A win at home this week against Louisiana College (2-2, 1-1 ASC) would be the 33rd straight conference victory for UMHB (4-0, 3-0). The Crusaders could tie the mark of 34 - set by Hardin-Simmons - the following Saturday at Mississippi College (3-1, 3-0) in a showdown that for all intents and purposes would decide the conference championship.
Putting a tight grip on the league title and tying the victories record in the same week would be sweet for the Crusaders, but they're not thinking that far ahead just yet.
"We have to go win this ballgame," UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg said Monday during his weekly press conference. "I can't worry about Mississippi College, yet. We've got our hands full.
"We understand that people are going to play their dead-level best against us. I think our guys understand that and react to it, and will give you our best effort."
The Crusaders and Wildcats kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Field, and UMHB and MC will tangle at the same time Oct. 17 at Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton, Miss.
Starting changes
Two new starters were listed on UMHB's two-deep chart as of Monday.
Junior defensive end Brenson Bristow, who had two sacks against Hardin-Simmons on Saturday in his first game back from a three-game suspension, will start ahead of junior Micah Spicer.
On the other side of the ball, freshman Chandler West will start at fullback ahead of sophomore Marcus Carruth.
The Crusaders also regain the services of previously injured receivers Brian Scott and Tariekus Ellis, though neither is expected to start.
Two-QB system rolls along
UMHB will continue to use Kyle Noack and LiDarral Bailey at quarterback.
"We're going to play both of those guys," Fredenburg said. "They're very talented, and we're glad that they're both on our team."
Noack, who did not play after the 11-minute mark of the second quarter during last week's win, will make his fifth straight start. The efficient junior is 29-of-37 passing for 347 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception.
Bailey, who has seen significant time in all four games, will also play. The explosive freshman leads the team in rushing (406 yards) and total offense (685 yards). He averages 11.6 yards per carry and is 19-of-26 passing for 279 yards, with a TD and an interception.
"(How teams defend the option) is a big factor when considering who can go in and move the ball the best," Fredenburg said. "We're really excited about the way things have been working out. The key to it is to keep the egos out of it."
Enough with the flags
UMHB is the conference's most-penalized team, averaging 89.2 penalty yards per game.
Last week, two penalties - roughing the passer and roughing the kicker calls - kept drives alive for HSU when the outcome was still in doubt.
"When people make stupid mistakes, obviously you challenge them to correct it, and then hopefully it's corrected," Fredenburg said. "But if it continues, you have to do something radical. You just can't continue to hit a quarterback late and penalize the team like that."
Around the ASC
UMHB and MC are the only teams left unbeaten in ASC play. The Choctaws, who knocked off LC on Saturday, are idle this week.
McMurry (1-4, 1-2) snapped a 17-game losing streak by beating East Texas Baptist (2-3, 2-1) last week and will travel to face Howard Payne (3-1, 1-1) on Saturday.
Hardin-Simmons (1-4, 0-3) - which is at ETBU this week - and Texas Lutheran (0-4, 0-3) are the only teams still winless in conference. TLU plays at Sul Ross State (1-3, 1-1) on Saturday.
