College Football: Conference play starts for ACU, McMurry, here's what to know
It's a full week for Abilene's three college football teams, here's a look at when the games are being played and what to expect.
HARDIN-SIMMONS AT ENDICOTT
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Hempstead Stadium, Beverly, Massachusetts
Records: HSU 2-0; Endicott 2-1
Series: First meeting. Endicott was a late addition to fill out a 10-game schedule.
Last week: Endicott beat Maritime 27-0 in Throggs Neck, New York; HSU had a bye after beating then-No. 11 Wisconsin-La Crosse 28-21 on Sept. 9 in Wisconsin.
Broadcast: Audio/Streaming— hsuathletics.com.
What to know — HSU is ranked No. 5 in the Division III AFCA Coaches, which made its season debut this week, and also No. 5 in the D3football.com poll. This is Endicott’s second nationally ranked opponent this season. No. 21 Ithaca beat the Gulls 20-17 in Week 2 at Hempstead Stadium. Endicott went 10-1 last season, falling to Springfield 17-14 in the first round of the playoffs. Gulls’ QB Clayton Marengi (45-69-1—441 4 TDs) also leads the team in rushing (27-163 1 TD). Shane Aylward (12-132) and Adam Goodfellow (8-136 TD) are the leading receivers. The Gulls, who are picked to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference, had one of DIII’s top defenses last year, and DL Hector Johnson is a D3football.com preseason All-American after making a school-record 14½ sacks last year. HSU QB Gaylon Glenn (36-47-1—552 4 TDs) spreads the ball around with K.J. Peoples (11-173) and Tailon Garrett (8-105 TD) leading the receiving corps. Hawley grad Colton Marshall (17-165 3 TDs) and Cooper grad Noah Garcia (24-145 3 TDs) lead HSU in rushing. LB Cade Michna (31 tackles, 18 solo) is the leading tackler and has one of the Cowboys’ four interceptions.
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ACU AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Estes Stadium, Conway, Arkansas
Records: ACU 2-1; Central Arkansas 1-2
Last week: No. 2 North Dakota State beat Central Arkansas 49-31 at the Fargodome; No. 9 Incarnate Word beat ACU 27-20 in Abilene
Series: Central Arkansas leads 1-11-1, including a forfeit win in 1974, a game ACU won 27-10 on the field. The Bears have won the last six meetings, including 42-21 in Abilene in 2021.
Broadcast: Audio— Varsity Sports Network at ACUSports.com; Streaming — ESPN Plus
What to know — Two former Division II teams that were Southland Conference rivals after ACU made the jump to the Division I-FCS meet again as conference rivals in the United Athletic Conference debut for both squads. The Bears have losses to FBS Oklahoma State (27-13) and No. 2 FCS North Dakota State, a national runner-up last year The lone win came against NAIA Texas College (70-2) in Week 2. QB Will McElvain (52-76-1—533 4 TDs) has two good ones in receivers Jarrod Barnes (10-143) and Myles Butler (10-142), while ShunDerrick Powell (33-376 4 TDs) leads a ground attack that’s rolled up 740 yards and 11 TDs. San Angelo Central grad Maverick McIvor (43-75-1—722 5 TDs) leads one of the FCS’ top passing teams for ACU. Blayne Taylor (7-211 TD) and Taelyn Williams (4-104) are the Wildcats’ leading receivers, while Lubbock Estacado grad Jermiah Dobbins (40-232 TD) leads the rushing attack. Lubbock Coronado junior LB Izaiah Kelley (21 tackles, 7 solo) and DB Elijah Moffett (20 tackles, 14 solo) lead the defense. The Bears were picked to finish second behind Eastern Kentucky in the UAC preseason poll. This is the league’s first year after combining the Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference as a football-only league. The two leagues had an alliance to send their best team to the FCS playoffs the previous two years.
MCMURRY AT MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crusader Stadium, Belton
Records: McMurry 1-1; Mary Hardin-Baylor 0-3
Last week: No. 4 Wisconsin-Whitewater beat UMHB 17-14 in Belton; McMurry had a bye after beating Millsaps 53-2 on Sept. 9 in Jackson, Mississippi.
Series: UHMB leads the series 16-2 with both losses coming in the Crusaders’ first two years as a program (1998-99). The Cru won 62-3 last year in Belton and 77-3 in Abilene in 2021. The Cru have outscored McMurry 426-16 in the last six meetings with the War Hawks only TD coming in an 80-7 loss in 2018.
Broadcast: Radio— KTJK 106. 3-FM; Streaming — mcmurrysports.com
What to know — This is the American Southwest Conference opener for both teams. The Crusaders have losses to No. 6 Wisconsin-Whitewater (45-22), No. 9 Trinity (35-16) and No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater — all but the latter on the road. It’s the first time UHMB, a national champion in 2021, has lost three games in a season since 2006, and the first time to start a season 0-3 since the program’s first season in 1998. The Cru hadn’t lost consecutive games in a season since 1999. QB Isaac Phe has thrown for 520 yards and three TDs with three picks. RB Kenneth Cormier Jr. (53-144) is the Cru’s leading, while Jerry Cephus (10-199 TD) is the leading receiver. LB Durand Hill (26, 15 solo, 6 for loss) and DE Myles Terry (21, 11 solo, 5½ for loss) lead the defense. Abernathy freshman QB Jess Hoel (48-71-3—563 3 TDs) leads the McMurry offense. Two El Paso El Dorado graduates — senior Kristopher Martin (11-183 1 TD) and Karmelus Card (8-144) — are the leading receivers. Anson grad Drew Hagler (19-41 2 TDs) is the War Hawks’ leading rusher. Joseph Richard (11, 8 solo) and Timothy Leatherman (9, 6 solo) are the leading tacklers.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hardin's Simmons, ACU, McMurry college football teams set for Week 4
