WAR HAWKS GAMEDAY PAGE


ABILENE, Texas – Saturday evening's contest between Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-2, 0-1  LSC) and McMurry University (1-1, 0-1 LSC)  will be the 20th meeting between the schools in football.  The Javelinas hold a 12-6-1 advantage over the War Hawks in the series as the teams prepare to do battle at Wilford Moore Stadium (6 p.m.).
 
The game can be heard live locally on KSLI 1280 AM with the pre-game show starting at 5:40 p.m.  Fans can also listen live via the internet and watch the video stream by using the links at www.mcmurrysports.com at the time.
 
Last year's meeting in Kingsville – won by TAMUK, 52-32 – was the first time that the teams had played each other since 1971.
 
Both of these teams enter Saturday's battle in search of their first Lone Star Conference win of the year, after suffering LSC setbacks last Saturday. Costly mistakes proved to be the undoing of both TAMUK and McM last week, as well.
 
The Javelinas lost to rival Texas A&M University-Commerce, 55-20, in a game played at AT&T Stadium as a part of the Lone Star Conference Football Festival. The Javelinas had three interceptions against them. Commerce out-gained Kingsville in total offense by a margin of 411 to 289. TAMUK was just 7 of 18 on third-down conversions.
 
On the year, quarterback Trey Mitchell leads the Javelinas both on the ground and in the air. Mitchell has rushed a team-leading 38 times for 177 yards (4.7 yards per carry), while also completing 29-of-60 passes for 296 yards and one touchdown. Patrick LeFleur has been TAMUK's receiver of choice, with 10 receptions for 115 yards and a TD.
 
Defensively, TAMUK has been led by Henry Greathouse and Trevor Pesek, with 28 and 26 total tackles, respectively. Greathouse has a team-leading 5.0 tackles for loss and each had a fumble recovery to his credit.  Mark Savere has 22 tackles amassed, as well.
 
McMurry didn't have the benefit of the dome at "Jerry's World" last Saturday, enduring a first quarter weather delay of better than an hour, in a 45-14 loss at Angelo State University. Despite a close game in terms of total offense (ASU had a narrow 329-309 advantage), the War Hawks were victimized by missteps as three interceptions, a broken play on a punt attempt and a shanked kick on another, all led to Rams' scores (four TDs and a field goal).
 
On the year, McM quarterback Matt McHugh has completed better than 59-percent of his throws (35-59) for 508 yards. McHugh has tossed four touchdown aerials, three to senior premiere wide receiver Jeret Smith. Smith has a team-high 10 catches and an average of 15.5 y.p.c. Paxton Grayer has five catches for 119 yards, while Charles Agugua has added six grabs for 116 yards and one TD.
 
Chris Simpson Jr. has led McM's rushing game, carrying 23 times for 102 net yards and one TD. Grayer has 64 ground yards on 21 attempts. Smith has his team's only other rushing TD (scored in week #1 at Houston Baptist).
 
McMurry's defense has limited opponents to 323.0 yards per game (compared to 357.0 by the War Hawks' offense).  Defensive back Desmond Guy has a team-leading total of 23 tackles, 16 of which have been solo. Linebacker Josh Jones has 19 tackles and a sack on his ledger. Decorian Johnson, Tyreace House and Joshua Fisher all have 12 tackles, apiece.