CANYON, Texas – The McMurry University football team will be looking to build upon its first Lone Star Conference victory last week, but it will be no easy task as it travels to West Texas A&M University on Saturday (Oct. 4). Kickoff at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium will be at 3.p.m.
 
This will be the 22nd meeting between WTAMU and McMurry on the gridiron. The Buffaloes lead the all-time series by a 12-8-1 margin and have won the last four-consecutive meetings. Last year's meeting in Abilene was the first time that the teams had played since 1957, however.
 
The last time McMurry beat the Buffs was in 1954 (19-18).
 
To put that into perspective, the last time McM scored a win over WTAMU:  Dwight D. Eisenhower was U.S. President; the TV show "Father Knows Best" premiered; the New York Giants beat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series; the first transistor radio was introduced; Ernest Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature; Chevy introduced the V8 engine; the "Tonight Show" premiered;  Willie Mays made his famous over-the-shoulder catch; Elvis began his music career; gas was 22-cents a gallon; average movie ticket price was 70-cents; average cost of a new car was $1,700; and Condoleezza Rice & John Travolta were both born.
 
You get the picture.
 
In 2013, WTAMU won a "track meet" at Wilford Moore Stadium, 90-57. The game set McMurry school single game records for: combined points (147); points allowed (90); combined total offense in a game (1,401 yards / McM- 708; WTAMU- 693); & offensive plays (101).
 
Thus far in 2014, Buffs are 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference. After back-to-back losses to open the season (to powers Colorado State-Pueblo and Tarleton State), WTAMU has knocked off Shorter University (played at AT&T Stadium) and won on the road at Angelo State, 58-41.
 
McMurry, on the other hand, opened its year with a win at NCAA Division I foe Houston Baptist University (26-17) and then, after a bye week, lost on the road at Angelo State (45-14). McM bounced back to upset Texas A&M-Kingsville in the War Hawks first home game of the year, 27-21, last Saturday.
 
McM will be looking for another strong effort from its defensive unit this week.  Last Saturday, the War Hawks intercepted Texas A&M-Kingsville three times, two of which were converted into touchdowns and a third that stopped a Javelina drive in McMurry's end and under a minute left to play to preserve the victory.  In all, McM has turned in five pilfered passes in 2014.
 
Linebackers Josh Jones, Tyreace House and Chase Franklin were all over TAMUK last week. House and Franklin each had an interception. The trio accounted for 26 tackles between them, as well.
 
Offensively, Chris Simpson Jr. averaged 6.6 yards per carry last week. He gained 99 yards on 15 carries.