Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – McMurry University's football team completed its “San Antonio Sweep” on Saturday, thanks to a 28-20 win over the University of the Incarnate Word at Benson Field.  Last year, the War Hawks (4-3) defeated both of the city's other two football playing schools (UT-San Antonio and Trinity University), prior to adding the final piece of the trifecta with the win over the Lone Star Conference member Cardinals (2-6).

Jake Mullin led the assault by passing for 322 yards, completing 45-of-61 passes for two touchdowns.  The second of those TD throws – a five- yard pass to Jeret Smith – made Mullin just the 59th player in NCAA football history at any level to pass for both 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in a career.

Mullin is also the third Hal Mumme protégé – along with Dustin DeWald (Iowa Wesleyan) and Chris Hatcher (Valdosta State) to achieve those plateaus.

“I am glad that it's over with,” Mullin said of joining the elite fraternity, which includes such names as Case Keenum, Colt McCoy, Ty Detmer, Chad Pennington, Danny Wuerffel and Steve McNair.  “I'm glad to get the monkey off my back and get it over with…and glad we got the win.

“We did good at the beginning of the game, but just couldn't close out drives like we did in the middle of the game. We need to watch on film what we did in those (scoring) drives and just keep doing that.

Mullin was equally appreciative of his offensive front , as well of for the return of Smith to the receiving corps (after suffering a knee injury in the opener versus ACU).

“Kudos to the offensive linemen,” praised Mullin. “(UIW) did some twists and brought some pressure now and then, and the line did a great job with it.

“And as for Jeret, all that guy does is make plays. I'm glad to have him back.”

McMurry found itself down 10-0 after the first quarter. The Cardinals took advantage of a tipped pass from Mullin which was intercepted and returned to the War Hawk 15, eventually turning into a field goal.

With 12 seconds left in the period, UIW added a touchdown to culminate an eight-play, 75-yard drive and grab the 10-0 cushion.

After that juncture, McM would reel off 28 unanswered points.

Josh King's 31 yard field goal with 12:51 left in the second quarter broke the War Hawks' drought and cut the margin to 10-3.

With 9:56 remaining until the half, McMurry began matters from its own one-yard line. What may have looked like insurmountable to some became just a bigger opportunity for Mullin and company. McM's senior pre-season All-American signal-caller deftly drove the team down the field, only facing a third down play three times in the 17-play series.

Mullin completed eight passes along the way, the last of which was a three-yard toss to Chris Simpson. The PAT knotted matters at 10-10 with 3:54 left until halftime, using 6:17 off of the game clock.

Mullin's 100th career TD to Smith gave McMurry the 16-10 advantage heading into the locker room.

In the third period, McM added a pair of rushing touchdowns from Paxton Grayer and Simpson. Grayer, who carried 13 times for 53 yards, ran the ball in from the one with 11:47 left in the third. Simpson had a 12-yard jaunt to cap a 10-play, 67-yard drive with 1:07 left in that period. 28-10.

The Cardinals rallied in the fourth quarter with a field goal and a TD with 1:17 left to play. However, it was too little, too late as McMurry won for the fourth time in its last five outings, 28-20.

Greg Livingston caught 13 passes for 134 yards as Mullins most-utilized target of the night.  Smith had 11 catches for 62 yards.

Defensively, Gregory Pinckney led the War Hawks with 11 tackles, eight solo.  Cory Pippen had 10 stops and also had eight solo tackles. Corey Hall spent ample time harassing the Cardinals' QB Taylor Woods, producing three sacks for 22 yards in losses (six tackles).

The win over Incarnate Word was also McMurry's last regular season road game of the year. The War Hawks will open a stretch of four-straight contests at Wilford Moore Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 27/2 p.m.) for its Homecoming Game versus Langston University.