LSC Roundup 9-14

Kingsville, Tarleton, Angelo State get big wins
Kingsville lived up to its ranking, Tarleton played great defense again, Eastern New Mexico set more records and ACU won a thriller in Lone Star Conference football Saturday. ACU got an interception return for a touchdown in overtime to outlast Texas A&M-Commerce 20-14 in the rain at the Cotton Bowl. The Wildcats protected their No. 2 national ranking. West Texas A&M, which had lost only seven games in four seasons, fell to 0-3 with a 34-10 defeat at No. 6 Central Washington.

Here’s how the LSC South games went.

No. 11 Texas A&M-Kingsville 46, No. 24 Central Oklahoma 17: At Kingsville, the new and much improved Javelinas scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to bury the Bronchos to go to 3-0. Three of the plays were huge — a 65-yard interception return, a 70-yard bootleg by quarterback Billy Garza and an 88-yard pass from Garza to Sherman Batiste that tied for third longest in Kingsville history.

And there still were five minutes left in the quarter.

WT offense struggles in loss
West Texas A&M didn't earn its initial first down until the four-minute mark of the first quarter in Saturday's 34-10 loss to sixth-ranked Central Washington at Ellensburg, Wash.

The Buffs (0-3) had four three-and-out possessions in the first half. They lost one fumble but coughed the ball up three times. They had nine penalties for 75 yards, including an offensive pass interference that helped halt a drive. They went 2-for-14 in third-down conversions and 1-for-5 on fourth downs. Central Washington was 9-for-17 on third downs.

However, WT head coach Don Carthel said after the game he was pleased with his defense, which was criticized after allowing 444 yards rushing combined in the first two games, against Grand Valley State and Central Oklahoma. Central Washington finished with 110 yards on 38 carries against the Buffs. Central totaled just 64 yards on the ground in a playoff loss to the Buffs last year at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.

Harvey Martin Classic: Abilene Christian defeats Texas A&M-Commerce, 20-14
Long interception return lifts Abilene Christian to win
Area college football report: Sept. 14, 2009

No. 14 MSU rolls St. Mary's, 3-0
SAN ANTONIO — No. 14 Midwestern State was relentless Sunday afternoon in a physical affair at St. Mary’s Field. The Mustangs pelted St. Mary’s with 22 shots and dominated play to earn a 3-0 shutout of St. Mary’s for their fifth straight win.

“It was a tough, hard-fought game,” MSU coach Doug Elder said. “We were persistent and stuck with it and really overcame a ruggedly called game.”

The game featured eight cautions and a pair of ejections, including Rattlers sophomore forward Daniel Kelly and to Elder.

WT coach passes milestone
West Texas A&M soccer coach Butch Lauffer recorded his 400th and 401st career victories Sunday as the Buffs and Lady Buffs defeated Texas-Permian Basin at The Pitch on WT's campus.

The Lady Buffs (5-0-1) gave Lauffer win No. 400 with a 3-1 victory. Senior forward Miriam Dominguez scored her fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick to give WT the lead. Linday McHorse also got her fourth goal, scoring from 20 yards out.

Freshman goalkeeper Korey Schroeder notched seven saves in eight chances.

"It was great to get (the win) in Game 1 and get it behind us," Lauffer, in his 18th year at WT, said. "I really didn't know I was this close until last Monday. There have been a lot of people who have contributed to this, not just me."

The Buffs defeated UTPB, 7-1, in the second match of the doubleheader.

Angelo St. scores late, shuts out No. 5 UIW
A header by freshman Hanna Horeis in the 68th minute lifted the Angelo State soccer team (4-2) to a 1-0 victory at No. 5-ranked Incarnate Word Sunday in San Antonio.

Horeis’ second goal of the season, made possible by a chip pass from senior Skylar Searles, ended a defensive struggle between the two regional foes and gave ASU a win over the Cardinals for the second straight season. Last fall, the Rambelles handed UIW their only regular-season loss, a 2-1 ASU decision in San Angelo.

WT runners finish third
The West Texas A&M men's and women's cross country teams finished third at the Buffalo Stampede on Saturday at the WT Horse Center. Garden City Community College captured the 8K men's title, scoring 27 points on the strength of a one-two finish by Mohamed Noor (25 minutes, 28 seconds) and Gabriel Proctor (25:37). Eastern New Mexico was second with 49 points, followed by the Buffs at 65. Joey Villarreal led the Buffs by finishing eighth in 27:00.

ENMU won the women's division with 49 points, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma State (60) and the Lady Buffs with 82 points. Southwestern's Chesley Dillon won the women's 5K race with a time of 20:13. Nicole Hudgens led the Lady Buffs with a seventh-place time of 21:28.