By Ellie Ratliff, Sports Editor
The Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys are finishing out their season strong, with impressive, dominating performances against the McMurry University War Hawks and the East Texas Baptist University Tigers.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Hardin-Simmons University football team rolled over the McMurry War Hawks in a 91-29 victory. The winner of this game is awarded the Wilford Moore Trophy. This crosstown showdown is a heated rivalry and the Cowboys retained the trophy yet again this year.
Three school records were broken during the game. The team broke a record as they gained on average 12.4 yards per play, totaling 732 yards overall. Jaquan Hemphill broke another record, scoring his 52nd touchdown. Jamie Pogue also broke the school record for PATs, scoring 13 points on the day.
Senior defensive tackle Coleman Northcutt talked about the big win and the historic rivalry between the two universities. “So McMurry hasn’t beaten HSU since 2011. And that’s the standard – to be the best show in town every week. We were focusing on stopping McMurry’s offense and we did our job very effectively on that day,” Northcutt said.
The Cowboys were focusing on putting up big numbers the week leading up to the McMurry game. “The talk the whole time that week was we were trying to go for 100 points. Since we had a heartbreaking lost to the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, we had to prove to the voters that we belonged in the playoffs,” Northcutt said.
The Cowboys followed the next weekend with an impressive shutout against East Texas Baptist University. On Nov. 9, the Cowboys played at ETBU on their senior day and won 45-0.
Northcutt noted the impressive performance of HSU’s defense against ETBU’s strong offense. “Brian Baca, ETBU’s quarterback [previously] lead the conference in passing yards. And that was the first time ETBU has been shutout since 2007. If we stay our course going into the last game, [our defense] will be the number one best defense to come to HSU. We average the least amount of points and the least amount of yards given up in a season,” Northcutt said.
The atmosphere at the ETBU game was a great one since so many HSU fans came to support the Cowboys. “We show-out to that game so well. Half the stadium is purple because of the HSU turnout for that game. It’s always a great atmosphere,” Northcutt said.
Despite being ranked in the top national rankings, the Cowboys will likely not make the NCAA tournament. They could be one of the highest ranking teams ever to not make the playoffs. “It is a shame that we might not get a shot at [the] playoffs, because in my four years [here at HSU], this is the most special team I’ve been on,” Northcutt said.