The Sul Ross State football team is just a win away from finishing the season at .500 for the first time since 2017.

Only one obstacle stands in the way.

On Saturday, the Lobos travel to Abilene, Texas for another edition of the Battle of I-20 when they take on McMurry University at 1 p.m. CST.

>> HEAD TO HEAD:

Dating back to Nov. 17, 1923, the Lobos and War Hawks have met 92 times.

McMurry leads the all-time series 47-43-2.

Sul Ross State has won the last two meetings.

Last year the Lobos had a dramatic 33-27 victory during homecoming on Oct. 29 as Korbin Covarrubiaz tossed the game-winning 10-yard touchdown to Austin Ogunmakin with 28 seconds to go in the game.

In 2021, Sul Ross State notched a 24-11 win on the road over McMurry. That day the Lobos scored 17 unanswered points in the second half.

>> THE WAR HAWKS:

McMurry began the season 2-2 with wins over Millsaps College (53-2) and Lyon College (52-14).

The War Hawks played nationally-ranked Hardin-Simmons to a competitive three-point loss, 19-16.

McMurry is now riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Howard Payne (45-21), Austin College (51-13) and most recently Texas Lutheran (36-33).

Quarterback Joel Hess threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Texas Lutheran.

Hess is second in the American Southwest Conference with 2,265 yards passing and 20 touchdowns.

McMurry ranks third in the conference in scoring as it averages 32.7 points per game.

The War Hawks are also third in total offense with 3,554 yards.

Wide receiver Kristopher Martin leads the ASC with 953 yards and nine touchdowns on 59 receptions. In the win over Texas Lutheran, Martin grabbed seven catches for 110 yards and two scores.

Defensive back Timothy Leatherman leads the defense with 51 total tackles and 36 solo tackles while linebacker Marshall Tovar is fourth in the conference with five sacks.

>> THIS AND THAT:

• The Lobo offense ranks third in the ASC in offense with 1,998 yards.
• Andrew Martinez is third in the conference with 1,663 passing yards, 10th in rushing with 308 yards and third in total offense with 1,971 yards.
• Rodd Hudson III is seventh in the ASC in rushing with 344 yards.
• Isaiah Pena ranks sixth in receiving in the conference with 539 yards.
• Vicente Luevano is now ninth in the ASC with 470 receiving yards.
• Luevano is tied for seventh in the ASC in touchdowns scored with six.
• Luevano's 112 punt return yards are third-best in the ASC.
• Luevano also ranks seventh in all-purpose yards with 779 yards.
• Carlos Arreola's 56 points rank fifth in the ASC in scoring.
• Arreola leads the ASC with 10 made field goals.
• Bobby Williams is the second-best kick returner in the conference with 458 yards on 19 returns and one touchdown.
• Jade Rios has 98 total tackles and 57 solo tackles to lead the ASC.
• Jayden Floyd is seventh in the ASC in tackles for loss with nine.
• Lorenzo Fowler and Dayln Dunbar rank in the top 10 in the ASC in sacks. Dunbar is seventh with 4.5 sacks while Fowler is ninth with four sacks.
• Alec Garcia leads the conference with 11 pass breakups while Evian Thompson is eighth with seven pass breakups.
• Sul Ross State is now 7-5 on homecoming since 2011. The Lobos have won their last two homecoming games.
• The Lobos are one win away from finishing 5-5 overall for the first time since 2017. The last time Sul Ross State finished above .500 was in 2016 with a 6-4 record.

>> LONE STAR CONFERENCE ACTION:

With Sul Ross State transitioning to NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference in 2024, here's how the LSC has been shaping up this season.

It comes down to the final week of the season as No. 17 ranked University of Texas-Permian Basin meets No. 23 Central Washington to decide the LSC title. Both teams have been perfect in LSC play.

Here are the updated LSC standings:

• UT-Permian Basin (9-1, 7-0)
• Central Washington (7-2, 7-0)
• Angelo State (6-3, 5-2)
• Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-3, 4-3)
• Midwestern State (4-5, 3-4)
• Eastern New Mexico (5-5, 2-5)
• Western Oregon (3-7, 2-5)
• West Texas A&M (3-7, 2-6)
• Western New Mexico (1-8, 0-7)

>> NEWS FROM AROUND THE ASC:

Hardin-Simmons has just one more obstacle before it can claim the ASC title outright as it plays East Texas Baptist.

Here are the scores from last week:

• Mary Hardin-Baylor 21, East Texas Baptist 12
• Hardin-Simmons 59, Austin College 19
• McMurry 36, Texas Lutheran 33

Here are the updated standings:

• Hardin-Simmons (8-1, 5-0)
• Mary Hardin-Baylor (5-4, 4-1)
• Howard Payne (6-3, 3-2)
• East Texas Baptist (5-4, 3-2)
• McMurry (5-4, 3-3)
• Texas Lutheran (1-8, 0-5)
• Austin College (1-8, 0-5)

GAME INFO
>> WHO: Sul Ross State (4-5) at McMurry (5-4)
>> WHEN: 1 p.m. CST (Saturday, Nov. 11)
>> WHERE: Wilford Moore Stadium | Abilene, Texas | 1560 Ross Ave.
>> HOW TO WATCH: https://mcmurrysports.com/sports/2019/8/28/video.aspx