Game week notes 
KICKOFF
Sul Ross and McMurry will face each other in one of the oldest rivalries in Division III football. It's the annual Battle of I-20 this Saturday in the Lobos' home opener. Kickoff is 6 p.m. from Jackson Field and can be heard live on KVLF AM 1240.
QUICK HITS AND RECAP
- Sul Ross is returning from a bye week following a 23-7 ASC-opening loss at No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Sul Ross sits at 1-1 and including an 0-1 record in ASC competition.
- Against UMHB, the Lobos found pay dirt with just over 1:30 left in the third as Jeremy Reed scored on a nine-yard pass from fellow senior James Davis. Eli Lopez then converted the extra attempt in what would be the final scoring session on the contest.
- McMurry picked up its first win of the season defeating Howard Payne, 33-21 Saturday night in Abilene.
- The War Hawks are 1-2 on the season, 1-1 in ASC play following a pair of losses at at Panhandle State and Southwestern.
- Saturday's contest marks the 87th time the Lobos and McMurry have competed on the grid iron.
MEDIA INFORMATION
SCOUTING THE WAR HAWKS (from McM sports info.)
- Sophomore quarterback Kevin Hurly ran for 102 yards on eight carries, including a 22-yard touchdown jaunt in the first quarter against Howard Payne.
- Hurley's rushing total was the most by a McMurry signal-caller in a game since Rashon Lewis carried 21 times for 138 yards versus Hardin-Simmons in 2007.
- Through the air, Hurley completed a sterling .739 percent of his pass attempts, 13-of-23. Hurley had a pair of aerial TDs, as well, both to wide receiver Trevion Harris.
- Hurley and Harris connected on scoring passes of 12 yards in the first quarter and 23 in the second.
- Wade Barthelemy Jr. ran the ball 14 times for 73 yards.
- Jeremiah Jefferson paced the McM receivers with six catches for 89 yards.
- Defensively, three McMurry players – Jordan Washington, Aaron Theut and Darius Brooks – each amassed seven tackles. All seven of the stops by Washington and Theut were solo tackles. Allen Scott and Josh Smith each chipped in six tackles.
- Brooks and Charles Smith each had a sack, as well.
- Saturday's game in Alpine is the War Hawks' most-contested series in McMurry's football history.
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday's game between the Lobos and War Hawks marks the 87th time the teams have met on the gridiron.
- McMurry leads the all-time series 45-39-2 dating back to the first year of intercollegiate football at Sul Ross in 1923.
- In their first meeting, McMurry defeated the Lobos 12-0.
LAST MEETING (Oct. 22, 2016)
- Sul Ross rebounded from a 21-15 fourth quarter deficit and went on to defeat host McMurry, 35-21, last season.
- James Davis finished the day completing 11 of 18 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown while Byron Jones posted three catches for 96 yards and two trips to the end zone.
- Damian Espinoza, Alonte Thomas and Zack Roberson all accounted for seven tackles. Thomas notched three sacks in the victory including a breakup.
- 2016's win over the War Hawks put Sul Ross on a three-game win streak.
- Jordan Batson put the first points on the board for the Lobos with a one-yard scamper which finished a five-play, 58-yard scoring drive.
- Batson saddled the final touchdown of the day at 43 seconds in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard run.
- Batson led the running game with 13 carries for 63 yards and two scores.
SUL ROSS TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL NOTES (vs. UMHB)
- The Lobos mustered 178 yards of total offense off of 52 plays against UMHB.
- UMHB posted 320 yards of total offense off of 75 plays.
- Davis completed 15 of 28 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.
- Williton Grear netted 29 yards off of 14 carries.
- The Lobos were penalized six times for 61 yards while the Crus committed four penalties for 53 yards.
- Sul Ross totaled 26:18 in time of possession compared to the Cru's 33:42.
- Byron Jones led Sul Ross receivers with six catches for 65 yards.
- Mike Quinonez led defenders with 11 tackles (10 solos/1 assist).
- Job Mason recorded nine stops including nine stops.
- Derrick Winters leads Sul Ross with three interceptions on the season.
- Saturday's loss to the Crusaders marks the 20th consecutive setback in a series dating back to 1998.
- UMHB posted 320 yards of total offense off of 75 plays.
- UMHB's T.J. Josey completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards and two scores against the Lobo defense.
