JACKSON, Miss. -   McMurry University's football team deflated Belhaven University's American Southwest Conference-leading "Air Raid" offense by scoring a 56-7 win on the road. The War Hawks (2-3) also spoiled Homecoming for the Blazers (1-5) at the Belhaven Bowl.
 
It was also McM's second win in as many meetings in the series with BU. Both of McMurry's victories (including last year's 14-10 decision in Abilene) have come against its former coach (Hal Mumme), now guiding the Blazers.
 
The War Hawks' defensive unit held Belhaven to its lowest passing yardage total of the year.  BU, which had better than 2,300 passing yards in its first five games and was averaging nearly 450 yards per game, was limited to 263 aerial yards. McM also held BU to just 68 rushing yards, as well.
 
McM defensive coordinator Kendall Roberson got the upper hand on his old boss, producing a game plan that harassed BU quarterback Hunter McEachern the bulk of the afternoon.  The War Hawks intercepted McEachern three times and sacked the signal-caller six times. For the fifth time this season, McMurry's defense also returned a turnover for a touchdown , when Jordan Washington pilfered a pass and returned it 73-yards for a second-quarter score.
 
But before Washington's  "pick-6", the War Hawks had already begun their scoring spree, thanks to a potent offense which rolled up 437 total yards of its own. The War Hawks scored six rushing touchdowns in the game and amassed 281 yards. Through the air, the War Hawks had 197 yards, as quarterback B.J. Ross was 14-for-21.
 
An eight-yard touchdown run by Ross – and the extra point – gave McM a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. But it was a 28-point avalanche in the second quarter which effectively put the game out of Belhaven's reach.
 
Kelvaughn Hayes (6 carries/97 yards) had a 74-yard TD run at the 13:10 mark of the second stanza. At the 7:18 juncture, a one-yard dive by Amonte Bowen (11 carries/52 yards) capped an eight-play, 36-yard drive.  That was followed by Washington's interception return.
 
With 4:03 left in the half, the McM defense forced a BU punt and that allowed McM's special teams to shine. Decorian Johnson fielded the ball on his own 44 and deftly picked his way through the Blazers' coverage for a 56-yard touchdown return, giving McMurry a 35-0 lead.
 
Belhaven put its lone TD of the game on the board with two minutes left in the half, for a 35-7 margin heading into the locker room.
 
The War Hawks offense – especially its running game – ruled the second half, tallying all three second-half scores for the visitors. Ross notched his second touchdown of the day in the third quarter on a four-yard jaunt, set up after a 41-yard reception by Stone Harris.
 
In the fourth quarter, Dontrell Dock had a six-yard run and Bowen booked his second rushing score of the day on a one-yard dive for the 56-7 final score.
 
Defensively, Johnson had a game-leading nine tackles, eight solo.  Junior linebacker Jacob Ferguson added six tackles.
 
Washington had his second interception of the game late in the fourth period. Ryan McBeth had McM's third pick-off of the Blazers, his third interception in two games.
 
Xavier Washington had 1 ½ sacks. Michael Green Jr., Patrick Morrison, Ahmad Valdez-Carter, and Jamir Bowser had one sack, apiece, and Cam Baker ½ a sack.
 
The War Hawks return home to Wilford Moore Stadium on Saturday, welcoming Sul Ross State University for the annual "I-20 Shootout."