McMurry University football will close out its 2017 season on Saturday versus crosstown foe Hardin-Simmons University, with the Wilford Moore Trophy on the line for the winner of the game. Moore - the namesake of the War Hawks' stadium - played at HSU and coached at McM, and is a member of both school's athletics Halls of Fame.
 
Saturday will also be the final game in the Maroon & White for 10 seniors on the War Hawks' roster: Jamir Bowser, Treston Coleman, Jacob Ferguson, Kalieb Granger, Brycen Homer, Jordon Pilot, Ben Salazar, Isaiah Santos, Charles Smith and Jordan Washington.
 
This will be the 31st time that McM and HSU have squared off on the gridiron. The series between these Abilene universities swings in favor of the Cowboys, who have a 26-4 advantage. HSU won the very first meeting in 1946, before McMurry won three-consecutive meetings from 1961-63.  When the series resumed next in 1990, the
Cowboys would win the next 23 meetings, until the War Hawks won in 2011 (24-14) to snap the streak. Since McMurry rejoined the American Southwest Conference, HSU has won the last two games in 2015 and 2016. The series also included McMurry's first-ever overtime game played in 1996.
 
HSU – ranked No. 5 in the nation for NCAA Division III football - enters the game riding the crest of a four-game win streak. The Cowboys' (8-1. 7-1 ASC) lone loss of the season came to defending national champion – and current No. 1-ranked - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 17-7.  Last week, the Cowboys rolled Belhaven University, 55-7. 
 
HSU is averaging 533.9 yards and 47.0 points per game, while permitting foes 14.0 points and 311.9 yards of total offense per contest. On offense, quarterback Landry Turner has completed 94-of-134 passes (70%) for 1,468 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wide receivers Devonte' Walker and Reese Childress have caught passes for 680 and 600 yards, respectively. Jaquan Hemphill has been the top rusher for HSU, with 956 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. 
 
The War Hawks (2-7, 2-6 ASC) will be attempting to snap a three-game skid, coming off of a disappointing loss at East Texas Baptist last week. At ETBU, McMurry had a chance to get to within three points of the Tigers midway through the third quarter but, unable to punch the ball in from the one, the Tigers would turn around and score 35 unanswered points the rest of the way. The McM defense had four takeaways and a blocked punt, led by Washington's fourth interception of the season, and 12 tackles from sophomore linebacker Josh Smith.
 
On offense, sophomore quarterback Kevin Hurley Jr. has completed 97-of-165 passes for 1,252 yards and 13 touchdowns. Freshman receiver Justin Eaton is averaging 23.1 yards per reception and has five scoring catches.

Fans can listen live locally on KSLI 1280 AM, with David Bacon and Jason Feltz calling the action. The pre-game show begins at 12:40 p.m. the game can also be heard worldwide via the internet, with game links found at www.mcmurrysports.com.