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Mary Hardin-Baylor entered the fourth quarter trailing Mount Union on the road, 35-21. As a run-first team, scoring quickly was not exactly a guarantee. And the snow was beginning to fall.
This run of UMHB's looked like it was destined for a noble end. The Cru had won three playoff games on the road, with a freshman backup quarterback. Nobody expected them to get this far, let alone further.
It turned out none of that mattered. Sticking to the run game, UMHB used a 10-play drive and kicked a field goal with 10:28 to make it 35-24. The defense got a three-and-out and UMHB responded with an 11-play drive, including a 24-yard pass by Josh Welch to tight end Walter Sharp, big runs by Chad Starnes and Anthony Carter, and a Carter touchdown made it a three-point game with 5:11 left.
With Mount Union trying to run clock, Zac Bruney ran three times, but one was a 5-yard tackle for loss by Keith Zunker, and UMHB used one of its timeouts to preserve clock. The Cru got it back at their own 32 with 3:16 to play, and Welch went to work. He went 3-for-5 passing for 31 yards, setting up a fourth-and-12 from the 24.
"It wasn't too technical a play," said Welch. "I saw a white jersey coming out from the black and purple, whatever they wear, (and I threw it to him)."
It was Walter Sharp who came down with it, with 0:48.9 left, and there was not enough time for Bruney to create a miracle ending. UMHB went on to the Stagg Bowl, capping its seventh season of Division III football competition.