McMurry University's 2023 American Southwest Conference schedule begins Saturday, Sept. 23, as the War Hawks travel to Belton, Texas, to face off against perennial league power Mary Hardin-Baylor. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Crusader 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 UMHB. 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:  Returning defensive standouts Kane Strohman (Katy, Texas) and defensive back Ke'Shaun Jnoffin (Baytown, Texas) spotlighted last year's season finale in Belton for the War Hawks. Strohman was a pain point for the home offense, recording seven tackles, five of which were solo and two that went for losses, while getting into the Crusader backfield for a sack. Jnoffin broke up a pass attempt and was in on five tackles.
 
It's the 13^th meeting between the two league schools. UMHB has won the previous 12.
 
ASC PRESEASON POLL: A pair of returning second-team All-American Southwest Conference honorees spotlighted the 2023 conference preseason poll release on Aug. 21.

Lee and senior place-kicker Jared Mendoza (Fort Worth, Texas) were tabbed the War Hawks' Players to Watch. Lee is coming off 2022, where he set a new single-season record for sacks (9.5). Mendoza is the program's all-time leader in made field goals (23) and is tied for the single-season mark (nine).
 
Head coach Jordan Neal's Maroon and White charges received 26 polls, putting them sixth in the survey. Their total was less than 20 from a spot in the first five. Defending champions The University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons University, and Howard Payne University made the top three selections.
 
NEAL NOTES: "We're all looking forward to this weekend's challenge," head coach Jordan Neal noted. "This Crusaders team is no different than any other we've matched up. They hang their hat on a rugged defense and some top-notch skill players."
 
"We've been telling the team this is a great opportunity to show the strides of our program," he added. "We all know the tradition of gridiron success that Mary Hardin-Baylor has. Our scholar-athletes see we are building something like that, too. The best way to test where we are is to line up across from an opponent like we have this weekend. They always say 'Iron sharpens iron.'"
 
"We do take some momentum on the road with us, coming off a strong performance that led to a victory at Millsaps two weeks ago," Neal continued. "It won't be easy this weekend. Mary Hardin-Baylor is passionate about their football team and will bring their A game playing at home. It's time for conference football to begin."
 
HOME COOKIN': McMurry finally steps foot on its Wilford Moore Stadium FieldTurf in game action Saturday, Sept. 30. Lyon College of Mississippi, a future conference foe for the War Hawks, comes to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The game serves to honor local first responder units.