Listen To LC Broadcast Online / Watch the Live Stream / Live Stats
PINEVILLE, La. – If anyone was waiting for a self-aggrandizing “We told you so” from the Louisiana College Wildcats, a substantial wait might be required.

Even after a bolting to a 3-0 start, dominating rival and then-No. 23 Mississippi College 52-17 in last week's American Southwest Conference opener and becoming the first ranked team in LC history, the No. 19 Wildcats enter this Saturday's road game with No. 4 with due humility and focus.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast online at 1055kbuck.com and on local radio at 1055 FM Alexandria. Live stats and a live video stream will be provided at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/umhb.portal#

“We're all pretty amped about the game,” senior tight end and long snapper Jesse Browder said. “It's a big game, a conference game, but we are keeping our heads on. Yes, we're ranked for the first time and it is nice to get a little recognition, but that's something you have to look past. When you start thinking you're good, that's when mistakes happen and your flaws come out.”

And the Wildcats can ill-afford miscues against the Cru, a team that Louisiana College has never defeated.

Last season, LC had its best showing against Mary Hardin-Baylor but still fell 42-38 in Pineville.

“As a team, we're feeling pretty focused and confident,” senior defensive back DeMel Dumas said. “But it's a different kind of confidence. It's not the confidence that makes us think anything is guaranteed, it's the kind of confidence that makes us feel that if everyone is focused and takes care of the little things, anything is possible.”

Through three games, nothing has gone wrong for the Wildcats.

After a triple-overtime win over Belhaven in the season opener, LC has defeated Millsaps 56-0 and MC 52-17.

The offense has hummed along nicely while the defense has allowed a combined three points in the last two games (Mississippi College's two touchdowns last week were on a late game punt block and pick six).

LC has yet to be tested like it will be on Saturday in Belton, Texas.

Mary Hardin-Baylor is 4-0 and 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play.

UMHB quarterback LiDarral Bailey, who has had dominant performances versus LC in each of the last two seasons, has passed for 620 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

Cru running back Darius Wilson has rushed 62 times for 371 yards (6.0 avg.) and five touchdowns and the Mary Hardin-Baylor defense has forced 11 turnovers in 2011.

These facts taken with last year's near-miss and this year's battle-of-top-25-teams tagline seem an appropriate enough source of inspiration for the Wildcats but Louisiana College coach Dennis Dunn says this isn't entirely true.

“It's a great opportunity and an important game,” Dunn said. “But it's an important game because it is this week's game. With all due respect for Mary Hardin-Baylor, this game won't be our entire season. It is the next step on our journey. Our focus has to be on preparing for this game and executing on game day.

“The hype surrounding this game is for fans and the media to talk about. For us, it's an early-season game. It's our second conference game. It just happens to be against a great team.”

PREGAME CAPSULE
No. 19 Louisiana College (3-0, 1-0 American Southwest Conference) at No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-0, 2-0 American Southwest Conference)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday
Where: Belton High School Stadium, Belton, Texas
TV: None
Local Radio: KBCK 105.5 FM Alexandria
Listen Online: www.1055kbuck.com
Watch Online: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/umhb.portal#
Live Stats: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/umhb.portal#
Coaches: Louisiana College, Dennis Dunn; UMHB, Pete Fredenburg
Mascots: Louisiana College Wildcats, Mary-Hardin-Baylor Cru
All-Time Record: UMHB leads 10-0
Last Year: UMHB won 42-38 in Pineville, La.
Last Week: LC defeated No. 23 Mississippi College 52-17; Mary Hardin-Baylor defeated No. 25 No. 25 Hardin-Simmons 35-17.
Series notes: Louisiana College has never defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor … In the 10 previous meetings between the Wildcats and Cru, Mary Hardin-Baylor has defeated LC by an average of 49-16 … LC's best showing against Mary Hardin-Baylor came in 2010, when the Wildcats fell 42-38 at home.
Louisiana College notes: When LC was voted the No. 19 team in NCAA Division III earlier this week on D3Football.com, it marked the first time in school history that Louisiana College has fielded a ranked football team … Louisiana College is off to its best start in modern history (since the rebirth of football in 2000). Prior to 2000 the last team LC fielded to start 3-0 was the 1958 team … In 2010, the Wildcats were predominantly a passing team, with Little All-American quarterback Ben McLaughlin passing for 42 touchdowns and 3,770 yards. The 2010 running game produced just 1,352 yards. This season, the Wildcats have a more balanced attack. Quarterback Jamie Bunting and backup Tim Curry have passed for 782 yards and nine touchdowns through three games while the rushing attack has produced 836 yards and 10 touchdowns … The LC running back tandem of Ryan Montague and Daron Bartholomew has accounted for 462 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this season. Montague has 40 carries for 368 yards (9.2 avg.) and three touchdowns and Bartholomew 35 carries for 196 yards (5.5 avg) and three scores … Senior wide receiver Darnell Williams caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown last week in a 52-17 win over Mississippi College. In the same game, he also rushed once for 75 yards and a touchdown … The Louisiana College defense has allowed a combined three points in the last two games. Mississippi College scored its two touchdowns on a blocked punt and pick six … Versus Mississippi College, the LC defense posted a combined five sacks (one apiece by linebacker Richard Logan, defensive end Peter Ford, defensive tackle Wyreaz Bradley, defensive end Grant Medine and defensive end Terrance Bratten) and 16 tackles for loss.
Mary Hardin-Baylor Notes: Mary Hardin-Baylor has rushed for 787 yards while allowing opponents to rush for 258 yards in 2011 … The Cru are outscoring opponents 30-21.3 … UMHB quarterback LiDarral Bailey, who has had dominant performances versus LC in each of the last two seasons, has passed for 620 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns … Cru running back Darius Wilson has rushed 62 times for 371 yards (6.0 avg.) and five touchdowns … The Mary Hardin-Baylor defense has forced 11 turnovers in 2011.