ABILENE, Texas – Senior wide receiver Jeret Smith wasted little time in taking his place as McMurry University's all-time leading receiver, but his team suffered a 41-16 setback at the hands of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The loss in the 2014 finale – and Lone Star Conference playoff game - left the War Hawks with a record of 2-8 overall, while the Javelinas improved to 2-9.
 
Smith entered the game needing just 38 yards to overtake record-holder Rory Peacock's (1997-00) receiving yardage standard of 2,634 yards. Fans barely had time to settle into their seats when Smith climbed past Peacock.
 
After getting the opening kickoff, McMurry began with possession first-and-10 at its own 39. On the very first play from scrimmage, freshman quarterback Cy Ward lofted a perfect ball over the middle and hit Smith in stride, as he raced past the TAMUK secondary and into McM history with the 61-yard aerial.
 
Joey Silva's extra point kick made it 7-0 in favor of the War Hawks.
 
Smith would finish the game with seven catches for 132 yards. He also tallied both of McMurry's touchdowns in the game. Smith finished his McM career with 2,729 yards on 181 catches, an average of 15.1 yards per catch over his four-year career. In 2014 alone, Smith had 1,143 yards and 14 receiving TDs, earning the LSC's statistical championship for receiving (127.0 y.p.g.), as well.
 
Smith also had a 29 yard catch in the fourth quarter (also from Ward). Unfortunately for the War Hawks, it was the Javelinas who had most of the other scoring opportunities.
 
After Smith's opening salvo, TAMUK strung together four unanswered touchdowns to lead 27-7 (and leading at the half, 20-7). An errant punt snap by Kingsville that sailed out of the end zone gave the War Hawks two points at the outset of the fourth period. TAMUK sandwiched Smith's final TD catch with a pair of scores of their own en route to the 41-16 final margin.
 
The War Hawks were victimized by their own mistakes, losing all five fumbles and tossing two interceptions. TAMUK converted McM miscues into 21 of their points. It also accounted for the Javelinas' more than doubling up McMurry on time of possession (40:36 to 19:24).
 
TAMUK held a comfortable lead in total offense, rolling up 452 yards (compared to 266 for McM). McMurry had 119 rushing yards, 117 of that belonging to junior Paxton Grayer. Grayer carried 13 times and averaged 9.0 yards per carry in notching his seventh career 100-plus yard rushing game.
 
Ward completed six-of-nine passes for 130 yards and the two TDs.
 
Defensive back Ryan Williams and linebacker Stephen Anyasor each had 11 tackles to share game-high honors. Decorian Johnson, Desmond Guy and Gregory Pinckney had eight tackles, apiece, in the loss.
 
Prior to the game – in a demonstration of class and dignity – Peacock sent a message to both Smith and McM head coach Lance Hinson, sending his regrets at not being able to attend the game and to let them know he was pulling for Smith to get the record on Saturday night.