Fast forward from 2004 to today and UMHB stands at a similar intersection. The Crusaders, with arguably their most talented team ever, face an opponent they haven’t beaten in two tries.
But this time, Fredenburg doesn’t feel the need to challenge his players. They already know what’s at stake.
“I think our guys realize the importance of this game,” he said, “not just to get to the next level of the playoffs but because they’ve beaten us the last two years.”
Hailed as one of the best teams in the country, fifth-ranked UMHB (11-1) will have to prove it today when it clashes with sixth-ranked Wesley (11-1) in a national quarterfinal game at 11 a.m. at Miller Stadium.
Each season since 2004, the Crusaders have held championship aspirations - only to have them dashed the last two years by the Wolverines.
Wesley outplayed UMHB in a 46-36 second-round victory in Belton in 2005, and the Crusaders didn’t play up to par in a 34-20 quarterfinal loss last season in Dover.
Fredenburg said that’s all the more incentive to rise to the occasion today.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Wesley,” he said. “We know they’re a very good football team. We have to play well in order to advance, and we know that.
“Our guys are looking forward to this opportunity. They wanted to play Wesley the week after we got beat last year again. They feel like they played poorly against Wesley the last two years. You have to give Wesley credit for that, but our guys will be motivated to play well.”
To advance to next week’s semifinal round, UMHB will have to contain Wesley’s dynamic receivers - something the Crusaders didn’t do the last two meetings.
In ’05, Larry Beavers came out of nowhere to make six catches - including four long touchdowns - for 239 yards. Last year, without Beavers, Michael Clarke had five receptions for 156 yards. Today, the Wolverines will have both weapons at their disposal.
“One year we slanted our defense toward a different receiver and Beavers capitalized, then last year it was Clarke who hurt us,” Fredenburg said. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
What Wesley doesn’t have is departed quarterback Chris Warrick, whose quick reads and accurate throws picked UMHB apart for 436 yards last season. In his place is Jason Schatz, a converted wide receiver who threw a touchdown pass in last year’s game on a trick play.
“Jason played receiver for us but he’s really a quarterback by nature,” Wolverines coach Mike Drass said. “And he has continued to improve this season. The biggest thing that has helped us is that we’re more balanced offensively.”
This season, Wesley has become accustomed to running the ball. The Wolverines average 261 yards per game on the ground, where opponents have been stonewalled by UMHB.
The Crusaders rank second in the nation against the run (36.2 yards per game) and first in tackles for loss.
“We can’t turn the ball over and we have to be patient on offense,” Drass said. “We have to realize that there will be times we make plays and times they make plays.”
While the Wolverines are likely to do just about anything on offense, the Crusaders likely will stick with what has always powered their attack - running the ball.
UMHB’s average of 382 rushing yards per game leads the country, as does its average of 56.1 points.
“It’s simple. We have to move the ball and sustain drives,” Fredenburg said. “And I think we’re better offensively than we’ve ever been.”
Added Drass: “We know they are going to gain some yards. The keys for us are to make sure we wrap up on tackles and swarm to the football.”
There will be other factors in the outcome. UMHB must keep Beavers penned up on kickoff returns - he averages 32 yards per try - and Wesley will have to keep Schatz upright against a Crusader defense that averages more than four sacks per game.
But in the end, it all boils down to which team makes bigger plays and more of them. In the last two meetings, it was Wesley.
“The thing that stands out from last year is the tremendous swings in momentum,” Drass said. “We have to keep our kids on an even keel.”
UMHB wants its players on an even but elevated level.
“Everything we do in this program is connected to the thought of, ‘Will this help us win the national championship?’” said Fredenburg, whose 2004 team reached Division III’s title game. “That’s where we aspire to go, and these players have certainly put us in a position so that we can get back to the national championship game. We have to play at a fever pitch and hopefully get out with a win.”
NOTES: Today’s winner will face the winner between No. 2 Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 14 Wabash (Ind.) in a semifinal next week. . . . UMHB senior linebacker Jerrell Freeman needs one tackle to break a tie with former standout Preston Meyer as the program’s all-time leading tackler. . . . The Dover weather forecast for today calls for partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 41 degrees and wind-chill of 33 at kickoff.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
