Saturday, September 15, 2012 - 8:20pm UMHB gets revenge on Wesley
By Sean Greene
Updated Sunday, September 16, 2012 - 1:15pm
UMHB's LiDarral Bailey threw two touchdowns and rushed for 2 more, as the No. 4 Cru avenged a season-ending loss with a 32-25 victory over No. 3 Wesley Saturday.
Mary Hardin-Baylor's defense stymied the Wesley run game, with the Wolverine's recording minus-4 net rushing yards, which included 55 lost yards by quarterback Justin Sottilare between 4 sacks and a fumble which led to a safely. Meanwhile the Cru went 13 of 22 on 3rd down, after starting 12 of 17.
Chad Peevey got the Cru on the board first as a 22 yard field goal capped off a 4:24 drive in the opening quarter to put UMHB up 3-0.
Wesley's response came 2 drives later, when after UMHB muffed a punt following a Wesley 3-and-out, and Wesley made them pay with a 14 yard pass from Sottilare to Matt Barile to put Wesley up 6-3 after one quarter. Dan Tryon missed the extra point, which became a theme.
UMHB counted with an impressive 17 play, 51 yard drive, converting 4 first downs en route to a LiDarral Bailey 2 yard touchdown on a 3rd and goal when Wesley linebacker Sothene Kapapula appeared to have the QB stopped for a 10-yard sack.
After the teams traded posessions, Wesley started at their own 4 yard line, but ran into trouble with Sottilare lost the football attempting to throw a wide receiver screen, Wesley fell on the ball in the end zone, but it still put UMHB up 12-6.
UMHB would add to the lead with 2:37 to go in the half when running back Darius Wilson corraled a 16 yard pass from Bailey to put the Cru up 19-6.
Following a personal foul penalty on the touchdown, the Cru backed up Wesley at their own 13 to start the final posession of the half, but Sottilare found Steve Koudossou 3 times on the drive, the final coming on a brilliant catch by the receiver at the 5, and then doing a spin move to avoid three defenders and find the end zone making it 19-13 at the break.
UMHB started the second half with a 3-and-out, and Wesley took advantage with Matt Barile catching 3 passes from Sottilare, the last down the one yard line, and Chris Cummings powered into the end zone out of the wildcat formation. Tryon would miss the extra point, keeping the score at 19-19.
Unphased by the suddenly tied game, Geoff Myles took the ensuing kickoff into Wesley territory at the 48, and the offense did the rest with Bailey finding Wilson with a brilliant float pass over a linebacker, and relclaiming a 26-19 advantage.
UMHB's next drive would start at their own 45, and would get the same result, this time using a 12 play driving ending with Bailey's short option keeper to restore a 13 point lead after a missed extra point.
Wesley would get their chances, starting with an 11-play, 80-yard, 5:27 drive that ended with Sottilare finding Barile for the second time, but again Tryon missed the extra point, keeping the deficit at 32-25.
The Wolverines would get one more chance after forcing a point, but Sean Hopkins misjudged a punt, pinning his team back at the 2 yard line. The Wolverines would briefly get into Cru territory, but a sack pushed Wesley back into punting range, and Wesley wouldn't see the ball again until there was 22 seconds left. Enough time for a Hail Mary that wasn't answered, dooming Wesley to defeat.
Bailey finished 16 of 26 for 138 yards and two touchdowns, with another 34 yards and two scores coming on the ground. Darius Wilson needed 24 carries to get to 84 yards, but led the Cru with 6 catches for 76 yards.
Wesley, who only ran 3 true running plays in the second half, rode Sottilare's arm as part of a 27-for-44 day, tossing for 294 yards and three touchdowns, but threw an interception and lost a fumble along with the safety. Koudossou and Barile both had 100 yard games in the loss, with Steve catching 8 balls for 117 yards, and Barile grabbing 7 for 115.
Devar Robinson led Wesley on the ground with 27 yards rushing, with 21 coming in the 4th quarter, after the Wolverines failed to get a rush of more than 3 yards except for a scramble by Sottilare in the openiing 3 stanzas.
Next up for Wesley is a date against Louisiana College in Pineville, LA. You can hear the game on WDEL Saturday beginning at 7:30pmET.
