ABILENE, TX- The McMurry War Hawks opened their season at home against Southwestern University, battling from behind in a hard-fought 27-19 defeat. Despite a challenging start, the War Hawks' offense showed flashes of brilliance, compiling over 400 yards of total offense, while the defense made key stops to keep the team within striking distance.

The game began with a jolt as a McMurry fumble on their first possession led to a quick Southwestern touchdown. However, the War Hawks' special teams put them on the board, as Jax Rodriguez connected on a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3 in the first quarter.

McMurry's momentum continued into the second quarter. A methodical 8-play, 74-yard drive was capped by Drelon Burton, who powered into the end zone for a 9-yard rushing touchdown followed by a successful two-point attempt, bringing the War Hawks to within six points at 17-11.

After a scoreless third quarter, the War Hawks mounted a final comeback attempt in the fourth. Quarterback Jess Hoel, who finished the night with an impressive 324 passing yards, engineered a stellar 10-play, 93-yard drive. Hoel found Rhett Butler on a 4-yard scoring pass, and then connected with Thomas Chandler for a successful two-point conversion to make the score 27-19 with just over four minutes remaining.

While the comeback ultimately fell short, several War Hawks had standout performances. On the receiving end, Thomas Chandler was a workhorse, hauling in 11 passes for 115 yards. Karmelus Card proved to be a big-play threat, tallying 96 yards on six catches, including a 45-yard reception. O'Shields was also a key target, catching five passes for 57 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Bryce Neves led the team with seven total tackles, including half a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Kimani Smith added six solo tackles and a tackle for loss. The defensive unit showed resilience, highlighted by Jackson Harris's two tackles for loss.

The War Hawks head across town to face #6 ranked Hardin-Simmons University at Shelton Stadium next Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.