ABILENE, Texas – Playing before a capacity-plus Homecoming crowd, the McMurry University football team fell at the hands of #12/#16 Hardin-Simmons University, 31-13, at Wilford Moore Stadium. The War Hawks' overall record fell to 3-3 in 2015, while the nationally-ranked Cowboys improved to 5-0 by winning the renewal of the crosstown series between the schools.
 
HSU now holds a 25-4 record in the all-time series with McMurry and reclaimed the Wilford Moore Trophy (which is presented to the winner of the game).
 
 The loss for McM was also the first time in 2015 that the War Hawks were out-gained in total offense for any game. The Cowboys held a 490-to-353 yards advantage for the game. HSU also held a slight 20-19 margin for total first downs.
 
Neither club managed much rushing offense, but the disparity was larger for a War Hawks. McM came in averaging better than 208 yards per game on the ground, but was limited to 51 net yards versus the HSU defense. Much of that was due to the limited use of senior running back Paxton Grayer, who was confined to just eight carries (51 yards) because of an injured shoulder suffered two weeks ago.
 
HSU jumped ahead 14-0 late in the second quarter before McMurry finally found the end zone. The family connection of McM quarterback Matthew McHugh and twin brother/receiver David McHugh hooked up on a 59-yard aerial that capped three-play, 75-yard drive that culminated at the 4:06 mark of the period.
 
However, the Cowboys deftly drove the field before the half to again lead by two scores.  HSU's eight-play, 69-yard series was capped by a two-yard run from Kerry Sloan to make it 21-7 at the break.
 
The Cowboys added a third quarter TD and a field goal early in the fourth stanza to extend their lead to 31-7.
 
At the 8:21 mark of the fourth quarter, McM drove 75 yards in four plays for its second score of the afternoon. Matthew McHugh found Emmanuel Mulumba with a perfect strike in the back of the end zone on a 29-yard pass that made it the 31-13 final score.
 
McHugh completed 18-fo-32 passes for 302 yards, but was sacked five times. Mulumba and David McHugh led the receiving corps with 84 and 102 yards receiving, respectively.
 
Marlon Jackson led the War Hawks' defense with a career-best 10 tackles, 2.0 for losses totaling six yards.  Jackson also had one of McM's four sacks. 
 
Ryan Williams added eight tackles, with Desmond Guy and linebacker Chase Franklin with seven stops each. 
 
McMurry will play its second-consecutive home game next Saturday (Oct. 17), welcoming Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Kickoff at Wilford Moore Stadium will be at 2 p.m.