ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's football team will welcome its most-played rival – Sul Ross State University – for the 88th renewal of the series at Wilford Moore Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 22) evening.  Kickoff for the "Battle of I-20" - and American Southwest Conference contest - is slated for 6 p.m.
 
Both teams will enter the meeting in search of their first win of the season.  SRSU comes in with an 0-2 overall mark and are 0-1 in ASC games.  The War Hawks are 0-3 and 0-2 in conference.
 
The game will also be McMurry's annual Military Appreciation Game. All military members – current and past – will be admitted free of charge simply by showing their military identification at the gate.
 
NOTES:

GAME TRACKER:
*McM RADIO: KSLI 1280 AM in Abilene (5:40 p.m. pre-game). David Bacon and Jason Feltz call the action.
*LIVE AUDIO STREAM: http://1280ksli.com/listen-live
*LIVE STATS: (host school): https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mcmurry/
*LIVE VIDEO (host school): https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mcmurry/
 
THE SERIES: The War Hawks hold a 45-40-2 advantage over the Lobos, but SRSU has won the past three meetings (2015-17).
 
ON THE LINE: In 2015, McMurry and Sul Ross State - in recognition of the long rivalry between the schools -  initiated the "Battle of I-20" trophy, which will go to the winning team.
 
SHOW STOPPERS: The SRSU-McM match-up will showcase the top-two tacklers in the ASC: McM's Josh Smith (#1; 12.3 p.g.) and the Lobos' Levah Tarry (t. #2; 12.0 p.g.). Both are just sophomores!
 
SRSU AT-A-GLANCE: The Lobos enter the game after taking it on the chin at the hands of the No. 2-ranked team in the nation for NCAA Division III - and ASC frontrunner - the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (68-7) last week in Alpine.  Three weeks ago, SRSU fell in its season opener at Arizona Christian, 42-20, in Phoenix. The Sul Ross offense is looking to get on track, averaging less than 190 yards and 13.5 points per game. The Lobos have given up 645 yards and 55 points per game on defense.
 
McMURRY AT-A-GLANCE: McMurry is coming off of a heart-breaking double-overtime loss, 37-31, at Howard Payne University last weekend. In a game that took nearly five-and-one-half hours to complete due to a lightning delay, did not have a traditional halftime due to the aforementioned weather issue and spanned two calendar days, it was somehow appropriate that the two teams also go to extra periods, as well. The War Hawks have also lost to Trinity University and Southwestern University, previously.
 
KNOX GOOD AS GOLD:  McM's junior transfer wide receiver Spencer Knox had three catches in last week's loss at HPU - all for touchdowns of 46, 61 & 80 yards - and earned ASC co-Offensive Player of the Week accolades for his efforts.
 
The "X" FACTOR:  McM QB Xavier Alexander was 21-of-33 for 339 yards and had the trio of TD passes to Knox at HPU. Alexander left the game near the end of regulation after being hit near the home sideline.
 
DYNAMIC DUO: War Hawks linebackers Josh Smith and Dakota Russell-David had outstanding games last week, combining for 25 tackles.  Smith amassed 13 total tackles versus HPU, while Russell-David had 12 tackles - nine of the solo variety - and also had his first collegiate interception.
 
"BUT WHAT ABOUT MY REWARD POINTS?":  The game versus SRSU will be the third at home in the first four weeks of the 2018 season for McMurry.
 
LONG TIME BETWEEN DOUBLE OTs:  When McM and Howard Payne went to double overtime last week, it was the first double overtime game in the ASC since Hardin-Simmons and Texas Lutheran played two extra periods on November 3, 2012.
 
PASSING GRADE: The War Hawks rank #3 in the ASC for passing offense at 272.5 yards per game.
 
JUST FOR KICKS: McMurry leads the ASC in punting, averaging 36.1 yards per punt for its 23 attempts.
 
ALL-TIME: This is the 897th football game in McMurry's history.  McM has an all-time record of 377-486-33 and in its 93rd season of football competition.