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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