TYLER, Texas – McMurry University senior running back Paxton Grayer ran for a career-high 216 rushing yards to lead a 40-0 rout over Texas College at Rose Stadium. The win improved the War Hawks to 2-1 on the year, while the Steers fell to 0-3.
 
It also marked the third time - in as many meetings in the series between the schools – that McM has pitched a shutout at TC. McMurry has out-scored the Steers by a 157-0 margin (with the first two meetings taking place in 2010 and 2012).
 
But it was the powerful running of Grayer – averaging 10.3 yards per carry in the game – which propelled McM's win. It marked Grayer's first-ever 200-yard rushing game and was the 10th 100-plus yard rushing game of his McMurry career.  The big game also pushed his career rushing total to 2,285 yards, moving into the No. 6 spot on McMurry's all-time rushing list and climbing past both No. 7 Sal Andrade (2,084 yards/1970-73) and No. 6 Billy Shelby (2,150 yards/1974, 76-78) during the game.
 
After misfiring on its first series of the afternoon, the War Hawks hit pay dirt on their second possession. Following a TC punt, McMurry began matters on its own 46 yard line, first-and-ten. A 35-yard run by Grayer, as well as a one-yard gainer, moved the ball to the Steers' 18.
 
McM quarterback Matthew McHugh found Emmanuel Mulumba with a touchdown aerial that capped the 54-yard drive. Joey Silva's extra point kick made it 7-0 with 10:09 left in the first quarter.
 
The War Hawks' second score of the period came by way of special teams. On fourth-and-12 from its own 45, TC punted the ball away and – after a couple bounces – it was picked up by Charles Agugua at the McM five yard line.  After a couple of nifty moves, Agugua found himself in the clear for a 95-yard return for a TD, breaking the previous school record of 90 yards (set by arguably McMurry's greatest football player, Brad Rowland, in 1947).  Silva's PAT made it 14-0 with 7:51 left in the first.
 
In the waning second of the second quarter, McHugh hit Agugua who made a one-handed grab - that could only be described as "Odell Beckham-esque" - moving the ball from midfield to the TC 26. Orrin Peterman ripped off another 10 yards on a run down to the Steers' 16 yard line. That was followed by an incompletion with six tics left on the clock until intermission.
 
McM head coach Lance Hinson called on the sophomore Silva for the 33-yard field goal try.  Silva, who had already missed on attempt earlier in the game, split the uprights for what was his first field goal made as a War Hawk as the clock hit 00:00, sending his team into the locker room with a 17-0 cushion.
 
The second half was more dominance by the War Hawks' offense, as Grayer tallied both of his touchdowns in the third quarter on runs of 70 and 4 yards.  In the fourth stanza, Silva nailed his second field goal – this one from 32 yards – and sophomore Caleb Cross caught a 10-yard aerial from reserve QB Cy Ward for his first collegiate touchdown and making it the final 40-0 score.
 
Three McM quarterbacks combined for a 17-31 passing day, good for 174 yards.  McHugh was 12-for-23 (111 yards), Xavier Alexander 2-for-4 (41 yards) and Ward 3-for-3 (22 yards). Agugua caught four balls for 63 yards and Mulumba had three receptions for 55 yards.
 
For the second straight week, the War Hawks' defense was dominating, as well. Defensive Coordinator Kendall Roberson's unit allowed the Steers to garner just 113 yards of total offense in holding TC scoreless.  TC managed just 10 first downs (three by penalty), averaging just 2.1 yards per play.
 
McM linebacker tandem of Chase Franklin and Marlon Jackson had a big day. Franklin had a team-best nine total tackles, 4.0 for losses of 21 yards. Franklin had 2 ½ sacks and one quarterback hurry. Jackson added eight total stops.
 
Defensive back Ryan Williams contributed six tackles and had his team-leading third interception, which he returned 40 yards, as well).
 
Texas College's quarterbacks likely know exactly what groceries feel like, after having been sacked a total of eight times by McMurry's swarming defense. In addition to Franklin's totals, William Simpson, Jordan Washington, Jamir Bowser, Calvin Middlebrooks and Aston Campbell each had 1.0 sacks, with Andrew Sanchez getting credit for ½ sack.
 
The War Hawks will play their second-consecutive road game next Saturday (Sept. 26) at Langston College. The game is slated to be played at Douglas High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., with a 4 p.m. kickoff.