AROUND THE ASC
Hardin-Simmons at Howard Payne, 1 p.m.– Brownwood*
Southwestern at Louisiana College, 1 p.m.-Pineville, La.*
Texas Lutheran at Mary Hardin-Baylor, 6 p.m.-Belton*
McMurry at Sul Ross St., 6 p.m.-Alpine*
Belhaven at East Texas Baptist, 7 p.m.-Marshall*
*ASC game
CONFERENCE RECAP
Hardin-Simmons-55, Louisiana College-10
ABILENE- Hardin-Simmons' football team rolled up 681 yards of offense en route to a 55-10 win over Louisiana College in the American Southwest Conference opener at Shelton Stadium on Saturday. The Cowboy defense forced three first-half turnovers and had a shutout until early in the fourth quarter. The defense held the Wildcats to 299 yards and to just 3.5 yards per play in the contest.
No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor- 24, No. 6 Linfield-3
LINFIELD, Ore.- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team exercised some demons and used a dominating defensive effort to roll past Linfield College 24-3 Saturday afternoon in Oregon. The top-ranked Cru improves to 2-0 overall with its 17th consecutive victory. Linfield drops to 1-1.
East Texas Baptist-28, Southwestern-10
GEORGETOWN- A great defensive effort helped a sluggish offense as the East Texas Baptist University football team came away with a 28-10 win over the Southwestern University Pirates in the American Southwest Conference opener. The defense only allowed one touchdown in the second quarter and no points in the second half.
McMurry-33, Howard Payne-21
ABILENE- Sophomore quarterback Kevin Hurley Jr. handled matters with both his arm and his feet, leading the McMurry University football team to its first win of the season by topping Howard Payne University, 33-21. The War Hawks improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the American Southwest Conference (ASC), while the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-2 and 0-1 in the ASC.
Texas Lutheran-37, Belhaven-0
SEGUIN- The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs gave Head Coach Carl Gustafson his first collegiate win with dominating performances on offense and defense that produced a 37-0 American Southwest Conference victory Saturday over Belhaven University.
QUOTES FROM COACH JOHN PEARCE
Thoughts on No.1 Mary Hardin-Baylor: It was a really good football game. I was really proud of how our guys played, especially in the second half. Our defense was able to hold them to just three field goals for most of the first half and that's what you want in a situation like that. Their first touchdown resulted from a missed tackle by one of our safeties which, had we been able to make that play, may have ended up as another field goal. We were in coverage and nobody blew any assignments.
On the offense: We just stuck with the game plan and started moving the ball. We had a nice opening drive and ended inside their 15 yard line and got stuffed. I figured we could have kicked a field but in order to beat a team like that, you need to go for the end zone. But the effort was just awesome. In general we've had a week to sit back and think about that game. Obviously we're disappointed with the result. But it was just a very physical football game on both sides of the line.
On holding the bye week early: As I've stated from the beginning, the first eight quarters of our season were going to be the most physical and competitive. We went toe-to-toe with a Division II then the defending Division III National Champions. So we needed some down time not just because of the physical nature of our opponents but playing with such a high emotional component. We got some needed rest. We were able to hold a two-hour practice Saturday with a scrimmage and then we hosted a youth football camp. So it was constructive down time. Sunday we just came out and focused on running and conditioning and getting our legs back under us.
On the margin differential against UMHB in 2016 and 2017: It was just upperclassman. We have a much more mature team this year and much more mature individuals in terms of leadership. And I think that showed in the game in Belton compared to last year's game at Jackson Field. Our guys are growing up, not just as football players but as men. Our veterans are now more seasoned to play against an opponent like Mary Hardin-Baylor. My hope is that it sets a tone for our underclassmen.
On facing UMHB in the second game of the season: The conference dictates the conference schedules. We were actually scheduled to play them in week three. But they had a two-year contract with Linfield they were obliged to fulfill. So we negotiated to move it to the second game and their season-opener due to compensation issues between them and Linfield. But next year we'll still play them for our league opener but we will just move our bye week to week two and play them in week three.
On scouting McMurry: They run the ball well and we're going to have to put pressure on their quarterback and make some hits on him. He looked a little shaky in their first two games but was a little more confident against Howard Payne. He had more time to throw the ball. So again, it's putting pressure on him. Generally we haven't done a great job in that area although Zack [Roberson] had three near sacks against Mary Hardin-Baylor. We did a better job of harassing the quarterback in the Belton game than we did at U.T.P.B. but there's still some work that needs to be done in that respect. They have some play makers who can move the ball.
Thoughts on the rivalry with the War Hawks: This is a special game for both teams. To get them under the lights in our home opener should really provide a lot of fanfare for both schools. We share a lot of history with McMurry on the football field. We've been able to go 2-0 on them since they returned back to the Division III level in 2015. I look for both teams to be pumped for Saturday night. I like the rivalry and the atmosphere it brings. The players have embraced it and so have the fans.
On injuries and other health issues: So far we've been strangely fortunate with injuries. Right now the only real concern is dealing with some allergy issues and a bit of stomach sickness but we're on the tail end of that.
