A New Era: McMurry Football 2019

This fall season promised a new era for the McMurry football team. A new dynasty began when HSU alum, Jordan Neal, was hired on to be the head coach of the War Hawks. McMurry, however, is three games in and still has no wins. Will McMurry be able to turn this streak around? Or, will the first year of this new era go down in McMurry football history?

The first game, away in San Antonio was a hard loss for the War Hawks. Trinity University defeated the War Hawks 41-10. The lone touchdown came from a deep pass from Xavier Alexander to Kevin Hurley. The game started strong for the War Hawks with defense proving itself formidable, including a forced fumble by Willie Crawford. Trinity University took a 20 point lead, but McMurry was able to hinder their progress with a 72 yard return on an interception made by sophomore Dakota Russell-David. A defensively driven game for the War Hawks ended in an upsetting loss.

The following week, the War Hawks brought the game home, playing Howard Payne University. Our War Hawks were predicted to beat the Yellow Jackets, but HPU’s offense prevailed. McMurry football carried the lead after the first half and was brought down by an HPU surge during the final half of the game. The game was an opener for both teams in the American Southwest Conference. The Yellow Jackets came into the game with the 21^st ranked offense in the nation. Both teams traded punts in the opening quarter, but McMurry’s second possession allowed the War Hawks to take the lead. Alexander found freshman Dee Robinson on a short pass which was then carried 83 yards for a touchdown. On the next possession HPU brought the ball back for a Yellow Jacket touchdown. A surge from HPU in the second half kept McMurry on their toes, as the Yellow Jackets flew ahead.

The War Hawks were again at home for the military appreciation game against Sul Ross state– Hanging in the balance, the coveted I-20 trophy. Winning the year before left the War Hawks with a lot to lose and a bitter defeat. A close game, the War Hawks and the Lobos entered the fourth quarter with a 7-7 tie. The Lobos were able to gain momentum from a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown from the 2 yard line. The War Hawks were not able to hold the Lobos as they scored again making the extra point on both touchdowns. The final score was Sul Ross State 21 to McMurry 7.

With a three game losing streak in the books, will the promising new head coach be able to turn this season around? Coach Jordan Neal is coming to the War Hawks after spending the past six years as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Hendrix College, as the school reintroduced football after a 53-year break. Prior to joining the Hendrix staff, Neal was the Offensive Line Coach/Player Development Coordinator at Texas Lutheran University in 2012, setting multiple school records and an ASC-leading offense. From 2008-11, Neal was the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at Howard Payne University, generating the top offense in the ASC in 2009.

Neal has been the winning head coach in the Dream Bowl, a premier All-Star Game in Virginia Beach, Va., in all four years of its existence. After graduation, Neal played professionally in Malmo, Sweden with the Limhamn Griffins. He also coached the quarterback and receivers of the junior club. While there, the Griffins won the Swedish American Football Federation title and Neal was named the league’s Import Player of the Year. With an impressive head coach, War Hawk fans should be on the lookout for the rest of this season.