ASC's Championship rematch?
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Rose-Hulman SID
For the second consecutive year, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry will meet on the gridiron to determine the American Southwest Conference champion. Unlike last season, an NCAA III Tournament bid will more than likely be earned by this Saturday's winner.
Hardin-Simmons enters the showdown on a 19-game winning streak amidst controversy. The NCAA will rule this week whether the victories will stand after another ASC school reported that wide receiver Jackie Warren played in the Professional Indoor Football League prior to attending Hardin-Simmons, making him ineligible. Either way, the Cowboys matchup with McMurry shapes up as one of the nation's best so far this season for three main reasons:
First, the game is a rematch of last year's ASC championship game. Hardin-Simmons defeated McMurry 30-24 in overtime last season on its home field to complete an undefeated season and has made three second-half comebacks to remain unblemished this season. McMurry looks for revenge and a conference championship on its home field this Saturday.
Second, McMurry will be looking for its first conference championship in 16 years. The Indians and senior quarterback Braxton Shaver have lost just three games in the last two seasons -- two to Trinity University and one to Hardin-Simmons. The victory would enhance McMurry's claim as a national football power.
Third, an NCAA playoff bid is probably on the line Saturday. Under the new tournament structure, champions from non-automatic bid conferences make up a percentage of the field of 28. The ASC champion is nearly a lock to receive one of these berths -- if Hardin-Simmons is allowed to keep the wins earned for the last two seasons.
The ASC champion will join Trinity University as a South Region qualifier after the Tigers' 41-9 win at Sewanee last weekend. Independent Washington University strengthened its case for an at-large bid after a road victory to conclude its season last weekend at Colorado College.
Last weekend's key games:
TRINITY 41, SEWANEE 9: Trinity (9-0, 5-0 SCAC) won its seventh consecutive SCAC championship with a convincing victory against Sewanee (5-4, 4-2) in Tennessee. Senior quarterback Michael Burton earned SCAC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after passing for 217 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Trinity has won 28 consecutive regular season games.
HARDIN-SIMMONS 28, MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 21: Sophomore flanker Kirk Rogers helped replace Warren with 11 catches including the game winner as the Cowboys remained undefeated. Quarterback Brad Boyd completed 22 of 31 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns as Hardin-Simmons (9-0, 6-0 ASC) defeated a Mary Hardin-Baylor squad (4-5, 3-3) that upset Howard Payne last weekend.
McMURRY 41, HOWARD PAYNE 31: Senior linebacker Manse Draper returned an interception 25 yards early in the fourth quarter to give McMurry (7-1, 6-0 ASC) a 10-point lead and their sixth straight ASC victory to open conference play. Howard Payne fell to 4-5 on the season and 3-3 in ASC play.
WASHINGTON U. 23, COLORADO COLLEGE 0: Running back Larry Foster continued his solid work with 136 rushing yards as the Bears concluded the regular season with an 8-2 record and a University Athletic Association championship. The Bears will now wait until Selection Sunday to see if their efforts are rewarded with an NCAA III Tournament bid.