ABILENE, Texas — It was the 93rd edition of the Battle of I-20 rivalry game.
The Sul Ross State football team was on the brink of finishing 5-5 overall for the first time since 2017.
On Saturday afternoon, the War Hawks defeated the Lobos, 37-23, at Wilford Moore Stadium for the regular-season finale.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
Using a nine-play, 69-yard drive, the Lobos got on the board first with a field goal from
Carlos Arreola with 12:32 in the opening quarter.
McMurry scored on its next offensive series with a two-yard touchdown run by Joel Hess with 9:08 remaining.
Sul Ross State's next series was cut short on a fumble that was recovered by McMurry. The War Hawks capitalized with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hess to Karmelus Card to make the score 14-3.
The Lobos got on the board once more with a field goal by Arreola with 14:54 in the second quarter.
McMurry scored 10-straight points as Hess threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Corinthean Coleman and then the War Hawks got a 25-yard field goal to extend their lead to 24-6 with 5:50 to go in the second quarter.
Sul Ross State went on to score three more times with another field goal by Arreola.
Vicente Luevano then caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from
Cyrin Myles with 1:04 to go in the third quarter and then the final touchdown was on a two-yard pass from Myles to
Bobby Williams with just under 8:30 to go in the game.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (4-6); McMurry (6-4)
>> WHAT THE COACH SAID:
"As a young team, our biggest challenge is to learn how to handle ourselves in success and how to hand ourselves in defeat. I'm proud of our team accomplishments this year. Our staff and our players will be putting in the dynamic detail this offseason to change the script as we go forward into a new world at Division II. Lastly, thank you to our seniors for putting in the dedication to change the program around. They were instrumental in laying the foundation for a better future here at Sul Ross." —
Head coach Barry Derickson
>> GAME NOTES:
- McMurry is now 48-43-2 all-time versus the Lobos since the series began in 1923.
- Myles finished 23 of 36 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
- Andrew Martinez completed 9 of 15 passes for 144 yards.
- Travell Lumpkin rushed for 25 yards on seven carries.
- Isaiah Pena led the receiving corps with 99 yards on three receptions.
- Luevano added with six catches for 79 yards.
- Dayln Dunbar finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss totaling 24 yards.
- The Lobo defense finished with seven tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception.
