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When the Louisiana College Wildcats host McMurry in their final home game of 2011 this Saturday, it will be a game of several compelling storielines.

Kickoff will be 1 p.m. Saturday with live video provided through www.ihigh.com/louisianacollege. Live audio will be available through 1055kbuck.com and on the local airwaves at 105.5 FM KBCK Alexandria .

Both the LC (7-1, 5-1 American Southwest Conference) and McMurry (6-2, 5-1 ASC) will attempt to stake claim for second place in and a possible at-large berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

In the season's first Regional Rankings released Wednesday, current ASC leader, Mary Hardin-Baylor, checked in at the top spot. McMurry was ranked fifth and the Wildcats were two spots behind at number seven. With one regular season game left to play after Saturday, whoever wins this showdown game will have a commanding opportunity to join UMHB in the postseason.

For LC, the game takes on additional meaning in the fact it will likely be the last time to play at Wildcat Stadium for the Wildcat seniors. Those seniors will be honored prior to the game and will be joined on the field by their parents.

This has proven to be one of the more emotional games each year for LC football, but the fact the Wildcats are off to the best start in team history at 7-1, 6-1 in the ASC, will only add to the excitement and anticipation of the day.

And then there is the matter of last year's game at McMurry. LC survived on the field as its 35-32 victory was sealed by a Darnell Williams interception in the end zone with the War Hawks bidding to steal the game late.

In 2010, the Louisiana College won the game and secured second place in the ASC but, with a 7-3 record, missed out on the NCAA playoffs.

The dream to reach the postseason fell to the 2011Wildcats, who are now hoping to deliver. But, they know it won't be easy.

In McMurry, LC will face a team that is coming off a 24-14 win over Hardin Simmons, thus ending a 23-game losing streak to the Cowboys. The War Hawks had a strong performance on the ground as they rushed for 201 yards, and also saw a defensive effort that forced five turnovers. McMurry comes into the game with a five-game win streak, and they have done so by outscoring opponents by a total of 238 to 77.

The War Hawks are led by junior quarterback Jake Mullin, the commander of McMurry coach Hal Mumme's “Air Raid” offense, one made famous during Mumme's days at the University of Kentucky. This season, Mullin has completed 222-of-340 passing attempts for 2,575 yards for 21 touchdowns. Mullin missed last year's loss to LC due to injury.

Among McMurry's other offensive weapons are senior tight end Delfonte Diamond and senior wide receiver R.J. Long. The pair has combined for 93 catches for 1,179 yards for 12 scores in 2011.

McMurry's ground game is highlighted by junior running back Justin Johnson who on the season has gained 482 yards on 89 carries for five scores. Johnson is coming off a game in which he carried 22 times for 128 yards.

Defensively the War Hawks are led by senior safety Will Morris, who is tied for second in the ASC in interceptions at four. Morris returned an interception in last year's game for and 83-yard touchdown.

The Wildcats come into the game riding their own four-game winning streak including last Saturday's 37-16 victory at Texas Lutheran. The Wildcats have also defeated McMurry the last four years.

In many ways, the Wildcats' offense is similar to that run by McMurry. Louisiana College coach Dennis Dunn perfected his own, high-octane offense while at Evangel Christian in the Louisiana High School ranks as Mumme was working his system in the SEC.

In Saturday's game, the Wildcats will also look to their running attack to provide balance for the passing game and control the game clock.

“Our mentality is we would like to run the ball and establish the run," Dunn said. “Beyond popular belief, I do like to run the ball, and certainly with our offensive line, it's a strength of ours.”

The Wildcats will look to their three-headed monster in the backfield – sophomore Ryan Montague, senior Daron Bartholomew and sophomore CerDerrick Tyson – which has for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns this year.

Leading LC's offense is junior quarterback Jamie Bunting who on the season has completed 166 of 281 pass attempts for 19 touchdowns.

Bunting's favorite targets are a trio of senior wide receivers in Darnell Williams, D'Mario Parker and Dayne Reeves. They have combined for 129 catches for 1,693 yards and 15 scores.

