Instead, the shocker came in the form of what would await in the second round. And even that was a pleasant surprise for the Crusaders.
As expected, No. 7 UMHB will host rival, 10th-ranked Hardin-Simmons in a South Region first-round matchup at noon Saturday at Tiger Field.
The Crusaders (9-1) dealt the Cowboys (9-1) their only loss in a 20-18 affair in early October, and UMHB has won eight of the last nine meetings with HSU - including two postseason clashes.
“It’s always a challenge when you have to play a team twice in the same year,” said UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg, whose squad is making its fifth straight playoff appearance. “But I think the way the first game was, our guys really felt that they didn’t play very well.
“I’m excited that we’re going to get another chance to play Hardin-Simmons, and I know they’re excited to come play Mary Hardin-Baylor again. I think it’s going to be just one whale of a football game, and I’m excited about the opportunity to play it in front of our home fans.”
The Crusaders are seeded second in the South, followed by the Cowboys. Saturday’s winner will host a second-round game against the winner between Wesley (Del.) and Muhlenberg (Pa.). The Wolverines (8-1) and Mules (9-1) meet Saturday in Allentown, Pa.
“That surprised me, because I knew we would get matched up against Hardin-Simmons again but I thought we were going to be right next to Millsaps in the bracket,” Fredenburg said. “This is a better deal for us because we know if we continue to win that we’ll have at least two home games.”
Undefeated Millsaps (Miss.) is the region’s top seed and will host LaGrange (Ga.) on Saturday. The region’s other first-round game has Christopher Newport (Va.) visiting Washington & Jefferson (Pa.).
If the Crusaders keep advancing, the only two matchups that would force them to leave home prior to the national championship game would be a quarterfinal clash with Millsaps and a semifinal meeting with Willamette (Ore.).
UMHB would host those two rounds as well if Millsaps or Willamette stumble. But first, the Crusaders know they must take care of the Cowboys.
“There’s nothing like playing a rival,” UMHB senior free safety Derrick Williams said. “I don’t think the UMHB and Hardin-Simmons game will ever get old, so we’re excited about it.
“Plus, because of the way they drew up the bracket, if we win, then we get to be at home for Thanksgiving.”
Willamette is the top seed in the West Region, which features defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater as the fifth seed.
Mount Union (Ohio) - winner of eight of the last 12 national titles - is the No. 1 seed in the East, and North Central (Ill.) is the top seed in the North.
Four teams were moved out of region by the NCAA selection committee, including Mount Union. The Purple Raiders were pulled from the North to the East and will face Randolph-Macon (Va.), which was moved out of the South. Aurora (Ill.) was moved from the North to the West, and Thomas More (Ky.) was shifted from the South to the North.
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