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ABILENE, Texas – Homecoming has been kind to Hal Mumme since his arrival in 2009, and he will look to continue that trend going for McMurry's third consecutive football victory on Homecoming against Sul Ross State Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.

The War Hawks (3-2, 2-1) are coming off back-to-back games with at least 600 yards of total offense standing third with one loss in the American Southwest Conference behind unbeaten Mary Hardin-Baylor and Texas Lutheran. The Lobos (1-3, 0-3) are still waiting for it all to come together, but enter the contest with an improved balanced offense.

“They're throwing it around pretty good, they've got a great receiver named [Lee] Carothers that we have to worry about,” said McMurry head coach Hal Mumme of his opponent. “And defensively, they're a little more of a man team this year than they have been in the past and they'll blitz a little more so we'll have to worry about that.”

Dominique Carson, former Sul Ross quarterback, has switched to running back for the Lobos and is averaging 69.3 yards per game and averages 4.3 yards per carry. Carothers is the ASC's top receiver averaging 7.5 catchers per contest and 117 yards per game; the Lobo receiver also has four of Sul Ross' five touchdown catches on the season.

McMurry beat Sul Ross in 2009 in Mumme's first year as head coach 35-21 before the War Hawks destroyed Texas Lutheran last season 63-14 in front of a Homecoming crowd. The McMurry faithful will return home to new aluminum bleachers on the west side of the stands replacing wood bleachers that have been in place for more than 20 years.

To make it three straight Homecoming wins, the War Hawks will need not overlook the Lobos who are breaking in a talented new quarterback. Scotty Walden, a senior for Sul Ross State, is second behind Jake Mullin in ASC passing yards per game at 225 per contest. He's completed 54.5 percent of his passes, tossed five touchdowns and thrown four interceptions. In the meantime, the Lobo defense ranks No. 1 in total defense (364.2 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (26.8 ppg).

“We're looking to come out and play fast the first play of the game whether it's offense or defense. We're going to come after them and really play like we've been finishing the second half of our football games,” said McMurry running back Justin Johnson.

McMurry has had slow starts in its last three contests. The War Hawks fell down 28-6 before rallying and eventually falling to No. 3-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor, 28-27 Sept. 17. Then, at home against East Texas Baptist Sept. 24, the Tigers scored the first 17 points of the game before McMurry went on to rout ETBU 63-31. Last week against Howard Payne, the War Hawks failed to score on their first three offensive possessions and were held scoreless in the first quarter before going on to the 50-3 victory over the YellowJackets.

The War Hawks continue to climb the charts nationally; the team is the No. 1 passing offense in Division III at 398.4 yards per contest while Jake Mullin ranks No. 5 in the country at 323.4 yards per contest. Mullin has 1,617 yards in five games along with 12 touchdown tosses.

Part of McMurry's offensive explosion the last two weeks has been getting the running game going. Justin Johnson has combined for 317 yards rushing and receiving the past two weeks, and the ground game has scored five of the team's six touchdowns in 63-31 and 50-3 wins over East Texas Baptist and Howard Payne respectively.

“As a running back in this system you have to be patient and do your part, and that means blocking and catching the ball,” said the junior Johnson. “And when they call your number you just run and do your job.”

The War Hawks defense ranks 10th in the country in tackles for loss per game at 9.5 per game. If McMurry hadn't played Stephen F. Austin, a nationally-ranked Division I FCS school, in the first week of the season; the War Hawks would have the No. 1 defense in the ASC. Since giving up 744 total yards against SFA Sept. 1, McMurry has allowed just 349.5 yards per contest, which would rank first.

“We're glad to be 3-2 after a tough opening schedule,” Mumme said. “It's Homecoming, it's a special thing at McMurry, and we need to win the game so that's what we're focusing on right now.”

Kickoff is at 2 p.m. with the game being carried on KZQQ 1560 AM and live with audio and video on mcmurrysports.com.