ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University will once again welcome Texas A&M University-Kingsville to Abilene, as the two teams square off in the seventh place game of the Lone Star Conference playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.
The game will be the season finale for both Kingsville and McMurry. Both the Javelinas (1-9) and War Hawks (2-7) will be looking to put a positive punctuation on the 2014 campaign.
TAMUK has lost its last eight contests, with its lone victory coming on September 13 against Colorado Mesa. McM is on a six-game skid and its last win was over the Javelinas back on September 27.
The War Hawks won the regular season-meeting between these teams back on Sept. 27, by a 27-21 score, also in Abilene. In that game, McM was opportunistic when it counted the most. The War Hawks needed all three of the interceptions turned in by their defense. The first two were converted into scores. A third, late in the game and in McMurry territory, preserved the victory for McMurry.
Prior to the teams' meeting in 2013 in Kingsville (won by the Javelinas, 53-32), McMurry and TAMUK had not played each other in football in 42 years! TAMUK has won seven of the past eight meetings.
This will be the 21st meeting between Texas A&M-Kingsvile and McMurry. TAMUK leads the overall series by a 12-7-1 margin.
McMurry senior receiver
Jeret Smith will be trying to become McMurry's all-time leading receiver in this his final game as a War Hawk. Smith ranks #2 in receiving yards at 2,597; just 38 yards from overtaking #1 Rory Peacock (1997-2000) at 2,634. Smith also has 174 career receptions, #2 on McM's all-time list. 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).
Smith missed last Saturday's game at West Texas A&M, after receiving a concussion in practice. Smith has caught at least one touchdown pass in every game he has played in 2014. He has 12 of the McM team's 17 receiving TDs this year.
The game can be heard live in the Abilene area on KSLI 1280 AM, with the pre-game show beginning at 6:40 p.m. Fans can also listen via the McMurry Sports Network audio links at mcmurrysports.com. Kit Kimbrell and David Bacon call the action.
