FB: American Southwest Conference

[WRMUalum13]

I don't watch many Howard Payne games...  all I have to say is they really know how to recruit O lineman, those guys are huge!

[tigerguy]

If HPU loses this game they are going to look back and wonder WTF they were thinking trying to pass the ball from their 12 with less than a minute left in the half leading 13-7.

My thoughts exactly - made absolutely no sense and thus far is the difference in the game. Although the tip-pick late in the 4th might let UMHB put themselves in the driver's seat. We shall see. HPU is a good team - I'm impressed their defense has been able to hold up so well against Hardin Simmons and now UMHB. Everyone knew their offense was great.

[tigerguy]

Wow - talk about a controversial call. Looked to me like UMHB DB made the INT in the end zone and it was only after he came down that the HPU receiver ripped it away. Two refs were right there so they obviously had the best look but even they looked hesitant in making the TD call. What a play though by the WR though. Great game I hope it goes to OT.

[Ron Boerger]

Wow - talk about a controversial call. Looked to me like UMHB DB made the INT in the end zone and it was only after he came down that the HPU receiver ripped it away. Two refs were right there so they obviously had the best look but even they looked hesitant in making the TD call. What a play though by the WR though. Great game I hope it goes to OT.

Avila is such a stud for a D3 kicker.  Saved UMHB from OT and possibly preserved their playoff run.

[UMHB03]

Incredible to think that the defending National Champs and # 3 team in the nation (yes, I know the NCAA doesn't care about the d3 rankings) could potentially end up getting only one home game in the playoffs. I can understand why we might have to go on the road against Trinity if they advance to face UMHB in round 2, but I could just see the D3 committee trying to keep the "island" schools together and sending the Crusaders to Linfield in round 3. It would be a travesty, but par for the course with them.

Man, it's like you're already assuming that the Cru will get to round 3...

If they show up and play their game they will.

[UMHB03]

Way too close for comfort today, but when you're facing a good team and have to deal with home cooking from the incompetent officials too, I'll take it.

[Crubacker]

As a fellow official, can't complain about calls I didn't witness but will say, listening to the audio through Howard Payne-------worst idiot fans I have ever heard.  Exactly why there is a shortage of officials all across the state.  Don't know the rules but complain about every single call, yelling at officials---"you suck"  "Get off the field"-------classless!

In regards to the game----------UMHB defense stunk.  How many times are you going to give up that swing pass before you start jumping guys up.  Linebackers and safeties were slow to react, not much pressure on the QB despite 3 sacks.  Padron went to conservative play calling which sucked-----------still have tons of work to do and can't be making stupid bonehead mistakes this late in the season and expect to win a championship.

Offense stayed composed at the end to get it in field goal range.  Kyle has been a little off the last 2 weeks.  Don't know if the bye week had something to do with their play today but just didn't come close to what you would expect from UMHB this late in the season gearing up for playoffs.  Competition after next week is only going to become tougher.  They play this way come playoff time and they will be out very quickly.

[zipmac22]

Taking nothing away from Howard Payne who played great football today and almost pull off the upset, but The Cru just looked like they wanted to be someplace else this afternoon. There were patches of nose to the grind play, but there was too much little effort and hard to see too many Cru players not having the fire in their belly. Although The Cru will be going to the playoffs, if they continue to play like they did today it very likely that they won't make it past the first round. BTW, what was the deal with having to call a timeout before The Cru's first snap of the game? It was difficult watching the streaming of the game with the audio not playing and I wasn't able to synch the radio play by play to the streaming. I wish that The Cru would still do their own streaming at the away games.

[Etchglow]

Taking nothing away from Howard Payne who played great football today and almost pull off the upset, but The Cru just looked like they wanted to be someplace else this afternoon. There were patches of nose to the grind play, but there was too much little effort and hard to see too many Cru players not having the fire in their belly. Although The Cru will be going to the playoffs, if they continue to play like they did today it very likely that they won't make it past the first round. BTW, what was the deal with having to call a timeout before The Cru's first snap of the game? It was difficult watching the streaming of the game with the audio not playing and I wasn't able to synch the radio play by play to the streaming. I wish that The Cru would still do their own streaming at the away games.

I didn't see that instance, but multiple times when umhb was gaining possession the clock operator started rolling 40 seconds as soon as the ball was spotted. 

[D O.C.]

Don't know what to think about the University of Mary Hardin Baylor this season.
I do suspect the WILL be in the playoffs though.

[Ralph Turner]

Don't know what to think about the University of Mary Hardin Baylor this season.
I do suspect the WILL be in the playoffs though.

IMHO, they must get to the Quarterfinals or lose the a Stagg Finalist Trinity TX in the Texas Championship game, for this to be an acceptable season .

For me, the "On any given Saturday" mantra will run about 6-8 teams deep on the UMHB side of the bracket . This season has just been incomparably wonderful to watch.

[Cowboy2]

Don't know what to think about the University of Mary Hardin Baylor this season.
I do suspect the WILL be in the playoffs though.

Well outside of NCC, the other 239 teams have shown they can be beat if they don't have their best foot forward when taking the field. I have never seen so many who beat who, that beat who, then beat who's games this year. I will say UMHB did a great job in OOC preparation to get them ready for post season. However, muhlenberg and UWW aren't the same teams from last year. HPU may have been the best test for UMHB and HSU for making adjustments. Hats off to the Jackets for going toe to toe with a playoff team today.

[Ron Boerger]

In other news UW-Platteville won handily yesterday, so if they were RR last week they should be again this week which means the HSU win over them *will* be a win versus RRO, so the Cowboys will probably be headed to San Antonio in two weeks barring a bizarre result this week. 

[Riley Zayas]

One of the wildest finishes I've seen in D3 football this year...
https://truetothecru.com/2022/11/05/avilas-game-winner-lifts-no-3-umhb-to-drama-filled-27-24-win-at-howard-payne/

[Ron Boerger]

One of the wildest finishes I've seen in D3 football this year...
https://truetothecru.com/2022/11/05/avilas-game-winner-lifts-no-3-umhb-to-drama-filled-27-24-win-at-howard-payne/

Corey Hogue of DCTF reported that several UMHB players were ill and that Avila didn't make the trip with the team and barely got there by game time.