Division III Playoffs: Cru win after stopping Dutch 2-point conversion
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 05:37 AM
By Angel Verdejo
Killeen Daily HeraldDespite a three-touchdown lead and a defensive effort that all but eliminated Central (Iowa) College's vaunted running attack, Mary Hardin-Baylor still needed to make one final stand late in the fourth quarter.
With only a second remaining, Central pulled within two points and set up for a tie to possibly send the game into overtime.
But the Crusaders made that final play, stopping Central to preserve a 42-40 win Saturday in a first-round NCAA Division III playoff at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella, Iowa.
"Obviously we're going to learn some valuable lessons," said UMHB football coach Pete Fredenburg. "We gave up some plays but we'll learn from it."
Not only did UMHB beat a Central team it hadn't ever faced before, the Crusaders, despite their recent success nationally (two straight semifinal appearances), defeated a Dutch team that's postseason resume (20 playoff appearances) dwarfed that of UMHB's (seven).
UMHB (10-1) advanced to the second round for the sixth straight season and will travel to unbeaten Linfield (Ore.), which beat California Lutheran 38-17.
Recovering a Crusader fumble with 2:28 left in the game, Central drove 69 yards in just over a minute to set up the late-game dramatics. Quarterback Nate Snead ran twice and Central called timeout with 32 seconds remaining and the Dutch facing third-and-goal at the UMHB 5-yard line.
Out of the timeout, Snead looked right and found Jordan Leuschen for the score, the sophomore's fourth touchdown pass. Coming in averaging less than 170 yards passing per game, Snead threw for 278 yards after the Crusaders held the Dutch run game to almost 100 yards under its average. Running back David Zachary (1,242 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns entering Saturday) was held out of the end zone and ran for just 12 yards on nine carries.
"We did not want them to run the ball - that's what they do," Fredenburg said. "Consequently, I think we neglected the pass and they took advantage of some things. The defense had to go out and make plays and they were able to go out and make a play."
The Dutch, who had an extra-point attempt blocked earlier in the fourth quarter, lined up for the two-point conversion and Snead rolled right. His pass was tipped and Snead caught the loose ball, running around trying to find a receiver. The UMHB defenders finally got to Snead, who put up a second pass in desperation that fell incomplete.
Central got one more chance with an onside-kick try and nearly came away with it. Jarred Lackey recovered the kick, but the play was nullified as Central was called offside.
The Dutch (10-1) tried a second onside kick, but UMHB's Pi'Dadro Davis recovered the ball and the Crusaders took a knee for the win.
The Crusader run game and defense helped build a 35-14 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Quincy Daniels scored on a 2-yard run to put UMHB up three touchdowns, but Central didn't go away.
Snead threw a 25-yard touchdown to Lackey and then the Dutch forced a UMHB punt and Snead followed with his second touchdown pass. UMHB's Brenson Bristow blocked the extra point to keep the lead at eight points.
UMHB intercepted Snead once but also scored off a Dutch punt mistake in the first quarter. Davis broke through Central's line of scrimmage, blocked the punt and returned the loose ball 20 yards for the score.
"This (win) will help us immensely," Fredenburg said. "We had to reach deep inside to overcome adversity."
Contact Angel Verdejo at
averdejo@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7564.