JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – McMurry University's football team will face off versus a new opponent on Saturday when it takes on Lincoln University. The War Hawks (2-2) kick off for the first-ever time against the NCAA Division II Blue Lions (1-3) at 1 p.m. at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
Lincoln and McMurry have one common foe on their rosters: Langston University. The Blue Tigers topped Langston, 35-32, in their season opener, while McM lost to the Lions, 32-29, last Saturday.
Lincoln - which competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference - has dropped three-consecutive games since its season-opening win. The Blue Tigers lost to St. Francis (Ill.) (13-10) to Quincy University (42-37) and to Truman State (31-14). LU averages 351.0 yards per game on offense, while allowing opponents an average of 393.8 y.p.g. The Blue Tigers have been nearly doubled up in rushing yards (856-422), but own a 982-to-719 yards cushion in passing yards. Lincoln has allowed 13 sacks in 2015.
McMurry opened its season with a 49-22 win at East Texas Baptist and in week #2 dropped their home opener (7-6) to Southwestern. In week #3, the War Hawks pummeled Texas College, 40-0, and then fell versus Langston (32-29)...both on the road.
The War Hawks' offense has rolled up an average of 456.8 yards per game on offense and allowing 189.3 y.p.g. McM averages 6.1 yards per play. On defense, the War Hawks have sacked opposing QBs 14 times and have 33 tackles for loss.
Last week, McM wide receiver
Charles Agugua had a career-high 182 yards in receiving yards versus Langston University (Sept. 26), on eight catches. Agugua averaged 22.8 yards per reception, with one TD, in the loss.
On the ground, senior
Paxton Grayer carried 14 times for 108 yards, all in the first half. Grayer missed the entire second half with a shoulder injury. It was his 10th game with 100-rushing yards in his War Hawks career and upped his 2015 season total to 654 yards in four games (163.5 y.p.g. and 8.2 y.p.c.).
Tyreace House had two of the War Hawks' touchdowns against Langston. House had a three-yard catch from
David McHugh off of a fake field goal in the second quarter, as well as a four-yard TD run in the fourth period.
Defensively,
J.R. Arroyo had a team-leading 10 tackles versus Langston.
Marlon Jackson added eight stops and
Decorian Johnson six. Johnson and
Desmond Guy each had an interception, as well.
In traveling to Lincoln University, the War Hawks are also playing their third-straight road game...all in different states. McMurry has played in Texas (at Texas College), Oklahoma (vs. Langston University) and now in Missouri the past three weeks.
This will be the first time that McMurry has played a football game in the state of Missouri since the season opener of the 1993 season, when it lost at Evangel College (in Springfield, Mo.), 24-6. The last time McM even played a school from Missouri was the season-opener in 2000, when it hosted William Jewell (a 35-14 McMurry victory in Abilene).
The game can be heard live in the Abilene area on KSLI 1280 AM. David Bacon will be calling the action, with the pre-game show beginning at 12:40 p.m. Fans can also listen live via the web at www.1280KSLI.com, as well.
