The Lobos trek to Abilene this Saturday, September 21^st for the 89^th meeting between the Lobos and McMurry War Hawks. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Wilford Moore Stadium.


Media Information

Radio…... KVLF AM 1240
Web…….. bigbendradio.com
Watch Live…… https://mcmurrysports.com/sports/2019/8/28/video.aspx
Live Stats…...https://mcmurrysports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

Quick Hits and Recap

• The Lobos dropped their second straight game, 72-0 to Division II A&M Kingsville on Saturday, September 14^th.
• The Javelins outgained the Lobos 600-97.
• Starting quarterback Jorge Barrera finished with 98 yards on 9-22 passing.
• Isaiah Jacobs caused a turnover with a 7-yard interception return.

Scouting the War Hawks

• McMurry is under the guidance of first-year head coach Jordan Neal. Neal was hired as the 23^rd head coach in program history on December 5^th, 2018.
• The War Hawks stand at 0-2 on the season with a 41-10 loss to Trinity and a 56-37 loss to Howard Payne.
• Senior quarterback Xavier Alexander has thrown for 514 yards with four touchdowns and an interception in two starts. He's completed 28 of 61 attempts for a 45.9 completion percentage.
• Freshman running back Dee Robinson is averaging 4.6 yards per carry on 17 attempts for 79 yards.
• Senior wideout Eriel Dorsey is averaging 104.5 yards per game and 26.13 yards per catch with 209 yards on eight receptions and a touchdown. Senior Kevin Hurley Jr. has reeled in three passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Series History

• The War Hawks lead the all-time series 47-39-2. The Lobos have won three of the last four matchups dating back to 2015.
• McMurry defeated the Lobos 35-24 in last year's meeting.

Around the ASC (Sept. 21, 2019)

Hardin-Simmons at Howard Payne, 1:00 p.m.
Louisiana College at Southwestern, 6:00 p.m.
Texas Lutheran at East Texas Baptist, 6:00 p.m.
Belhaven at Mary Hardin-Baylor, 6:00 p.m.

Conference Rewind

Howard Payne 56 – McMurry 37 (Saturday, September 14^th)
ABILENE, Texas – HPU erased a 17-14 halftime deficit, outscoring the War Hawks 42-20 in the second half for the victory. Yellow Jackets Caleb Estes threw five touchdowns on 26 of 31 passing and 388 yards. McMurry's Xavier Alexander threw three scores on 13-31 passing and 313 yards. The Yellow Jackets rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries for an average of 5.7 yards per rush. Howard Payne moves to 2-0 while McMurry stands at 0-2.

Hardin-Simmons 16 – Trinity 10 (Saturday, September 14^th)
ABILENE, Texas – Jamie Pogue's third field goal, a 27-yarder, gave the Cowboys a 9-7 lead with 9:37 left in the 3^rdquarter. Brennen Wooten's nine-yard touchdown pass to Kevi Evans extended the lead to 16-7 with 4:56 left in the third. The Cowboys held the Tigers to a field goal in the 4^thquarter for their second win of the season. HSU is 2-0 on the season.

Mary Hardin-Baylor 56 – Albright 15 (Saturday, September 14^th)
BELTON, Texas – Albright kept it close with the Crusaders through one half of football with UMHB leading 17-9. The Crusaders responded in the second half by outscoring the Lions 39-6. For the game, the Crusaders rushed for 207 yards and five touchdowns with four in the second half. The defending champs start the season 1-0.

Hendrix 26 – Texas Lutheran 23 (Saturday, September 14^th)
SEGUIN, Texas – A nine play, 91-yard drive for Hendrix tied the game at 23-23 with 1:32 remaining. Hendrix recovered a fumble on the TLU 29 and kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Bulldogs. TLU outgained the Warriors 505-350 and rushed for 310 yards in the loss. The Bulldogs start the season at 1-0.
 
Louisiana College 20 – Belhaven 14 (Saturday, September 14^th)
JACKSON, Mississippi – Jarred Simpson's two touchdown passes in the 3^rdwere the only scores for either side in the second half as the Wildcats erased a 14-6 deficit at the half. Simpsons connected three times in the air to receiver Landon Lalonde. He completed 22 of 41 attempts for 325 yards. Blazer's Joey Walden led all receivers with 166 yards on 13 receptions. Louisiana moves to 1-1 while the Blazers fall to 0-2.


CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1 Hardin-Simmons         2-0 (1-0 ASC)
2 Howard Payne            2-0 (1-0 ASC)
3 Louisiana College       1-1 (1-0 ASC)
4 Mary Hardin-Baylor    1-0 (0-0 ASC)
4 Southwestern             1-0 (0-0 ASC)
6 East Texas Baptist      0-1 (0-0 ASC)
6 Texas Lutheran           0-1 (0-0 ASC)
8 Belhaven                     0-2 (0-1 ASC)
8 McMurry                      0-2 (0-1 ASC)
8 Sul Ross St.                0-2 (0-1 ASC)


Quotes from Coach John Pearce

Positive takeaways from playing DII Texas A&M - Kingsville
Our opening drive on offense was good. We moved the ball but then had a penalty. We had a couple other good drives but had some bad snaps. We have to clean that up this week. I like our effort. I thought we didn't quit even late in the game when the score we so lopsided. We had our twos and threes in, playing a lot of guys, getting experience. They had 4^thand 1 and we stopped them, so that was some bright side. I thought our guys fought. It's different when you play a team that has 30 scholarships and you have zero. So, their makeup is a little bit different. I think it was a good experience for our guys. I told them after the game that we're probably the only DIII school in the country that's played eight quarters of physical football. It was a great experience, glad we're back in the ASC this week and hope we continue to keep improving.


On the Sul Ross/McMurry Rivalry
It's the I-20 Shootout trophy. The first three years I believe we won it. Last year they claimed the trophy. We had a chance to win it last year and came up a little short. I'd like to get that trophy back in our locker room. It's something to give the kids a little extra to play for. Hopefully they'll be excited about it.

On going up against a first-year McMurry Head Coach (Jordan Neal)
They have two games under their belt just like us. Tendencies are there from the scouting report. Coach Neal and I spoke yesterday on the phone just securing travel and everything. He said 'you're playing as many freshman and sophomores as they are.' It's going to be a young game, young players on the field. I think both teams are going to keep growing in this conference over the next few years if they stick together and keep the rivalry going in the future.

On McMurry's Offense
They have some talented receivers. I know Howard Payne busted a few coverages, so have we in the past. Our first touchdown we gave up against Hardin-Simmons we blew a coverage. It happens when you play young guys. The score last Saturday doesn't indicate how much we improved from week one. The effort was good, we're fighting. Everybody's frustrated not getting the win or not having better production. But I still think we're heading in the right direction.

Keeping morale up after 0-2 start
Tell them they're the future. Look at the numbers on the roster. Look how young we are, not that that's an excuse. You guys are building it. That's what I did with James Davis my first class my first year. You guys stick together and you're going to make changes. Hopefully they believe in that and see that. We just need to have more positive plays on all three sides of the ball. Keep moving it and hope they see the proof in the pudding.