DUBUQUE, Iowa - The McMurry University football team mounted a breathtaking rally from a three-touchdown deficit on Saturday afternoon at Chalmers Field, but a late score by the University of Dubuque dealt the War Hawks a heartbreaking 35-28 road defeat.
After falling behind 21-0 midway through the second quarter, McMurry caught fire, rattling off 28 unanswered points behind an electric offensive performance orchestrated by quarterback
Jess Hoel and wide receiver
Thomas Chandler before the hosts struck in the final minutes.
The hosts seized early momentum in the opening frame, capitalizing on favorable field position to take a 7-0 lead.
Carson Roper started under center for the War Hawks, but McMurry's early drives stalled, and an interception late in the quarter set up Dubuque on a short field. The Spartans converted the turnover into a touchdown early in the second quarter to double their advantage to 14-0. A McMurry fumble on the ensuing possession handed Dubuque another short field, which they promptly turned into a 21-yard rushing score to push their lead to 21-0 with 9:21 remaining in the half.
Facing a steep uphill battle, the War Hawks responded with composure and urgency.
Maurice Campbell ignited the sideline on the following kickoff, finding a seam for a sparkling 50-yard return into Spartan territory. McMurry turned to Hoel at quarterback, and the offense came alive. Hoel directed an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown march, connecting with Chandler for gains of 10 and 21 yards before finding
Jadyn Pruitt for a 19-yard strike down to the 11-yard line.
Corey Layne churned out a tough seven-yard run, setting up Hoel to call his own number for a four-yard touchdown scamper.
Jax Rodriguez tacked on the extra point to send McMurry into the locker room with positive momentum at 21-7.
The War Hawks carried that surge into the second half, dominating the third quarter by outgaining the Spartans 185 yards to 25 and controlling the ball for over 10 minutes. McMurry opened the third quarter with an authoritative 12-play, 80-yard drive. Hoel hit
Xavier Williams for 20 yards and converted a key third down with a 24-yard dart to Pruitt. Facing third-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Hoel connected with Chandler in the end zone for a touchdown, pulling the War Hawks within one score at 21-14 following Rodriguez's PAT.
The McMurry defense quickly forced another three-and-out, but a 60-yard punt pinned the War Hawks' offense back at its own 2-yard line. Unfazed, Hoel delivered the biggest highlight of the afternoon on the very first play, hooking up with
Bryson Perez on a short pass that Perez took 67 yards downfield to the Dubuque 31-yard line. After hard-nosed runs by Layne and an 11-yard reception by Layne on third down, Hoel found Chandler once again for a 15-yard touchdown strike with 37 seconds left in the frame. Rodriguez split the uprights, tying the contest at 21-21 and completing a 98-yard scoring drive.
McMurry's momentum carried directly into the fourth quarter. Taking over at their own 34-yard line after another defensive stand, the War Hawks went 66 yards in eight plays.
Leroy Rodriguez provided the spark on the ground with explosive runs of 13 and 12 yards into the red zone. Hoel then capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown strike to Chandler—completing a hat trick of receiving touchdowns on the day for Chandler and capping a run of 28 unanswered McMurry points to give the War Hawks a 28-21 lead with 10:48 left.
Dubuque responded on the next drive, assembling an eight-play, 71-yard march to tie the game at 28-28 with 5:52 remaining. McMurry's next possession stalled, and the Spartans capitalized with a 9-play, 58-yard drive, converting a key fourth-down attempt before scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:22 remaining to pull ahead 35-28. Dubuque then recovered an onside kick, allowing them to run out the remaining clock and secure the decision.
Hoel delivered a stellar performance off the bench, completing 22 of 29 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while adding a rushing score. Chandler hauled in six passes for 66 yards and three touchdowns. Pruitt led all receivers with 100 yards on seven catches, while Perez racked up 70 receiving yards on four receptions.
Defensively,
Bryce Neves led the charge with a team-high 11 tackles.
Brayden Youree followed closely with 10 stops, while
Jackson Harris wreaked havoc in the backfield with nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Cooper Barnard added eight tackles and a sack as the McMurry defense combined for three sacks on the afternoon.
Following a bye next week, the War Hawks will open conference play against Hardin-Simmons at 1:00 p.m. at Wilford Moore Stadium.
