Lindy’s magazine ranks UMHB at No. 2, behind only two-time defending champion Mount Union (Ohio), in its D-III preseason top 25.
The Crusaders, who advanced to the national quarterfinals last year, also have four players listed on Lindy’s All-Division III Team.
Speedy, play-making linebacker Jerrell Freeman and anchor offensive lineman Caleb Woodall are on the magazine’s first team. Leading rusher Jarvis Thrasher, a shifty yet powerful tailback out of Temple, and hard-nosed defensive back Elliot Barcak are on the second team. All four players are seniors.
UMHB will be gunning for its fifth American Southwest Conference title in six seasons and its second trip to the national championship game in four years. The Crusaders lost to Linfield (Ore.) in the 2004 Stagg Bowl.
Mount Union has won nine national titles since 1993. The Purple Raiders claimed the last two crowns with Stagg Bowl victories over Wisconsin-Whitewater, which is ranked No. 3 and hosts UMHB on Oct. 27.
After first-round playoff losses to UMHB in two of the last three seasons, Trinity is ranked No. 4 and Wesley (Del.), which bounced the Crusaders from the postseason the last two years, is fifth.
UMHB conference rival Hardin-Simmons, St. John’s (Minn.), Rowan (N.J.), Central (Iowa) and Bethel (Minn.) round out Lindy’s top 10.
- Home early and away late -
UMHB will play on its home turf at Tiger Field in Belton for all but one game in September. On the flip side, the Crusaders finish the regular season with three of their last four games on the road.
The Crusaders host Christopher Newport (Va.) - which shocked UMHB in last year’s opener in Newport News - on Sept. 8 to start a string of 10 games in 10 weeks.
UMHB will open ASC play at home Sept. 15 against Sul Ross State before taking on Texas Lutheran in Seguin and hosting McMurry.
The Crusaders’ annual rivalry game against Hardin-Simmons will be Oct. 6 in Abilene, followed by a home game against Louisiana College and matchup with Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.
Next comes UMHB’s Oct. 27 showdown with Whitewater, which returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in a 7-3 win in Belton last year.
The Crusaders wrap up the conference schedule against East Texas Baptist at home and Howard Payne in Brownwood.
- Men’s basketball team gets local commitments -
Coming off its first trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, the UMHB men’s basketball team has verbal commitments from four players with local ties.
Salado products Ryan Clark, a freshman shooting guard, and Matt Caskey - a junior point guard who is one of three transfers from Temple College - have committed to play for coach Ken DeWeese’s Crusaders.
Former TC players David Ray, a forward out of San Antonio Roosevelt, and Jason Wagner - a guard from San Antonio MacArthur - will join Clark and Caskey at UMHB.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
