Box Score GEORGETOWN, TEXAS – McMurry's second excursion away from its home base nearly wound up with a box checked off in the win column Saturday, Sept. 24.

The War Hawks brought a strong contingent from the Big Country that made the trip to suburban Austin, Tex., to its feet right out of the gate at Birkelbach Stadium. After holding their hosts from Southwestern University following the opening kickoff, head coach Jordan Neal's squad marched down the field and found paydirt when sophomore quarterback Andrew McBride (Katy, Tex.) scooted six yards for a score. Neal's offensive kept the pressure off taking their ensuing drive to the house, too, when McBride hit senior wide receiver Jermond Lovely (Dayton, Texas) down the far seam in stride for an 82-yard scoring strike, making it 14-0 before many fans had settled in their seats.

SWU rallied with 14 straight of their own for a second quarter tie. However, the visitors responded with 12 straight, highlighted by a 51-yard field goal off the foot of senior place-kicking standout Jared Mendoza (Dallas, Texas), the program's longest since 2005. The Pirates, despite trailing 26-14 at the break, got their offense rolling with three straight touchdown drives in the third period as part of a 24-point run and 38-26 advantage.

McMurry attempted one more comeback of its own in the closing moments. They found the end zone with just over six minutes, as senior running back Rajan Cunningham (Dallas, Texas) found an opening around the right side and rumbled 16 yards through the Pirates defense. Neal's defense held up on SWU's next possession forcing a punt. The War Hawks made their inside home territory with just over a minute remaining but a fourth down pass attempt was wide, allowing the hosts to hang on to a 38-33 American Southwest Conference victory.

The tough-luck decision didn't extinguish the light from McBride, Lovely or Mendoza, though. McBride had one of his best nights in a War Hawk uniform going 17 of 35 for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another. Lovely was among his top targets with three catches for 93 yards and the one score. Mendoza went two-for-three in fields, was perfect in extra points and forced three touchbacks as his kickoff average jumped above 60 per attempt for the season.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Herman Lee (Prosper, Texas) and senior defensive lineman Devin Nixon (Vidor, Texas) proved difficult to keep out of the opposing backfield again. Lee produced four tackles, two and a half which went for losses and sacks. Nixon registered five tackles, a half sack and one and a half tackles for losses.

McMurry (0-4 overall, 0-2 ASC) is back home for Hall of Honor weekend Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff against crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons is 4 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.