BELTON, Texas - A season that will go down as one of the best ever in program history has come to an end. Birmingham-Southern fell to #2 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Football Playoffs. 

After each team opened up the game with no points to show on their first drive, the Cusaders drove down the field and scored to take an early 7-0. A 21-yard pass from Ryan Redding found K.J. Miller in the endzone for the score. The lead would not last long. On the ensuing kickoff DJ Albright returned it 89 yards for a Panther touchdown. Zach Ford converted on the extra-point attempt and tied the game at seven a piece. 

UMHB then responded with a six-yard touchdown pass, again from Redding to Miller to put the Crusaders up 14-7. At the end of the first quarter the score remained 14-7.

The second quarter did not see much scoring as both teams would go back-and-forth before Mary Hardin-Baylor broke through. Another special teams play came up big for the Panthers. UMHB set up for a 42-yard field goal attempt. The snap and hold were good, but Jon Lewis came flying around the edge and blocked the kick giving the Panthers some momentum back on their side. 

The BSC offense operated a drive that got them to the UMHB 39-yard line before it stalled out and the Panthers were forced to punt. 

After an interception set up a short field for the Crusaders they would punch it in, in two plays to take a 21-7 lead. There would be no more scoring the rest of the half and Birmingham-Southern went into halftime trailing 21-7. 

The Panthers came out of halftime looking to claw back and make it a one score game. They could not find their rhythm on offense in the second half and were held scoreless in the third quarter. UMHB scored about halfway through the quarter and extended their lead to 28-7.

The fourth quarter would start with Mary Hardin-Baylor leading 28-7. That quickly changed as a couple plays later the Crusaders hit for an explosive pass play. A 63-yard touchdown pass gave them a 35-7 lead. The Panthers again put a good drive together, but would stall out at the UMHB 22-yard line. UMHB scored once more before the game ended. 

A historic season for the Panthers game to a close. This year the Panthers made, played in, and hosted a Division III Football Championship game. There were also numerous team records, and individual season records broken throughout the season. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 10-2 Overall, #2 Mary Hardin-Baylor 12-0 Overall

News and notes
> This was the first meeting between BSC and UMHB. 
> This was DJ Albright's first kickoff return for a touchdown this season. 
> This was the first 10-win season in program history. 
> BSC is 1-3 in the last five years when playing in the state of Texas. 

Up next
The loss concludes the Panthers 2021 season.