COMMERCE, Texas – McMurry University's football team will be facing off against the Lone Star Conference leader – Texas A&M University-Commerce – on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
 
This will be the16th meeting between the teams, with TAMUC leading the series, 10-5. The Lions have won the last two meetings.  In 2013, McMurry University and Texas A&M University-Commerce met for the first time since 1971 on the football field and McM fell by a 65-43 margin at Memorial Stadium. The War Hawks and Lions made up for the time lapse with an offense festival. In addition to combining for 118 points, the two teams rolled 1,062 total yards of offense (552 for McM and 510 for TAMUC) The two teams put on a scoring clinic in the opening quarter, combining for 52 points (TAMUC held a 31-21 lead).  While McMurry utilized its passing in the period, it was special teams where the Lions purred with 201 kickoff return yards, resulting in three scoring drives of less than 15 yards (14, 1 and minus-3), as well as series' of 75 and 80 yards.
 
TAMUC - which had been ranked No. 22 in the AFCA poll two weeks ago, dropped out of the top-25, but still received votes after last week's overtime loss to Midwestern State (40-37). Prior to that, however, the Lions had reeled off five-consecutive LSC wins. TAMUC's only other loss was week#2 setback to NCAA I Stephen F. Austin (38-17), after demolishing East Texas Baptist (98-20) in its season opener.
 
McMurry 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. Since then, McM has four consecutive losses at West Texas A&M University (56-21), at home to Eastern New Mexico (62-23), at Midwestern State (71-13) and home versus Tarleton State (64-7).
 
McMurry will be without the services of its starting quarterback Matthew McHugh on Saturday. McHugh suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter in last week's loss to Tarleton State, when he was hit from behind, at the knees and well after he had handed off the football (and while he was watching the results of the play) - by a Texans' defensive player. After the questionable hit, the Tarleton defender quickly ran the opposite direction of the action and away from the area of the hit.
 
McHugh's absence will give the nod to freshman QB Cy Ward (Denton, Texas/Denton H.S.), for his first collegiate start. McM head coach Lance Hinson did, however, leave open the possibility for a "quarterback-by-committee" scenario, depending on the situation.
 
On the year, Ward has completed 13 of 25 passes for 98 yards.
 
Senior wide receiver Jeret Smith continues to ascend the McM career receiving charts. Smith has 164 career receptions, #2 on McM's all-time list, 34 behind #1 spot occupied by former teammate Gregory Livingston (2011-13) at 202. Smith also ranks #3 in receiving yards at 2,402; just 121 yards behind #2 Livingston (2011-13) at 2,523. On Oct. 4, Smith became the 5th player in McM history to garner 2,000-plus receiving yards, joining Rory Peacock (2,634), Livingston (2,523), Dusty Thornhill (2,288) and Reggie Sterns (2,025).
 
The game can be heard live in the Abilene area on KSLI 1280 AM, with the pre-game show beginning at 3:40 p.m. Fans can also listen via the McMurry Sports Network audio links at mcmurrysports.com. Kit Kimbrell and David Bacon call the action.