great vantage point, but TLU played us much stiffer than HSU did yesterday. They looked like they gave up in the 3rd quarter yesterday. Weird day for HSU, and I'm not convinced Hemphill makes a huge difference.

[Coolrey]

I tend to agree that TLU gave UMHB more of a game.  The TLU vs. HSU has all the makings of big-time dog fight.  TLU had very good teams in 2014 and 2015.  They beat HSU in Abilene in '14 and honestly should have won in '15, but TLU had key turnovers in that game.  This year's team is similar to those two teams so I look for the winner of the HSU/TLU game to be the one that makes the case for a second ASC playoff team as I don't see either one of those teams losing another game.  UMHB is on another level.  Very good players and good coaching makes it tough on the others in that league.

[MUC57]

Mr. Ypsi

Some Mount posters on the OAC board also think UMHB should be # 1. The Cru make a good argument for that. Me? I don't know. As we all know, the only poll that matters is the last one.
But for now, I like UMU and UMHB #1 and #2 - in any order you choose! ☠🏈

[MUC57]

UMHB fans

As you know, Mount has played some exciting games with The Cru. I became a fan of yours several games back. I like your coach, your stadium and your program. I have rooted for The Cru all season.
This is to let you know I quit rooting for you as of now. You really frighten me. You have always had a standout defense. Seems now you also have a standout offense. Now that's scary. Better spend all my energy on dear old UMU.
Oh, what the hell! Go Cru (at least until our teams meet, if they do). Best to ya on the season. Hope you win all your games - except the one. 😀☠🏈

[Ralph Turner]

Being an ASC fan, if HSU earns the Pool C bid, I would hope that the NCAA would seed HSU in the opposite bracket.