Albright (0-1, 0-0) vs. #1 Mary Hardin-Baylor (0-0, 0-0)
• When: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019
• Where: Belton, Texas
• Stadium: Crusader Stadium (7,671)
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (CT)
• Live Video: VIDEO
• Live Stats: STATS
Live Audio: AUDIO
 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
• All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads 1-0
• First Meeting: 2018 – Mary Hardin-Baylor won 91-7
• Last Meeting: Sept. 8th, 2018 @ Albright – Mary Hardin-Baylor won 91-7
• Streak: Mary Hardin-Baylor +1
 
The Albright Lions Football team will travel down to Texas to face the defending Division III National Champion Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders at 6 p.m. (CT)
 
Albright is coming off a 63-28 opening night loss to Salisbury last Friday night at Shirk Stadium. The Lions were unable to overcome an early 21-0 first quarter deficit in addition to four turnovers.
 
This will be the 2019 season opener for the Cru, who will be unveiling its second national champion banner in three years prior to kickoff. Mary Hardin-Baylor went a perfect 15-0 last season and defeated Mount Union (Ohio) in the 2018 Stagg Bowl by a score of 24-16.
 
LAST SEASON'S MATCHUP
The Cru used a red-hot first half to pull away from the Lions 91-7 on an unseasonably cool September day at Shirk Stadium. UMHB scored 20 points in the first quarter before adding 31 in the second quarter. The Cru scored touchdowns on seven-straight drives following a three-and-out to open the ball game, and forced five Lions turnovers. Albright's lone touchdown came in the third quarter when senior Zack Miller hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass.
 
CATCH THIS
Senior wide receiver Mike Jordan had a big night against Salisbury in the Lions season opener. Jordan set career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns with 11 catches for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Jordan's previous single-game career-high in receiving yards was 102 against Lebanon Valley in 2017, and receptions along with touchdowns came at Lycoming that same season. He earned All-MAC Honorable Mention after a breakout sophomore campaign, and became the first Lion to catch three touchdown passes in a game since former Lion Kyle Dickerson did it versus FDU-Florham last season.
 
IN HIS PATH
Sophomore Sam Viera led the Lions with a game-high 11 tackles (five solo) last Friday against Salisbury. It was his third double-digit tackle effort of his short Lions career, and his second-straight dating back to the final game of 2018 against Lebanon Valley. Viera led the Lions in tackles during the 2018 season with 77 (35 solo), and in sacks with three.
 
LOOKING FRESH
A pair of Lions freshman earned a start against Salisbury in their first collegiate game. Linebacker Dan DiMinno and cornerback Omar Sesay each earned starts for the Lions defense. DiMinno finished with seven tackles (six solo), while Sesay made four stops in the secondary. Running back Lucas Roselli also made his collegiate debut as he took his first and only carry of the game for five yards.
 
OFF THE FIELD
The Lions defense held Salisbury to be just 4 for 11 (36.4%) on third down conversions last Friday night. Last season, Albright's defense average on opponent third down conversions was up at 44.5 percent. Albright limited the Cru to just three third down conversions in the 2018 matchup.
 
 
THAT'S A RAPP
Sophomore defensive tackle Ryan Rapp recorded his first collegiate sack last Friday against Salisbury. The Pennridge product made his first start against the Sea Gulls on the Lions defensive line after appearing in just one game for the Lions on special teams during the 2018 season. Rapp finished with two tackles on the contest, and recorded the Lions only tackle for loss with his sack. 
 
FACING NUMBER ONE
Albright will be facing a team ranked number one in the D3 national polls for the third time in the past 10 years. The last time the Lions faced a team ranked number one in the polls was when they faced Mount Union in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The Purple Raiders defeated the Lions 66-7 in that game which came six years after the Lions faced Mount Union when they were ranked number one in the polls during the NCAA Quarterfinals.
 
REMEMBER THE FIRST
Sophomore Todd Shelley split time with starting quarterback Jimmy Lahay last Friday night. Shelley would throw his first collegiate touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as he found Jordan for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Shelley appeared in seven games as a freshman in 2018, while making his first collegiate start against Mary Hardin-Baylor last season. He set a career-high Friday with 81 passing yards along with eight completions.
 
FOR KICKS
Albright used a pair of punters against Salisbury last Friday night. Sophomore Chris Knop made his collegiate debut as the Lions placekicker in addition to being the punter, while senior quarterback Jimmy Lahay punted for the first time in his Albright career. The duo combined for 6 punts for 162 yards with Lahay having 93 of the yards. Knop was also a perfect 3-for-3 in extra point attempts against the Sea Gulls.
 
ABOUT MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR
The defending national champion Cru were selected preseason number one by D3football.com after garnering 24 of the 25 first-place votes. Mary Hardin-Baylor spent the entire 2018 season at number two in the poll before knocking off the Purple Raiders in the national championship. The win avenged a 12-0 loss to Mount Union in the 2017 Stagg Bowl. Mary Hardin-Baylor has reached three-straight national championship games. In addition, the Cru has won at least a share of 16 of the last 17 American Southwest Conference (ASC) titles. Since 2010, the Cru have amassed a 116-8 overall record. Head Coach Pete Fredenburg was named the 2018 NCAA Division III Region III Coach of the Year by AFCA for the 10^th time in his career.
 
The Cru return a pair of First-Team All-Americans on defense in junior free safety Jefferson Fritz, and senior defensive tackle Joey Longoria. Fritz was a First Team All-American and American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season. He set a new school and conference record and led the nation with 12 interceptions. Longoria was a First Team All-American as well in addition to being named ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year last season. On offense, All-American wide receiver/kick returner selection Aaron Sims will not play against the Lions, and the Cru are slated to be led under center by sophomore Ryan Redding.