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ABILENE, Texas – The War Hawks can't count their eyases before they're hatched.

All that stands in the way of a probable bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in McMurry University's football history is Mississippi College. The struggling Choctaws come to Abilene Saturday at 2 p.m. to close the regular season against No. 20-ranked McMurry (7-2, 6-1) at Wilford Moore Stadium on senior day.

22 seniors will be honored in pre-game ceremonies Saturday and none more proud than the 12 men who were a part of the 2008 team as freshmen that went 0-10. Head coach Hal Mumme's arrival at McMurry prior to the 2009 season saw a 4-6 season, followed by the first winning season in a decade at 6-4 last season, and a national ranking in 2011.

“It's going to be senior day, all their families and loved ones are going to be in the stands,” said Mumme. “We have 22 seniors and that part is important to us and we want to send those guys out on their last home game with a win.”

Mississippi College (3-6, 2-5), just two years removed from their first NCAA Division III playoff appearance in 2009 will post its second consecutive losing season regardless of Saturday's outcome. Head Coach Norman Joseph and the Choctaws pulled off the improbable by defeating Mary Hardin-Baylor Oct. 17, 2009 in Clinton, Miss. ending a 33-game American Southwest Conference win streak for the Cru.

The win fueled a 9-3 season for MC, and the Choctaws won their opening game in the NCAA playoffs against Huntingdon College. However, the departure of quarterback Adam Shaffer to graduation among the loss of other key players after 2009 has left Mississippi College sputtering.

Last season, the team finished 4-6 overall and had only two conference wins. McMurry went to Clinton, Miss. to close the season and defeated the Choctaws 28-17 Nov. 13 with third-string quarterback Landry Gunter leading McMurry to the win with four touchdown passes.

This season after a 2-1 start and a key win over then nationally-ranked Hardin-Simmons, the Choctaws lost three consecutive ASC games to Louisiana College, Mary Hardin-Baylor and East Texas Baptist. A win over Howard Payne Oct. 22 put the Choctaws at 2-3 and gave the team a chance to turn the season around.

However, a devastating overtime loss to Sul Ross State Oct. 29 followed by a home loss to Texas Lutheran 36-16 Saturday has the team at the bottom of the standings in eighth place. But, like the last-place Baltimore Orioles who beat the Boston Red Sox two out of three games in late September to keep Boston out of the MLB Playoffs, the Choctaws have a chance to do the same to McMurry Saturday.

“We can't take this team lightly by any means … we need to finish the year strong,” said junior cornerback D.J. Baiza. “We're going to play the next game as if it's our last. We are very proud as a football team to go 7-2 and we're very prideful to be a McMurry War Hawk.”

McMurry earned its first-ever national ranking from D3football.com Sunday night at No. 20 flip-flopping with Louisiana College who McMurry beat Saturday 49-28 on the road. Then, Monday for the first time since 1999, the War Hawks were ranked by the American Football Coaches Association at No. 24.

Seven wins for McMurry is the most since the 1999 season, and McMurry will be looking for an 8-win season for just the ninth time in the program's history.

“Our guys are playing well, but I think they are playing well because they enjoy the game,” said Mumme. “We have a chance to be 8-2, and that's only been done a handful of times in the history of McMurry football.”

Mumme is 1-1 against Mississippi College as McMurry's head coach with a 61-14 loss in 2009 and a 28-17 win last season. He also coached against the Choctaws when he was head coach at Valdosta State and defeated MC four-straight times from 1992-1995.

“They haven't had the season they've wanted to have, but they still have a lot of athletes, and we can't take them lightly,” Mumme said. “We have to play hard and go about our business.”

The two teams square off at 2 p.m. and Abilene fans can listen to the game on 1560 AM KZQQ or watch and listen live at mcmurrysports.com/showcase.