On defense, the Wildcats know they will face a strong challenge in attempting to slow Mumme's offense.

“McMurry has a lot of weapons, but our defense is much more experienced from a year ago,” Calhoun said. “And defensively, we are up for any and every challenge set ahead of us.”

Defensively, the Wildcats also know they will have apply pressure on Mullin.

“We are going to have to play fast and be disciplined in our pass coverage,” senior linebacker Taylor Cattono said. “Give relentless effort every snap.”

The Wildcats rank second in the ASC in pass defense giving up 166.5 yards per game, and they also are first in total defense (311.7).

The Wildcats rank No.10 in Division III in pass efficiency out of 239 schools and rank No.16 in sacks per game at (3.25). Leading the team in sacks are sophomore defensive end Terrance Bratten and sophomore linebacker/defensive end Peter Ford, both of whom have five sacks on the season.

McMurry (6-2, 5-1 American Southwest Conference) at No. 20 Louisiana College (7-1, 5-1 ASC)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday
Location: Pineville, La. (Wildcat Stadium).
Mascots: McMurry War Hawks, Louisiana College Wildcats
Live Video: www.ihigh.com/louisianacollege
Live Audio: www.1055kbuck.com
Live Twitter Updates: @LaColAthletics
Team Rankings: McMurry, unranked but receiving votes in both the D3Football.com and AFCA polls; Louisiana College, No. 20 in D3Football.com poll and No. 22 in AFCA poll.
Coaches: McMurry, Hal Mumme (3rd season); Louisiana College, Dennis Dunn (6th season).
Last Week: McMurry defeated Hardin-Simmons 24-14, Louisiana College defeated Texas Lutheran 37-16.
Last Year: LC won 35-32.
All-Time series: LC leads 8-3.
Current Streak: LC has won the last four meetings.
Last win for McMurry: 2006 (23-12).
Series Notes: This year's McMurry-Louisiana College meeting is the arguable the most import in the history of the rivalry. The teams sit tied in second place in the American Southwest Conference with each having suffered a loss to No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor. The winner of Saturday's game will be in the driver's seat for a potential berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The loser will fall to third place and likely miss out on the postseason … This will be the last in-conference meeting between LC and McMurry. The War Hawks are moving toNCAA Division II next year … Two of the last three games between LC and McMurry have been decided by three points … The norm in the series has been lopsided wins. In the 11 previous meetings between the War Hawks and Wildcats, seven games have been decided by 11 or more points and five have been decided by at least 15 … The most lopsided win for LC and the series was 42 in 2009, with the Wildcats notching a 55-13 win … McMurry's largest margin of victory was 26 in 2000, the year the War Hawks logged a 26-0 win.
McMurry Notes: McMurry's two losses on the season have come at the hands of a nationally prominent D-III school, No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor, and a major NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Stephen F. Austin … The War Hawks have also defeated an NCAA Division I school, FCS Texas-San Antonio, this season. On Sept. 10, McMurry defeated UTSA 24-21 … McMurry's offense ranks second to Louisiana College in total offense, but leads the league in passing offense … The steward of the War Hawk offense is quarterback and National Player of the Year candidate Jake Mullin. Mullin has completed 222-of-340 passes for 2,575 yards and 21 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He leads the conference in total offense with 2,685 yards … McMurry tight end Delfonte Diamond and wide receiver RJ Long both rank in the top 10 in the ASC in receiving yards per game.
Louisiana College notes: At 7-1, Louisiana College has bested the previous school mark for top start by two games … Louisiana College ranks atop the ASC in total offense … The LC defense is the top ASC team in total defense and leads the conference in total sacks with 27 (eight higher than second-place McMurry and Mary Hardin-Baylor … Junior quarterback Jamie Bunting trails only McMurry's Jake Mullin in passing yards in the conference. Bunting has completed 166-of-281 passes for 2,017 yards and 19 touchdowns with 14 interceptions … Despite sharing carries with three other running backs, LC's Ryan Montague ranks fifth in the conference in rushing with 734 yards on 104 carries … LC defensive ends Peter Ford and Terrance Bratten are tied for fourth in the conference in sacks with five apiece.