It's the 2023 American Southwest Conference home opener for McMurry University on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff against Hardin-Simmons University in the Crosstown Showdown series is 6 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.

First Financial Bank presents this War Hawks weekly football outlook.
 
TUNE IN TO THE WAR HAWKS: Fans can view live audio, stats, and video by going to the McMurry University football schedule home page and clicking the link next to the game date against Hardin-Simmons. David Bacon and Randy Turner, The Voice of War Hawks football, provide each exciting moment along 101.7 FM, The Patriot, by visiting https://www.1017theraider.com/ and clicking on the "Listen" link at the top of the page.
 
SERIES HISTORY:  HSU has won all eight previous meetings. Two seasons ago at Shotwell Stadium, the War Hawks gave their perennial loop rivals all they could handle, falling only 24-21.
 
HOME OPENER VICTORY: The Kristopher Martin Show visited Wilford Moore Stadium for McMurry's home opener on 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 initially set in 1937 and again in 2009.
 
The 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.
 
NEAL NOTES: "Another wonderful weekend opportunity in regards to an opponent who will challenge us and an event-packed campus is in front of us," McMurry's head coach Jordan Neal said. "We know how explosive Hardin-Simmons is and understand we must continue to limit the mistakes that cost us in our two defeats."
 
"Our team has proven themselves to be able to match up well against the best in NCAA Division III, and I think this weekend will be no different," he continued. "These young men know that week in and week out, the American Southwest Conference provides some of the toughest opposition in the nation, so we have to be ready from the time we get on the field for warm-ups until the clock shows four zeroes."
 
ON THE ROAD: McMurry University visits East Texas Baptist University in conference play Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff is 1 p.m. in Marshall, Texas.