ABILENE, TEXAS - The Kristopher Martin Show came to Wilford Moore Stadium for McMurry's home opener Saturday, Sept. 30.
 
The senior wide receiver from El Paso came one catch short of setting a school record when he hauled in three passes for touchdowns during a 52-14 triumph over Lyon College, the War Hawks' future opponent in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The record was originally set in 1937 and again in 2009.
 
Coach Jordan Neal's War Hawks left little doubt about the contest's outcome by squawking out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter and clawing on 17 more in the second for a 38-7 halftime lead. Those superlatives would lead them to their second 50-point-plus outing, the most in a season since 2016.
 
Freshman quarterback Jess Hoel (Abernathy, Texas) started the scoring parade on a five-yard scamper with just over six minutes left in the first stanza. The hosts then scored 15 points in about 90 seconds. Sophomore tight end Skylar Soward (Spring Branch, Texas) reeled in a 10-yard pass from Hoel, and Hoel threw a pass to Martin for the two-point conversion. Martin got his first touchdown, a 49-yard grab, from freshman quarterback Tray Walton (Dallas, Texas).
 
In the second stanza, senior kicker Jared Mendoza (Fort Worth, Texas) nailed a 29-yard field goal that was followed by Martin's second score, this one for 16 yards. Freshman wide receiver Corinthean Coleman (Dallas, Texas) then caught a 73-yard bomb from Walton.
 
McMurry finished its scoring on Hoel's 60-yard rocket to Martin and a four-yard scamper by sophomore running back Phazzon Washinton (Austin, Texas). Along with the field goal, Mendoza made five extra-point kicks.
 
Washington led all rushers with 5 carries for 68 yards, followed by Hoel with 11 carries for 67 yards. Hoel was 24 of 34 passing with one interception for 293 yards while Walton was a perfect six of six for 188 yards. Martin caught five passes for 160 yards and Coleman also reeled in five catches for 101 yards. Sophomore Pablo Cabello (Dallas, Texas) averaged 43 yards on each of his three punts with one going for 64 yards.
 
McMurry racked up 642 offensive yards and held the visitors to 157. It converted on three of five fourth downs. Defensively, the War Hawks had two quarterback hurries. The gritty junior linebacking duo of Herman Lee (Prosper, Texas) and Marshall Tovar (Willow Park, Texas) each collected six tackles with four tackles for losses and one-and-a-half sacks between them.
 
McMurry has two wins and two losses and will play crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University on Oct. 7 for All-Century Teams Weekend. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.