FB: American Southwest Conference

[BSCpanthers]

Busy end to the first half as 3 Td's are scored in less than 2 minutes.  Keep it up Cru, leading 28-10 at the break.  Those passes and catches are some of the prettiest I've seen.

[Ron Boerger]

Great opening half for the Cru who forced a big fumble deep on the drive with Linfield trailing only 14-3.  I'm sure Coach Fred will make sure his safeties aren't caught sleeping like they were on that long crossing pattern that resulted in the only TD so far for the visitors. 

[Ralph Turner]

I did not expect this score, UMHB 28-10 at the half. Both teams have broken long passes.
BSCpanthers, you are right. Those are receptions that we are used to seeing in an SEC game.

[Riley Zayas]

Some halftime thoughts...
At the half, UMHB leads 28-10 in a game that has featured several exceptional passing plays.

Kyle King has been threading the needle when it comes to passing especially well. Though he struggled on the Cru's first two possessions, he settled into a rhythm, finishing the half 15-of-21 passing for 220 yards and four touchdowns. He has placed passes perfectly, considering the tight coverage from Linfield's secondary throughout the first half. That includes both touchdown passes to Brandon Jordan, as well as the incredible 57-yard touchdown pass to Brenton Martin, as Martin went up and over the Linfield defender. The ability to complete passes in tight coverage is the mark of an exceptional quarterback.

Jordan has seemed to have gotten his hands on every pass that has come his way, with six catches for 95 yards. Martin has been just as good, with three receptions for 130 yards and two scores. Together, Martin and Jordan accounted for all four of the Cru's first-half touchdowns.

Linfield has used the passing attack to its advantage as well. Just before Jordan's second score of the game with 32 seconds in the second quarter, Wildcats' QB Wyatt Smith found tailback Connor McNabb for a 70-yard touchdown pass to the left side of the field. Smith executed the offense well, going 16-for-20 passing for 222 yards.

The pitch has been a critical part of Linfield's rushing attack, as McNabb had several solid carries for 37 yards in the first half. Expect those pitch-plays from Smith to McNabb to continue in the second half, though the Crusader linebackers adjusted and stopped a few of those such carries in the second quarter.

UMHB had 322 yards of total offense in the first half, compared to Linfield's 254 yards. 278 of those yards for the Cru were picked up through the air.

We will see how the second half unfolds...

Follow the second half action with our live game blog: https://truetothecru.com/2021/12/04/from-the-press-box-updates-as-umhb-battles-linfield-in-d-iii-football-playoffs/

[D O.C.]

We've got a great team but the Cru is better.
Take your snow shoes this time.
Game ball Kyle King.

[cover2]

I don't recall the passing game for UMHB ever looking this strong!  Outstanding work.  Also, thanks to Linfield for the continual man coverage on the outside.

[FarAwayCat]

Hard to believe you guys have a QB controversy.  King played incredible and his receivers made great catches.  Epic  performance.  Congrats to the CRU. 

[MonroviaCat]

Congrats to the CRU.  Obviously the better team today.  The QB was much better than expected and the O-line (and his own feet) gave him enough time to brutalize the 'Cats secondary.  I think the CRU has a great chance of going  to the Stagg but weather next week may be the deciding factor...

[George Thompson]

Congrats, M-HB.    You found our weakness and was the better team.   Hope you make it to the Stagg Bowl.

George

[umhb2001]

Outstanding game.

Wyatt Smith is a great QB. Linfield really met us blow for blow until the Cru started getting pressure, and that "coffin corner" punt to pin Linfield inside the 5 was big.

I think we stand a great chance to win next week. Go Cru!

[Riley Zayas]

Hard to believe you guys have a QB controversy.  King played incredible and his receivers made great catches.  Epic  performance.  Congrats to the CRU.

'We don't necessarily have a controversy. We just have two really good quarterbacks.'
-Pete Fredenburg

King did play exceptionally well...6 TD marks a school record

[Ron Boerger]

Hard to believe you guys have a QB controversy.  King played incredible and his receivers made great catches.  Epic  performance.  Congrats to the CRU.

'We don't necessarily have a controversy. We just have two really good quarterbacks.'
-Pete Fredenburg

King did play exceptionally well...6 TD marks a school record

What a difference two weeks makes:

Passing	Comp-Att	Yards	Long	TD	INT
Kyle King	10-22	128	30	0	1

Good luck to the Cru next week at UW-W!  Early forecast:  high of 33, low of 22, 30-40% chance snow showers/rain.

[umhb2001]

https://youtu.be/n1YxsIjtjbA

Cru post game news conference

[02 Warhawk]

Well, well, well.....look what the cat dragged in.

Next week will be fun. Hopefully it's cold, snowy and miserable

[umhb2001]

Well, well, well.....look what the cat dragged in.

Next week will be fun. Hopefully it's cold, snowy and miserable

Exactly. We've played in it before. Coaches know how to get them ready. Should be fun!