(Story courtesy of McMurry University Athletics Communications)

ABILENE, Texas -- McMurry University celebrated Senior Day with its first conference championship since 1983, its best record since 2012 and another receiving record for Kristopher Martin – all packaged in a 49-12 win over Centenary College.

McMurry is co-champion with Texas Lutheran of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, both finishing at 7-1. The last title team was in 1983 when McMurry won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The 7-3 record eclipsing last season's 6-4 mark as the best record since 2012 when McMurry was 8-3.

"I love McMurry. I love Abilene and I love this program these players," said McMurry head coach Jordan Neal. "It's an honor to get to be with them every day and be at the helm of this great program. Our theme this week from Second Timothy: 'I have fought the good fight. I've kept the faith. I've finished the race. And those 26 seniors that we honored today, those are guys that had fight. They had faith, and they finished. And so they're just a special group of guys that, you know, made a commitment. They were dedicated to this program and to the priorities and the values that were important to me and to our coaches."

Kristopher Martin needed 12 catches to break Greg Livingston's career record of 202. He had 13 receptions on the day and got close to the single-game record with 212 yards. Four of his catches went for touchdowns.

"We wanted to do whatever it took to get him over the hump on the receptions," said Neal. He's just a special player. He's gonna be really hard to replace, and we're gonna miss that productivity. But more than anything, we're gonna miss the fact that, he's a leader and a guy who showed up every day and worked his tail off. I just couldn't be happier for him."

After the first two drives of the day sputtered, McMurry got on the board on a 43-yard keeper by Jess Hoel for a 7-0 lead with 4:44 to go in the first quarter.

Hoel rushed for 14 yards and Jack Ishamel added a 17-yard gain to set up the War Hawks for two-yard TD on a quarterback sneak by Hoel for a 14-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Jax Rodriguez added a 26-yard field goal with 10:14 to go in the half for a 17-0 McMurry lead.

Centenary turned a turnover into its first touchdown to trim the lead to 17-6 with 2:32 to go in the half. That was more than enough time for the War Hawks to answer. Hoel and Martin hooked up for their first touchdown form 16 yards away. Drew Hagler had a 25-yard reception on the drive.

Kimani Smith returned the second half kickoff 38 yards to the McMurry 48 and the War Hawks had a 12-yard touchdown run by Ishmael six plays later for a 30-6 lead.
 
Hoel and Martin combined for a 42-yard touchdown pass on a fourth and three to built the lead to 36-6 with 1:57 left in the third quarter. That drive was kept alive when Markeis Williams converted a fake punt rush for 10 yards on a fourth-and-four.

After allowing a kick return for a touchdown, the War Hawks were back on the scoreboard wen Hoela and Martin converted from 71 yards out for a 49-12 lead.

Dylan Slack competed a 14-yard pass to Martin in the fourth quarter for the school record.

"That record was never really my goal," said Martin. "I really didn't know what to expect when I came here, so I came in with a  work mentality. And I did that and it's paid off. I'm proud the seniors this group of help McMurray win their first conference title since 1983."

Hoel passed for 287 yards and four touchdowns on 15-of-23 passing. Slack added 67 yards, going 6-for-7. Hoel was the leading rusher with 91 yards on 14 carries

Kane Strohman finished with 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack, leaving him 1.5 TFLs and 0.5 sacks short of season records.

Herman Lee, who retained his single-season sack record from 2022, led the War Hawks with seven tackles, including three for losses.

Strohman and Williams also had a fumble recovery with Williams and Williams also forced a fumble. Noah Hatcher had an interception.