ABILENE, Texas – Host McMurry University Rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to notch its first win of the 2018 season with a 35-24 win over longtime rival Sul Ross State University at Wilford Moore Stadium. The American Southwest Conference victory by the War Hawks (1-3, 1-2 ASC) over the Lobos (0-3, 0-2 ASC) also earned the team the rivalry's "Battle of I-20" trophy for the first time since the awards inception in 2015.
 
The 88th incarnation of the McM-SRSU series – the longest rivalry in McMurry school history – gave the War Hawks a 46-40-2 in the series and lifted to onus of securing that first win of the season from the squad.
 
McMurry rode the hot arm of quarterback Kevin Hurley Jr. in guiding the win. Hurley was 28-for-41 for 452 yards and four touchdowns. Hurley's yardage total was the most by a McMurry signal-caller since Gabe Rodriguez carved up Southern Nazarene for 502 yards on November 16, 2013. Hurley did not throw an interception n the game, as well.
 
Six receivers were the benefactors of Hurley's big game, led by junior Eriel Dorsey's nine catches for 225 yards. Dorsey had a 73-yard touchdown reception on the War Hawks' very first play from scrimmage to give the hosts the 7-0 lead, after Tanner Wright nailed the extra point kick.
 
After the Lobos knotted the game at 7-7 midway through the first stanza, McM would reel off 14 unanswered points. The first came at 5:12 of the second quarter when Trevion Harris hauled in a three-yard toss from Hurley, giving him three-straight games with a TD grab and McMurry a 14-7 advantage, capping an eight-play, 83-yard set. 
 
With just 1:59 remaining until the intermission, running back Doyle Hughes took a toss from Hurley and bolted through the SRSU secondary for a 41-yard score that made it 21-7.  The Lobos tallied a late TD in the second period to cut the War Hawks cushion to 21-14 heading into the halftime locker room.
 
The third quarter belonged to the Lobos. A 32-yard field goal and a touchdown run gave the visitors a 24-21 entering the final period and put the War Hawks behind the proverbial eight ball. Things looked even more bleak for McM after SRSU nailed a perfect punt that went out of bounds at the War Hawks' two-yard line with 9:44 left to play and 98 yards away from a much-needed scoring opportunity.
 
But Hurley was more than up to the task and, after an incomplete on the first play of the drive, deftly drove his team downfield. After the incomplete, Hurley picked apart the Lobos with five consecutive completions, the last of which was a four-yard aerial touchdown to Spencer Knox in the far corner of the end zone. After the PAT, McMurry had regained the upper hand, 28-24, with 8:04 remaining.
 
The War Hawks defense – which was stellar – rose to the occasion on the ensuing SRSU series, forcing a three-and-out. A first down stuff by defensive lineman Kristopher Vasquez and a sack by Dez Turner on third down forced a Lobos' punt. A kick-catching interference penalty versus the Lobos, gave McMurry the ball at the SRSU 47.
 
After already demonstrating his pass-catching ability, this time Hughes used his feet.  On the first play from scrimmage, Hughes burst up the middle and out-ran the beleaguered SRSU defense for a 47-yard TD jaunt that made it the 35-24 final score.
 
Defensively, the tandem of sophomore linebacker Josh Smith and Trevis Earls were both nightmares for the Lobos' offense. Each booked 12 total tackles in the game, delivering several punishing blows along the way. Earls forced a fumble, while Smith had four pass break-ups.  Edward Coleman Jr. added eight tackles.
 
Demarion McLean had the War Hawks' second sack of the evening. Sophomore linebacker Xavier Dunn had a fumble recovery (after Earls had dislodged the football).
 
"It feels good," McM Head Coach Lance Hinson said of the win.  "I credit my coaches and players. Those guys, they played so hard. We didn't have a real good third quarter, but they came through in the fourth. I'm just really proud. There were some big time individual efforts."