BELTON, Texas – After a bye week in the schedule last Saturday, the McMurry University football team we resume action by facing the No. 2-ranked team in the nation for NCAA Division III: the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.  Kickoff at Crusader Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
 
The War Hawks enter the game with a record of 2-5 overall and are 2-4 in the American Southwest Conference.  The ASC-leading Crusaders are 7-0 on the year and 6-0 in league play.
 
NOTES:
McM RADIO:  KSLI 1280 AM in Abilene (12:40 p.m. pre-game) - The "Voice of the War Hawks" - David Bacon - will call the play-by-play and Jason Feltz will serve as color commentator.
LIVE AUDIO STREAM:  http://1280ksli.com/listen-live
LIVE STATS: (host school):  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/UMHB/
LIVE VIDEO (host school):  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/UMHB/
THE SERIES:  This is the 17th meeting between these teams. UMHB leads the series, 14-2.
 
GAME-BY-GAME:
Year       W/L        McM      Opp.
1998      W           41          25
1999      W           21          7
2000      L             6            20
2002      L             7            59
2003      L             6            63
2004      L             23          73
2005      L             0            72
2006      L             15          38
2007      L             19          61          UMHB #2
2008      L             0            46          UMHB #3
2009      L             8            45
2010      L             31          43          UMHB #5
2011      L             27          28          UMHB #3
2011      L%          20          49          UMHB #4
2016      L             3            66          UMHB #3
2017      L             0            62          UMHB #1
 
             
CRU IN THE POLLS:  UMHB's football team is ranked No. 2 in both national polls: the American Football coaches Association and D3fotball.com. Perennial power Mt. Union is #1 in both polls.
 
WHEN LAST THEY MET:  The McMurry University football team could not stop the No. 1-ranked team in the nation for NCAA Division III – the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – suffering a 62-0 loss at Wilford Moore Stadium. The War Hawks joined plenty of distinguished company, as UMHB extended its winning streak to 23 games over the past two seasons.  The Cru posted three scores in each of the first two quarters – the first coming just 25 seconds into the game – and then added 20 second-half points.
 
McMurry's offense was never able to get in sync.  The War Hawks rushing game was held in check by the Cru for the second-consecutive meeting between the teams, managing just nine yards on 22 carries. McM quarterbacks combined for 61 yards through the air versus the veteran UMHB defense throwing a total of three interceptions.
 
UMHB's ball control offense helped the visitors to a 35:33 minutes to 24:27 minutes in time of possession.
 
McM's Eriel Dorsey had 108 all-purpose yards. Dorsey amassed 90 kickoff return yards and 18 receiving. Special teams player Sean Germany had a pair of recoveries on muffed punts by UMHB.
 
UMHB 2018 AT-A-GLANCE: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation for NCAA Division III. UMHB (7-0, 6-0 ASC) leads the ASC in many statistical categories, including scoring offense (59.0 p.p.g.) and scoring defense (a minuscule 5.0 p.p.g.). The Cru defense allows foes an average of just 167.7 yards per game and has made a league-leading 11 interceptions. Individually, running back Markeith Miller leads the ASC with 910 rushing yards (130.0 y.p.g.). QB Luke Poorman is tops in pass efficiency (208.6 rating).
 
MCM 2018 AT-A-GLANCE: McMurry (2-5, 2-4 ASC) will resume action after a bye last week. After dropping their first three games of the season, the War Hawks topped Sul Ross State at home (Sept. 22) and Belhaven (27-20) on the road in its next three outings. In its last game, McM dropped a 35-23 homecoming game decision to Louisiana College. QB Kevin Hurley Jr. has completed 117-218 passes (53.7%) for 1,730 yards (247.1 y.p.g.) and 13 touchdowns. Eriel Dorsey has 851 receiving yards (121.6 y.p.g.) and 46 receptions.
 
HURLEY UP:  Kevin Hurley ranks 2nd in the ASC in Passing Yards per game, averaging 247.1 yards through the air per outing. He is also #2 in Total Offense at 252.3 y.p.g.
 
As a team, McM is #2 in Passing Offense.
 
KNOX, KNOX: Spencer Knox is #2 in the ASC in Kickoff Returns, at 23.5 yards per return in his 14 attempts.
 
'TIS MORE BLESSED TO RECEIVE: McM wide receiver Eriel Dorsey leads the ASC at 121.6 Receiving Yards per game and in Receptions per game (6.6). He is also #1 in the ASC for All-Purpose Yards at 156.4 y.p.g.
 
A TOP TACKLER:  Sophomore linebacker Josh Smith ranks #2 in the ASC for Total Tackles, at 10.6 per game.
 
PAPER OR PLASTIC?:  McM freshman Darreion McLean ranks No. 4 in the ASC with 5.0 sacks, thus far, in 2018.
 
MELLOW YELLOW:  McM is the second-least penalized team in the ASC, averaging 48.0 yards in penalties per game...and also #2 in drawing Opponent Penalty Yards (68.6 y.p.g.).
 
ON THE CHART:  QB Kevin Hurley is ranked #11 on McMurry's career Passing Yards list with 3,176 yards. Next up at #10 Gabe Rodriguez (3,237/2013) and #9 Brett Lang (3,239/1977-79).  Hurley also ranks #15 in career Total Offense with 3,077 yards.