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McMurry led 9-0 after the first quarter, but Texas Lutheran, led by Anthony Smith rallied for 20-unanswered points to defeat McMurry 20-9 Saturday afternoon in Seguin at Matador Stadium. Smith carried for 212 yards on 30 carries and had two touchdown runs to help the Bulldogs win their second American Southwest Conference contest.
The loss drops McMurry to 2-7 overall on the season and 1-6 against ASC competition. McMurry had the turnover bug Saturday as quarterback Rashon Lewis tossed two interceptions in the end zone and fumbled four times losing two of them. Tre' Lewis also fumbled a punt in the fourth quarter when McMurry still trailed just 13-9.
However, the Bulldogs took advantage of the muffed punt and scored on the next play with Bryan Villa completing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Clouse to seal the victory with 8:25 remaining in regulation.
Rashon Lewis found Bert Green for a 41-yard touchdown score in the second quarter after a Josh Neaves field goal. The point-after-attempt was no good but McMurry led 9-0. After Green's touchdown, the bulldogs drove to the McMurry 14-yard line, but Holt Storrie couldn't connect on a 31-yard field goal.
However, TLU responded by sacking Rashon Lewis on the third play of the drive causing a fumble and picking it up at the McMurry 16-yard line. Smith carried his first touchdown of the day on the first offensive play of the drive for the Bulldogs following the fumble recovery. The score made the score 9-7.
In the third quarter, TLU's Casey Wedding forced another Rashon Lewis fumble where the Bulldogs picked up the ball at the 27-yard line. Three plays later, Smith scored from 10 yards out for his second touchdown of the day to make the score 13-9 after a failed 2-point conversion.
McMurry's defense, like always, did its share of trying to give the offense opportunities. Freshman linebacker Osiris Taylor recovered two fumbles for McMurry's defense and freshman corner Jamorian Wilkins had his second interception in as many weeks. Taylor's first fumble recovery led to Neaves' 38-yard field goal, however, McMurry was unable to convert on the other two opportunities.
On the offensive end, McMurry drove to the red zone twice before ending the possession with an interception in the end zone. After Green's touchdown reception, McMurry began a drive from its own 7-yard line and drove the ball to the TLU 2-yard line. However, two straight false start penalties against McMurry's offense set up a 3rd down and 11 situation from the 12-yard line where Rashon Lewis threw his first interception to Robert Bonner, who took the ball back to the TLU 49-yard line.
The interception halted a 14-play 81-yard drive where Tristan Randle gained 54 of his 83 yards on the day. TLU had the ball with 39 seconds left in the half and ran the clock out to go into halftime with just a 2-point deficit.
Wilkins' interception came in the fourth quarter when McMurry was already down 20-9. However, Rashon Lewis found Bert Green for a 54-yard pass that brought the McMurry offense to the 26-yard line. However, the next pass was intercepted by Robert Bonugli to end any chance of late miracle comeback.
Green finished the game with two receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Rashon Lewis finished 6 of 21 for 143 yards passing and two picks. Randle gained 83 yards on 29 carries.
TLU had just 309 yards of offense on the day against a tough McMurry defense. However, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage at the opportune times to take the victory. Smith's 212-yard performance was the highest by any TLU player since the Bulldogs joined the NCAA in 1998.
McMurry will finally have a bye week after nine-straight weeks with games. McMurry will try to snap a 19-game losing streak against Hardin-Simmons and get its first victory over the Cowboys since 1963. The final game of the season is at McMurry's Wilford Moore Stadium Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
