BROWNWOOD, Texas – McMurry University and Howard Payne University will both be looking for their first American Southwest Conference wins of 2016 when the two teams square off at Gordon Wood Stadium.  The contest between the War Hawks (2-4, 0-3 ASC) and Yellow Jackets (0-7, 0-4 ASC) will be a reunion in more ways than one for these teams.
 
HPU is McMurry's second-most played series, with Saturday being the 74th meeting between the schools (HPU leads 27-44-2). The War Hawks have faced just Sul Ross State – with the 86th meeting last week – more times in their history. The teams have not, however, met since the 2011 season.
 
It will also be a "homecoming" of sorts for Yellow Jackets head coach Hunter Sims, a 2007 graduate of McMurry and former quarterback for the Maroon & White.  Sims – who was also a student assistant coach at McM after graduation – spent two years on staff at HPU before being promoted to the head coach (as well as Director of Athletics) in 2016.
 
Both teams are coming off of losses last week.  The Yellow Jackets lost to nationally-ranked East Texas Baptist, 76-14, while McMurry dropped a 35-21 decision to Sul Ross State at home.
 
The McM defense continued to shine last week. For the sixth time this season, the unit returned a turnover for a score.  Jordan Washington had a "pick-6" interception return for a TD, his third pilfered pass in the past two games. 
 
In all, the War Hawks' defensive unit has 20 takeaways on the year. Seven different players have accounted for the team's 11 intercepted passes, including three each by Washington and Ryan McBeth.
 
Fans can follow the action live locally on KSLI 1280 AM, with David Bacon and Jason Feltz calling the action. The pre-game show begins at 3:40 p.m. from Brownwood.  Live links for audio, video and stats can be found via the McM website at mcmurrysports.com.