On the other side, Wesley coach Mike Drass reportedly unleashed a profanity-riddled rant about UMHB and the state of Texas prior to their game two years ago.
That’s a lot of bad blood, all of which will reach its boiling point when fourth-ranked UMHB hosts No. 10 Wesley in an NCAA Division III second-round playoff game at noon today at Tiger Field.
“There’s no question this is a rivalry,” Crusaders coach Pete Fredenburg said bluntly. “There’s no love lost between these two teams.”
The rivalry was born in 2005, when Wesley came to Belton and stormed to a 46-36 second-round win that Fredenburg called embarrassing.
It continued the following year in Dover - where Drass’ pregame tirade could be heard outside the team’s locker room - as the Wolverines chalked up a 34-20 quarterfinal victory.
It was ratcheted up last season, when the Crusaders returned the favor with a 27-10 quarterfinal win in Dover.
And it will come to a head today, when the teams clash for the fourth straight year - this time for the right to face No. 3 Millsaps (Miss.) or No. 18 Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) in next week’s quarterfinals.
“Wesley does a nice job, obviously, and they’re well-coached and have good players,” Fredenburg said. “So it will be a huge test for us, but we will certainly get after them.”
Fredenburg has the guided the Crusaders (10-1) - whose only loss came five weeks ago at NAIA Southern Oregon - to the second round for the fifth consecutive year.
Drass, who did not return messages seeking comment - has coached the Wolverines (9-1) to nine straight victories following a season-opening loss to Delaware Valley (Pa.).
The teams are strikingly similar in styles, anchored by stifling defenses and fueled by bruising offenses that also feature quick-strike capabilities.
“Wesley is probably more like us than any team we’ve faced,” Fredenburg said.
Having replaced injured preseason All-American tailback Quincy Daniels with Bryson Tucker, the Crusaders average 257 rushing yards and 38 points per game - aided by a passing attack that averages 150 yards per game and 18 yards per completion.
The Wolverines counter with a defense that is limiting opponents to 86 yards rushing, 250 total and 12 points per game. The defensive unit features big interior linemen in Mike Ward (6-2, 315 pounds) and Carlos James (6-1, 286) to go with active linebackers Sean Matthews (78 tackles) and Jeremiah Santiago (58).
“Their defense is strong,” Fredenburg said. “Their linebackers are good players and they sit in there and attack you. They’re not going to try to fool you.
“And size is always a factor when you face big teams like this. When we tried to (run in the middle) on them last year, it was difficult to move them.”
Like the Crusaders, the Wolverines have utilized multiple offensive weapons to average 37 points and 420 yards - 222 of which usually comes on the ground.
Running backs Mike Pennewell and Aaron Jackson are the workhorses. Tight end Jon Lanouette is a threat as a possession receiver. Wideout Larry Beavers is a big-play specialist and sophomore quarterback Shane McSweeney has been a weapon since he grabbed the starting role following the season-opening loss.
It was Beavers who burned UMHB for touchdown catches of 54, 26, 50 and 76 yards in ’05. This season, he’s averaging 21 yards per reception and has returned three punts and four kickoffs for scores.
“The first thing is you can’t give up the big plays like they had that year with Beavers,” Fredenburg said.
The Crusaders, who bottled up Pennewell and Jackson for a combined 80 yards last year, have used their frenetic defense to limit opponents to 14 points and 264 yards - just 87 on the ground.
The unit led by attacking players in linebackers Eric Henri and Ben Beckworth, safety Derrick Williams (Temple) and tackle Mark Balderas will face its most-balanced opponent of the season today.
“They’re going to try to run it, and then pass mostly off of play-action and bootlegs,” Fredenburg said of Wesley. “This quarterback they have can run. He’s pretty good."
NOTES: UMHB’s only change in the starting lineup will be at right offensive tackle, where Max Taylor gets the nod. . . . The Crusaders and the Wolverines have combined to win the South Region each of the last four years.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
