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Game Notes

ABILENE, Texas - There won't be 31,000 people, no nationally-ranked Division I school, and the seven-time defending American Southwest Conference champions aren't taking the field Saturday against McMurry. But the War Hawks' home opener Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium if a formidable one in East Texas Baptist.

McMurry is 3-10 all-time against the Tigers, but since Hal Mumme's arrival in 2009 the series has been quite an interesting one. McMurry snapped a 17-game losing skid in Mumme's first season in 2009 with a 45-21 thrashing of ETBU at home. Then, in 2010 Mark Sartain's Tigers took a 23-21 victory over McMurry in Marshall a week after McMurry had nationally-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor on the ropes in the second half.

However, the Crusaders finished strong and found a way to erase 25-straight points scored by McMurry and take the victory 43-31. The loss left McMurry reeling after the chances of the upset were squandered, and ETBU took advantage. Brett Peddicord's 19-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining gave the Tigers the win last season.

This season, the Tigers get a similar situation. The War Hawks took an 82-6 pounding from nationally-ranked Division I FCS school Stephen F. Austin Sept. 1 before defeating FCS UT-San Antonio in front of 31,000+ at the Alamodome 24-21 Sept. 10. In the conference opener Saturday in Belton, McMurry fell 28-27 to No. 3-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor marking the second-time the Cru was on upset alert from McMurry. It will be up to the War Hawks (1-2, 0-1) to respond differently in 2011.

“It will be great to play in front of the home folks. We're glad to get back here and play in front of our crowd,” said head coach Hal Mumme. “These guys beat us last year so there's a little bit of a revenge factor involved.”

Mumme said he knows that ETBU will be a tough team that runs a similar offense to what the War Hawks saw from UTSA and UMHB with the option run. However, the third-year McMurry head coach said he's glad to see the road trip come to an end.

“It was a tough 3-game stretch. It really was, and I thought if we came out of that with any wins, we'd be doing pretty good,” he said. “We would've preferred to have the conference win but we didn't get that so we just have to adjust.”

After playing UMHB down to the wire, a team that has reached the NCAA Division III playoffs nine times in the last 10 seasons, McMurry junior cornerback D.J. Baiza said he doesn't want McMurry exhaling with the Tigers.

“You can never count anybody out,” said Baiza. “Any team can beat the best team, I feel like we're the better team this week, but we can't overlook anybody.”

Baiza was named the ASC's Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking his second field goal of the season last week and returning two punts for an average of 19.5 yards. He recorded seven tackles and an interception, which was returned for an 81-yard score.

He'll help anchor a defense that will look to re-establish its reputation as one of the strongest units in the league. However, McMurry has had a rough go of it so far. The two Division I opponents averaged 615.5 total offensive yards in the first two games before the Cru put up 461 last week in their victory.

On the positive side for the defensive unit, the pass defense continues to flex its muscles allowing an average of only 196.5 yards through the air the past two weeks. In addition, the team has five interceptions on the season. In addition, McMurry didn't allow a point against UMHB in the final 2.5 quarters of play after the Crusaders jumped out to an early 28-6 lead.

Offensively, Delfonte Diamond has been the star on the receiving end for the War Hawks earning D3football.com National Team of the Week honors two-straight weeks for his performance at tight end.

The senior from Houston has 20 receptions for 263 yards and three touchdowns this season while quarterback Jake Mullin is averaging 246.3 yards per game through the air. The rushing attack will have to step up as McMurry has only 44 rushing yards combined through the first three games.

East Texas Baptist (1-2, 0-1) will feature its dual-threat quarterback in Sed Harris. Harris averages 80 yards rushing and 217 yards passing through the air for the Tigers. ETBU fell to nationally-ranked Wesley 34-10 Sept. 3 to start the season, rebounded with a 54-17 win over Austin College Sept. 10 and fell to Texas Lutheran in the Tigers' ASC opener 44-34.

Defensively, the Tigers are led by Jordan Hayes (23 tackles, 5TFL) and Matt Tarver (8 TL, 3.5 sacks).

McMurry's game will be broadcast on KKHR 106.3 FM due to a conflict with Abilene High School football. The game will also be broadcast live with audio and video for a subscription rate on http://mcmurrysports.com/showcase. Live Stats are available for free at: http://sidearmstats.com/mcmurry/football.