This Saturday's game is the renewal of the longest-standing series in McMurry University football history, as it will welcome Sul Ross State University for the 86th meeting between the schools.  The War Hawks (2-3, 0-2 ASC) lead the all-time series (45-38-2), which actually began in McM's first-ever season on the gridiron in 1923 (and the school's fifth-ever game!).
 
The teams played every season (and sometimes twice a year) from 1976-2011.
 
In celebration of the long-standing rivalry, the two schools instituted the "I-20 Shootout" trophy in 2015, which will, annually, be presented to the winner of this game.  SRSU took home the inaugural trophy with a 13-7 win on their home turf last season.
 
The Lobos (3-3, 1-1 ASC) are coming off of a 21-14 win over Louisiana College in Alpine last week, the first time the Lobos have defeated the Wildcats since 2004. Quarterback James Davis is 111-182 for 1,284 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Davis is also the Lobos' leading rusher with 365 yards and six TDs rushing. Byron Jones has been Davis' top target with 26 receptions for 392 yards. Steven Savedra and Jeremy Reed have 16 and 13 catches, respectively. Reed has three receiving touchdowns and Savedra two.
 
The two teams have one common opponent, thus far, in 2016:  Belhaven University.  SRSU won a shootout with the Blazers, 52-36, two weeks ago.
 
McMurry also easily dispatched of Belhaven last week, 56-7, in Jackson, Miss.  The War Hawks' defense clamped down on the ASC's leading passing offense, holding BU to 263 yards through the air (185 yards below its per game average). Jordan Washington's 73-yard interception return was the team's fifth defensive score of the season. Senior Decorian Johnson had a punt return for a TD, as well as a game-high nine tackles.  McM rolled up six rushing scores in the game.
 
Johnson (special teams) and Washington (defense) earned then ASC's Player of the Week honors in their respective areas.
 
On the year, freshman quarterback B.J. Ross tops the War Hawks in both passing and rushing.  Ross has completed 58-of-103 passes for 700 yards and three touchdowns.  He has also picked up 260 rushing yards on 58 carries, with four TDs on the ground to his credit.
 
Sophomore receiver Stone Harris has 14 receptions, at an average of 19.6 yards per catch and two scores.  Transfer Eriel Dorsey has seven grabs (20.9 y.p.c.) and Kelvaughn Hayes three catches for 76 yards.
 
Hayes - who missed two games with an injury - is second on the squad in rushing yards with 156.
 
Defensively, Johnson leads the War Hawks with 41 tackles. Washington is second with 34. Ryan McBeth has three of McM's 10 interceptions, while Washington has two picks. In all, McMurry has 17 takeaways in 2016.
 
By going 6-for-6 on extra-point kicks last week, freshman kicker Tanner Wright has made 23-conscutive PATs (the most to open a season, surpassing Kirk McGinty's 19-straight at the outset of the 2004 campaign).