ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' football team held off McMurry, 17-12, to retain the Wilford Moore Trophy on Saturday night at Wilford Moore Stadium.
 
The game was a slugfest from the start and the Cowboys had to come up with a big fourth-down stop in the final minute to preserve the victory.
 
HSU's defense forced a punt on the opening drive and the Cowboys responded with a 10-play 45-yard drive to take an early lead. Kyle Brown hit Brock Gibson with a 4-yard touchdown pass.
 
McMurry scored their first touchdown in the second quarter when Jess Hoel scored on a 3-yard run to cap a 13-play, 66-yard drive that took 7:25 off the clock. Braden Hargrove blocked his third kick of the season on the PAT and HSU led 7-6 with 7:51 to play in the half. The score remained 7-6 at halftime.
 
HSU took the opening kickoff of the second half and went 65 yards in eight plays and Grayson Bearden nailed a 35-yard field goal to five HSU a 10-6 lead. It was the longest make of his career.
 
The Cowboys opened up a 17-6 lead early in the fourth quarter when Brown hit an open Dozie Ifeadi for a 24-yard touchdown with 10:40 to play in the game.
 
HSU's defense then forced a quick punt, but Kyle Brown was hit from behind by Markeis Williams on a sack and lost the ball and the War Hawks recovered at the HSU 28. Hoel found Kason O'Shields on a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the Cowboys' lead to 17-12. The War Hawks did not convert a 2-point attempt.
 
The Cowboys were driving trying to put the game away when Noah Hatcher forced a Colton Marshall fumble and the War Hawks recovered at the 50 with 1:06 to play. McMurry drove it to the HSU 30 and faced a fourth down but the Cowboy defense came up with the stop to secure the win to retain the trophy for the 10^th straight year.
 
HSU outgained the War Hawks 244-232 in the game. Brown was 10-for-22 for 138 yards and two scores. Noah Garcia had 74 yards rushing on the ground. Kaiden Roden led the defense with 16 tackles, he added a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Harrison Foster had nine tackles.  
 
HSU is now 6-0 on the year and McMurry fell to 4-2. The Cowboys will host East Texas Baptist at 1 p.m. on Saturday for homecoming.
 
 
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