ABILENE – McMurry held the No. 5 team 27 points below their average and gave itself a chance to pull the upset before Hardin-Simmons thwarted a final drive for a 17-12 win on Saturday.
 
Averaging 44 points per game coming in, Hardin-Simmons scored first on a 10-play, 45-yard drive.
 
The War Hawks answered with a 13-play, 66-yard drive that erased 7:25 off the clock. A 17-yard pass from Jess Hoel to Kristopher Martin kept the drive alive on a third-and-seven. Hoel finished the drive with a three-yard run but McMurry missed the extra point and trailed 7-6 with 7:51 to go in the half.
 
The score stood until the second half when HSU added a 35-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead with 12:26 to go in the third quarter. The Cowboys added a 24-yard scoring pass for a 17-6 lead with 10:40 remaining in the game.
 
Noah Hatcher got a sack and forced a fumble that Markeis Williams recovered to set McM up at the HSU 28. The War Hawks were in the end zone three plays later when Hoel found Kayson O'Shields open for a 34-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion pass failed and McMurry trailed 17-12 with 5:26 to go.
 
Hatcher forced another fumble and Kane Strohman came up with the loose ball for McMurry at the 50 with 66 seconds to go. McMurry got as close as the 30-yard line but turned the ball over on downs.
 
"Our defense was just outstanding," said McMurry head coach Jordan Neal. "I mean, those guys play with relentless effort. It was a mighty challenge, Hardin-Simmons is, it's so physical and tough but I was really proud of our effort. We just simply made too many mistakes. Hats off to Hardin-Simmons. They have a good program, but I wouldn't trade them for the War Hawks."

Hoel finished the night passing for 132 yards, completing 15 of 21 attempts. Drew Hagler had one of his best games of the season, rushing for 64 yards on 21 carries.
 
O'Shields had three catches for 59 yards to lead the receiving corps.
 
The War Hawks return to action with a trip to Seguin to play Texas Lutheran on Saturday.