And even though the Crusaders probably didn't reach their highest gear, they didn't have to thanks to a defense that is making a habit of being stingy.

UMHB totaled 484 yards with a balanced attack and held East Texas Baptist to a miserly 207 as the 12th-ranked Crusaders continued to make their case for a postseason berth with a 52-10 victory at Tiger Field.

"We needed a win like that to help show people that we deserve to be in the playoffs," UMHB junior quarterback Kyle Noack said. "Plus, it helps our confidence a lot."

The Crusaders (7-1 overall, 5-1 American Southwest Conference) must win their final two conference games to have any hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, and they looked up to the challenge against the Tigers (2-7, 2-5).

Noack got his first start since Week 4 and alternated series with freshman LiDarral Bailey. The QB rotation and a seemingly expanded UMHB playbook resulted in 221 passing yards only one week after a 13-yard aerial performance.

"You take a guy like Kyle Noack who has some experience and some leadership and has been here before, and he can start the ballgame," Crusaders coach Pete Fredenburg said. "LiDarral can come in - and it might be during the first series that he comes in - and add a dimension with his ability to run. We're going to use both of their abilities.

"And we added a few things to the offense and we want to continue to add and use the abilities of the players that we have."

Noack was 4-of-6 passing for 118 yards and three touchdowns - two of them to Pi'Dadro Davis, who also hauled in a scoring toss from Bailey to tie a school single-game record with three TD catches.

UMHB closes the regular season with games at Howard Payne - which posted a stunning 38-24 upset win over Mississippi College on Saturday - next week and at home against Sul Ross State on Nov. 14. Then it's time to wait and hope for its name to be called when the playoff field is announced Nov. 15.

edrennan@temple-telegram.com