Saturday's football match-up between McMurry University and Tarleton State University (Wilford Moore Stadium, 2 p.m.) is the resumption of one of the most-contested series in McM's history.  McMurry and the Texans have played 42 times previously, with TSU holding the edge in the series, 25-17, and having won the last 13 meetings.
 
This will, however, be the first meeting between the schools since 1990. The teams met ever year from 1977 through 1990 (and twice a year from 1978-89). They first faced off on the gridiron in 1925, McMurry's third year of existence as both a school and for its football program.
 
This season, TSU has a 3-3 record overall and is part of a four-team logjam for second place in the Lone Star Conference (along with Angelo State, Midwestern State and West Texas A&M) with a 3-2 league record.
 
The Texans have won two games in a row and are coming off of a wild 59-42 win over Eastern New Mexico in Portales last Saturday. In the game, TSU set a school records for total yards (663) of offense. It was also the team's second-consecutive game with 50-plus points scored (also ripping Texas A&M-Kingsville, 80-14, two weeks ago).
 
TSU quarterback Collin Strahan – last week's LSC offensive "Player of the Week" – leads the team not just in passing (115-for-190, 1,462 yards and 12 TDs), but also in rushing (542 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 8 TDs). Versus ENMU last weekend, he set a modern era school record with an 89-yard run from scrimmage.
 
McMurry (2-4, 1-4 LSC), on the other hand, is looking to snap a three-game skid (where the team has fallen to West Texas A&M, Eastern New Mexico and Midwestern State). Last Saturday, the War Hawks were defeated by MSU, 71-13, in Wichita Falls.
 
One of the bright spots for McMurry – as has been the case most of the season – was senior wide receiver Jeret Smith. For the third-consecutive week, Smith surpassed the century mark in receiving yards, making seven catches for 141 yards in the setback. Smith moved up to the No. 2 spot all-time for receptions at McM, with 164 grabs (trailing only former teammate Greg Livingston's 202). Smith also now has 2,318 receiving yards in his career, which ranks No. 3 in school history (No. 2 is Livingston at 2,523 and No. 1 is Rory Peacock at 2,634 yards).

Saturday is also "Senior Day," as well as Military Appreciation Day at Wilford Moore Stadium. The 10 senior members of the War Hawks' team – Smith, Everett Burns, Chris Simpson Jr., Greg Pinckney, Jeff Arnold, Fletcher Jones, Daquon Bratcher, Raphael Gallo, Matt Newby and Marc Tijerina – will all be recognized in pre-game ceremonies.
 
At halftime, there will be a very solemn and special presentation, as future military members of the Army, National Guard, Marines and Navy are sworn into duty. Former and current military members – and their immediate family – will be admitted free of charge by presenting a military identification at the ticket gate that day.