McMurry University (3-3) will reacquaint itself with Oklahoma Panhandle State University (3-2) on Saturday, having last played the Aggies in 2013. This will be the 24th meeting between the schools, with the War Hawks holding a 16-7 edge in the series, and kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.
The last time the teams met – also at Wilford Moore Stadium – it was McMurry emerging with a 53-27 win. When OPSU and McM do battle, both teams have traditionally put some points on the board. In 11 of the past 13 meetings, both teams have scored in double figures in each game. In 1993, OPSU lost 38-6 and the following season the Aggies won a defensive struggle, 7-6.
Saturday's game will also be the second this season versus an NCAA Division II foe (two weeks ago, McM knocked off Lincoln University, 31-14, on the road). OPSU enters the day with a 3-2 record, having lost to then #12-ranked NCAA II Angelo State and Fort Lewis College in back-to-back weeks to open the season. Since that time, the Aggies have run off a string of three-consecutive wins, two of those victories coming versus teams which defeated McMurry: 40-25 over Langston (McM fell at LU, 32-29), a 69-20 blasting of Bacone and a 56-24 drubbing of Southwestern (which scored a 7-6 win over the War Hawks at Wilford Moore Stadium in week #2).
OPSU is averaging 472.4 yards per game of total offense, with fairly a fairly balanced attack: 244.8 y.p.g. rushing and 227.6 y.p.g. passing. The Aggies' starting quarterback – Brandon Ramon – has passed for 570 yards and six touchdowns, while reserve Shane Truelove has played in four games and had passes for 399 yards and 4 TDs, as well. Running back Chris McClendon leads the OPSU ground game with 622 yards (124.4 y.p.g.) and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Aggies have allowed an average of 380.2 yards per contest to opponents. OPSU has produced six interceptions, two from senior cornerback Jamel Major. The unit has been especially stingy on third down conversions, with foes being successful less than 35 percent of the time.
If the War Hawks' pattern of winning and losing games this season holds, then this could be a good week for McMurry. McM has won its game every other week and is coming off of a loss to crosstown foe #12/#16 Hardin-Simmons University (31-13) last Saturday at home.
McMurry's defense has been solid all season, with last week's setback to nationally-ranked HSU to only time that the team has been out gained in total offense in six outings. McM allows opponents an average of 263.2 yards per game and has 11 interceptions to their ledger.
Ryan Williams has four picks, alone, and is also the team's leading tackler with 48 (31 solo). Sophomore linebacker
Marlon Jackson has been stellar with 46 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Fellow linebacker
Chase Franklin has chipped in 45 tackles and a team-best 4.5 sacks.
On offense, quarterback Matt McHugh has completed 105-of-188 passes (56%) for 1,457 yards and 11 touchdowns. No less than 15 receivers have been the benefactors of the War Hawks' passing game, led by
Charles Agugua's 25 catches for 468 yards and three TDs and
Emmanuel Mulumba's 20 grabs for 314 yards and four scores. Matthew's twin brother
David McHugh has 18 catches for 301 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Paxton Grayer and
Tyreace House both have double-digit reception totals with 16 and 15 catches, respectively.
Grayer, who has been the team's top rusher at 141.0 yards per game on the ground, is a game time decision due to a nagging shoulder injury suffered four weeks ago. Grayer averages 8.0 yards per carry and has 11, 100-yard rushing games in his McM career.
