UW-Whitewater linebacker Matt Anderson chases Mary Hardin-Baylor quarterback Jase Hammack in the 2018 semifinals. Both are suiting up for their respective teams again this weekend. 2018 d3photography.com photo by Joe Fusco

By Brian Lester
D3sports.com

UW-Whitewater senior linebacker Matt Anderson is ready to escape the grip of winter, if only for a couple of days. Leaving cold and snow in the rear-view mirror is never a bad thing.

That alone is a reason to be excited about a trip to Texas to battle Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

But, of course, there is more reason for excitement.

This game at Crusader Stadium in Belton is another step on the journey to a title and it’s also a rematch of last year’s national semifinal showdown won by the Crusaders, 31-14.

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Last year marked the first time the Warhawks have ever lost to the Cru in six encounters, four coming in the postseason, all in the semifinals.

For the first time in the postseason history of this rivalry, a spot in the national championship game won’t be on the line, though that doesn’t make the game nor the stakes riding on it any less important.

“Eight teams are left and it’s an honor knowing we are one of them,” Anderson said. “Getting to play a team like that is exciting and we get some warmer weather. It’s been cold up here.”

Weather aside, facing the reigning national champs means the Warhawks must raise their game to another level.

“When you play an opponent like Mary Hardin-Baylor, you have to step up your game another notch,” Anderson said. “We have to step up and play our best football. We have to do our job and put ourselves in a good position to win this game.”

UMHB and UW-Whitewater first met in the playoffs in 2007. The Warhawks prevailed 16-7. They played again in 2008 and the Warhawks nailed down a 39-13 win. Their last playoff meeting prior to last season was in 2013. The Warhawks escaped with a 16-15 win.

UW-Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis has been a part of all but one of those playoff battles, and the feeling of just coaching in a playoff game, regardless of the opponent, is one that never gets old.

“To have a chance to compete with their team is always a pleasure,” Bullis said. “We both have great histories and that’s a credit to both programs. We’ve had a tradition of meeting in the playoffs and that tradition continues.”

UMHB head coach Pete Fredenburg has been around for every one of the meetings between these two schools. So he understands as well as anyone what it’s going to take to survive and how things just feel a little different when these two teams square off.

“It just kind of takes a higher level of energy and concentration, and focus,” Fredenburg said. “We have tremendous respect for them and understand what kind of effort it’s going to take to win that ball game.”

Senior UMHB wide receiver Jonel Reed knows what it takes as well. He leads the Cru with more than 1,100 receiving yards and has caught 15 touchdown passes.

“Big games are always exciting. We know what it’s going to take to beat them and that the stakes are higher in a game like this,” Reed said.

And while teams have different looks year to year, there is a comfort to Reed knowing he can go back and look at the game from last season.

“It’s hard to beat a team twice, even after a season, but it’s good knowing you can look at a scouting report and see who is back and know you played against this guy or that guy. You have a feel for what he’s going to do,” Reed said.

That is the thing about both of these teams. Preparation and focus mean everything to both the No. 2 Cru (12-0), which has won its last 27, and the seventh-ranked Warhawks (11-1), who are 24-2 over the last two seasons and are on a mission to win their first national title since 2014.

“That’s the thing about us. Even when we win a game by 30 or 40, we always come into the meeting room that Sunday knowing there are things to fix,” Reed said.

Fredenburg will attest to that.

“They work hard to get better from the mistakes they made,” Fredenburg said. “This group and all of the teams we have had here have a tremendous work ethic. Regardless of who we are playing, we know we have to get better that week.”

Bullis said his team approaches each week with the mindset of going 1-0. He also points out that his team’s experience in these types of games plays a part in being ready for them,

“The most important thing to learn is that the routine doesn’t change,” Bullis said. “What you do day to day doesn’t change in the playoffs. The football field is still the same size, the rules are still the same and your process needs to stay the same.”

A year ago, the Cru jumped out to a 17-0 lead against the Warhawks. A 90-yard punt return for a touchdown by Aaron Sims in the second quarter punctuated that dominant start. UW-Whitewater didn’t help its cause by turning the ball over four times.

“You can’t give them the ball four times,” Bullis said. “It takes away opportunities for our offense and we also gave up that punt return. Not turning the ball over and not giving up big plays is a priority for us this week.”

Anderson had one of his best games in that loss, tallying 13 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, while also recording one sack. He has 77 tackles on the year and knows it’s going to take a tremendous four-quarter effort to knock off the Cru.

But even if adversity strikes at some point, Anderson said this UW-Whitewater team has proven it can be resilient.

“We are extremely gritty,” Anderson said. “We know a lot of things can go your way and a lot of things might not go your way in a game. But you have to stay true to who you are and stay gritty. The passion we play with helps a lot, too.”

Fredenburg said setting the tone early is important and said one of the keys to success for the Cru is being ready for the physical style the Warhawks play.

“We have to match their physicality. That’s the critical thing,” Fredenburg said. “And then you just have to make plays and do the things that we do crisp. They play hard and are extremely well-coached. It’s never an easy game against them.”

Bullis expects a classic and he said no added motivation is needed for a showdown with the Cru.

“I don’t have to do any prodding or rah-rah speeches. They understand what is on the line and what they need to do to win,” Bullis said. “Typically these games with them are slug matches and are usually 60 minutes of a lot of fun. I anticipate that’s going to be the story of the game this year as well.”