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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – McMurry University football has no problem remembering the Alamo…or at least San Antonio…as it prepares for Saturday's final road game of the regular season at the University of the Incarnate Word. Kickoff at UIW's Benson Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.

The War Hawks' (3-3) would like to continue their fortunes when it comes to recent games in San Antonio.  In 2011, McM upset NCAA I foe UT-San Antonio, 24-21, in one of the program's hallmark victories in week #2. Then, in the first round of the NCAA III playoffs last season, McMurry (making its first-ever NCAA post-season appearance) shocked #11-ranked Trinity University.

That brings the focus to this week's bout against Lone Star Conference and NCAA II foe Incarnate Word (2-5). This will be the first time that McM and UIW have ever met on the football field.

UIW is the second Lone Star Conference school played by McMurry in 2012 (Abilene Christian being the other). The two teams have two common opponents on their respective 2012 schedules:  Texas College and ACU. Incarnate Word topped Texas College, 19-12, at home in its season opening game (McM hosts Texas College on Nov. 3).  McMurry lost to ACU, 51-0, in its season opener (UIW faces ACU on Nov. 10 in its regular season finale).

The Cardinals are guided by Larry Keenan (26-23-3), in his first season as UIW's head coach. Prior to joining the Cardinals, Keenan spent the previous 13 years as the Executive Director of the NFL Coaches Association. He was also an NFL assistant coach for the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, as well as with the then World Champion Los Angeles Raiders.

The Cardinals gave Lone Star Conference rival Texas A&M-Kingsville all they could handle last Saturday night, but came up on the short end of a 20-17 decision at Javelina Stadium. For the second straight year, the Cardinals and Javelinas went down to the wire with TAMK pulling out a 3-point victory.  Special teams and defense were the name of the game.  The Cardinals picked up seven points on an interception return for a touchdown while the Javelinas won the battle of field position in the punting game while recovering a fumble on a punt return and blocking a punt.

Conversely, McMurry University saw its three-game win streak come to a halt last Saturday, losing to NCAA Division I FCS foe Lamar University, 52-21. McMurry freshman placekicker Josh King –making his first appearance since being injured against the War Hawks' last NCAA Division I FCS foe McNeese State back on September 8 – kicked a pair of field goals of 40 and 35 yards in the game. Lamar blew matters wide open in the second quarter, scoring three more unanswered touchdowns.

McMurry reserve quarterback Brady Lambert engineered a pair of late TD drives of 90 and 47 yards. The first TD was culminated on an eight-yard run by Chris Simpson, while the second was on an 18-yard Lambert-to-Barrett Cain pass. Lambert ran in a two-point conversion to make it the 52-21 final score.

Lamar held a slight advantage in total offense, 380 to 369 yards. However, the Cardinals ran 34 less plays than the War Hawks. LU held a huge lead in rushing yards, rambling for 275 yards on the ground compared to 52 for McM.

McMurry quarterback Jake Mullin was kept from tossing a touchdown pass for the second-straight week against Lamar. Mullin, with 98 career TD passes, still needs just two TD throws to become just the 59th player in NCAA history – at any level – to both throw for 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns.

Mullin has plenty of targets from which to choose, as no less than 21 different players have caught a pass in the War Hawks potent “Air Raid Offense” under Hal Mumme. Four players – Greg Livingston, Paxton Grayer, Eric Shaffer and Joshua Chatman – have caught at least one pass in every game this season.

On defense, a trio of newcomers - freshmen Ryan Williams and Cory Pippen, along with sophomore transfer Desmond Guy - have led McMurry's efforts. Williams has 53 total tackles (30 solo); Guy has 33 tackles (25 solo); Pippen has 30 tackles (19 solo). Of Guy's 33 tackles this season, 25 of them - roughly 76% - have been solo tackles.

After Saturday's game at UIW, McMurry will play all four of its remaining 2012 regular season games in the friendly confines of Wilford Moore Stadium. McM has played on its home turf just once this season, a 76-13 win over Wayland Baptist University back on September 22.

When the War Hawks make their return to Moore Stadium on October 27, they will host Langston University in the school's Homecoming Game.