“One thing is for sure, UMHB WILL have a starting quarterback on Saturday,” the packet stated.
Anything beyond that, however, is anybody’s guess.
The competition for the starting quarterback’s job has begun again as the Crusaders (1-0) prepare for their American Southwest Conference opener at home Saturday against Texas Lutheran (1-1).
The original battle for the job was won during fall camp by senior Josh Saenz, who missed last week’s 30-7 season-opening win over Southern Nazarene (Okla.) while serving a one-game suspension.
Sophomore Kyle Noack took full advantage of the situation, completing 70 percent of his passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, running for another score, and looking comfortable all the while.
So now the battle is on again, with both players listed as possible starters for Saturday.
“You have to give Kyle the opportunity to compete for it and not just say that it’s Josh’s spot,” UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg said Monday during his weekly press conference. “And Josh still has to do what needs to be done to get the job.
“You would like to have Josh as the starter, just simply because of the seniority. But we’re going to play the best one.”
So what’s the plan?
“We’ll just go through the week and see how they do. I expect both guys to play on Saturday. It’s a good feeling to have the quality that we have at that position.”
Expected changes
Regardless of who is under center for the first play, Monday’s depth chart listed new starters at four other spots.
Ervin Johnson will start at wide receiver. The 6-6 sophomore transfer from Temple College didn’t appear hobbled by a knee injury last week when he made three catches.
Freshman Stephen McKenzie will get his chance to punt after James Crawford got the nod last week in a game-time decision.
Fredenburg was so impressed with the play of backup Ben Beckworth at strongside linebacker that the sophomore should start Saturday. That change would move junior Bryson Tucker from starting linebacker to starting strong safety in place of Lee Munn.
Moving on up
UMHB jumped one spot to No. 3 in this week’s NCAA Division III poll. The Crusaders trail only top-ranked Mount Union (Ohio) and defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The No. 3 slot was vacated when Wesley (Del.) plummeted all the way to No. 15 after losing to unranked Delaware Valley (Pa.).
Tough sledding
UMHB limited Southern Nazarene to only 37 rushing yards, making it the 39th consecutive game in which opponents have failed to produce a 100-yard rusher.
Willamette (Ore.) teammates Quentin Brock and Cameron Walton were the last players to rush for 100 yards against the Crusaders when they both accomplished the feat in the 2005 season opener.
In fact, during the last 39 games, only three opponents have managed to total 100 rushing yards as a team.
Streaking
The Crusaders have won 21 straight conference games and will try to make it 22 on Saturday against the Bulldogs.
UMHB’s last loss to an ASC team was a 24-20 setback at Howard Payne on Oct. 8, 2005, and the Crusaders have won the interim 21 conference games by an average margin of 38.2 points.
Around the ASC
Hardin-Simmons (2-0) picked up its second impressive win with a 29-22 decision over Linfield (Ore.) last week. The Cowboys, who debuted in this week’s poll at No. 24, visit the Crusaders on Oct. 4.
Mississippi College (0-2), which was preseason ranked No. 25, dropped its second straight. Ballyhooed quarterback Adam Shaffer threw seven interceptions - three of which were returned for touchdowns - in a 49-28 loss to Cumberlands (Ky.).
Sul Ross State (1-1) picked up its first win by beating Southwest Assemblies of God, but McMurry (0-2) might have seen its best chance at a victory fall by the wayside in a 21-14 double-overtime loss to Austin College.
In this week’s other ASC openers, HSU travels to Louisiana College (2-0), MC hosts McMurry, and Sul Ross visits East Texas Baptist (0-1).
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