ABILENE – McMurry Football plays for Abilene bragging rights and a shot at a postseason berth when fifth-ranked Hardin-Simmons visits Wilford Moore Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The War Hawks come in at 4-1 overall while Hardin-Simmons enters at 5-0.
 
McMurry Storylines
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK- DEFENSE: McMurry defensive lineman Kane Strohman got the nod as Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. He also was named to D3football.com's Team of the Week. Strohman, a senior from Katy, had a school-record 6.5 tackles for loss, which ties for the third-most in a single game in SCAC history, in the WarHawks' 28-10 conference victory at Centenary. He finished the game with seven total tackles, including 2.5 sacks.
 
TFL: Kane Strohman has been hard to handle. After registering a school-record 6.5 tackles for loss at Centenary, he now leads Division III with 3.0 tackles for loss per game. He also leads the SCAC and is eighth in the nation with 1.40 sacks per game. Strohman also leads the War Hawks with eight tackles per game. McMurry is 29th nationally with 7.8 tackles for loss per game.
 
DRIVE KILLERS: McMurry's defense has allowed a league-low 72 first downs this season. That ranks 22nd in Division III. The War Hawks are fifth nationally in stopping fourth-down plays (16.7 percent conversion rate).
 
PICKS: The War Hawks have 10 interceptions this season, which leads the SCAC and is eighth in Division III.
 
SCORING DEFENSE: McMurry ranks first in the SCAC and 16th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 11.8 points per game. And when it comes to the defense scoring, the War Hawks are 17th in the nation with two touchdowns.
 
HOEL LEADING: Quarterback Jess Hoel leads the SCAC and is 54th nationally in passing efficiency at 157.5. He also leads the conference and is 23rd in Division 3 in passing yards (1,291) and passing yards per game (258.2). Hoel leads the SCAC in TD passes with 12.
 
THREATS: Kristopher Martin leads the conference with 491 yards receiving and 98.2 yards per game. He's fourth in the league at 16.37 yards per reception. Thomas Chandler checks in at sixth in the SCAC at 15.25 yards per catch.
 
TURNOVERS: The War Hawks are second nationally with 16 turnovers gained. They also are seventh in D3 with a 1.60 turnover margin.
 
SCORING STREAK: McMurry has scored in 44 consecutive games, dating back to a loss against top-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2019. The record is 97 consecutive games, which ended in 2005. By quarters, McMurry has scored in the last six first quarters, seven second quarters, and two third quarters. McMurry was scoreless in the fourth quarter at Centenary.
 
SCOUTING HSU: The undefeated Cowboys are third nationally in scoring offense at 56 points per game and allow 16.4 points per game. Kyle Brown is fourth in D3 with a 75.4 percent completion rate. Dameon Gomes leads the country with a pair of TD kickoff returns. Gomes also is third in the country with 22.7 yards per punt return. Noah Garcia has averaged 6.13 yards per carry and has 423 rushing yards this season. He is sixth in D3 with 10 total touchdowns.
 
CAPTAINS: Saturday's captains are senior defensive back Damon Dozier Jr., senior defensive lineman Markeis Williams, senior running back Jack Ishmael and senior defensive back Timothy Leatherman. Honorary captains for the week are Grant Greenwood, vice president for enrollment management and interim CEO, John Yarabeck, vice president for student life and Larry Dockery, athletic director.