ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's football team could not hold a fourth quarter lead, falling at the hands of Sul Ross state University in the 86th meeting between the schools. The War Hawks (2-4, 0-3 ASC) surrendered 20-unanswered points to the Lobos (4-3, 2-1 ASC) in the fourth quarter.
 
In the opening quarter, it appeared that the game might replicate last year's defensive battle in Alpine. SRSU finally got the first points with 2:00 left in the opening period. Midway through the second stanza, the Lobos added their second score – and the subsequent two-point conversion – to take a 15-0 lead with 6:03 left until the break.
 
Taking possession near midfield and with 1:37 left on the second quarter clock, the War Hawks embarked on a scoring drive of their own. The six-play, 55 yard series was capped when McM quarterback B.J. Ross hit receiver Stone Harris with a 12-yard aerial.  Tanner Wright added the extra point kick with 27 seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to a single possession heading to the locker room, 15-7.
 
Neither offense would find the end zone in the third period.  However, that didn't preclude the McM defense from once again answering then call. For the second-consecutive week, defensive back Jordan Washington had a "pick-6" interception return for a score. Washington pilfered a pass from SRSU signal-caller James Davis and returned it 37 yards that – with the PAT – made it 15-14 in favor of the Lobos.
 
It was the War Hawks' sixth defensive score of 2016.
 
The War Hawks' defense also set up the team's next score, allowing McMurry to take the lead for the first time in the game.  Lobo back Byron Jones lost the handle on the ball deep in his own end and McM linebacker J.R. Arroyo was on the spot to recover the ball on the SRSU 12 yard line with 12:54 left in the game.
 
McM attempted some razzle-dazzle when running back Amonte Bowen (13 carries/70 yards) tried a halfback pass to Ross, which fell incomplete.  Dontrell Dock then bullied his way for seven yards down to the five, bring up a third-and-three.
 
Ross then called fullback Trevor Goolsby's number with a five-yard strike out of the backfield. It was Goolsby's first collegiate touchdown and Wright's extra point gave the War Hawks a 21-15 advantage.
 
But from that point on it was all SRSU.  The Lobos took the ensuing kickoff from McM and drove 53 yards in five plays to retake the lead, 22-21. On its next possession, Sul Ross went to its bag of tricks for a 57-yard passing touchdown off a "flea-flicker" play, with Davis finding Jones out of the backfield to up the deficit to 28-21. A 10-play, 65 yard drive gave SRSU its final tally in the waning seconds.
 
Wright extended his string of extra-point kicks made to 26 straight in the setback.
 
Ross completed 11-of-22 for 128 yards and a pair of TDs.  However, Ross was intercepted twice and sacked nine times in the loss.
 
Linebackers Jacob Ferguson and J.R. Arroyo each had seven tackles to lead McMurry's defense. Washington, Ryan McBeth, Jamir Bowser and Patrick Morrison had six tackles, each. Bowser also had a fumble recovery, giving the War Hawks 20 takeaways in six games.