BELTON, Texas – McMurry University football ran into a buzz saw in its American Southwest Conference opener, losing to the No. 3-ranked team in NCAA III, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 66-3. The Crusaders improved to 4-0 (1-0 ASC), while the War Hawks fell to 1-2 (0-1 ASC), before a crowd of 4,239 at Crusader Stadium.
 
UMHB outgained McM in total offense by a 468-to-181 yards for the game. McMurry's usually-strong running game was held in check by the Cru. The War Hawks had a negative-19 yards on 35 attempts.
 
McM had 200 passing yards. Starting quarterback B.J. Ross completed 18-of-29 for 154 yards, but was intercepted twice. Xavier Alexander was 4-of-10 for 46 yards and tossed one interception.
 
Stone Harris had six catches for 93 yards.  Sophomore transfer Eriel Dorsey had two grabs for 48 yards in the loss­­.
 
On the defensive side, kept busy by the Cru offense which reeled off 96 plays (to 74 for McM), it was Decorian Johnson with a game-high 11 tackles (nine solo). Jordan Washington added nine stops, eight of which were solo.
 
Cam Baker had the War Hawks' lone sack of the afternoon, good for a seven-yard loss. Charles Smith had an interception for McM, as well.
 
The Crusaders scored on 11 of their 14 drives.  UMHB had a field goal and a touchdown on its first two series, before punting on its third drive.  But after that, the hosts posted a touchdown on six-consecutive possessions, leading 24-3 at the half and 52-3 after three quarters.
 
McMurry's lone points of the day came via a Tanner Wright 24-yard field goal with 2:16 left in the third quarter. Wrights' kick made it 17-3 at the time.