LSC Roundup 9-17

Off and running: Rams aim to start 2-0 in LSC play
It’s way too early to start comparing this year’s Angelo State University football team to the 2005 squad that went 9-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

But in Saturday’s 55-10 rout of Southwestern Oklahoma, the Rams put up some numbers similar to and reminiscent of that squad.

For the first time since that season, ASU will try to improve to 2-0 in Lone Star Conference play when it travels to Ada, Okla., Saturday to face East Central. The Rams defeated the Tigers 38-28 last season.
Related: NATHAN WRIGHT: Internet brings fans even closer to Rams

Northeastern (Okla.) State seeking turnaround
KINGSVILLE — The precious commodity of time is something that most football coaches agree always is in short supply. Yet for Northeastern (Okla.) State’s football program, time is the main component that is going to assist the RiverHawks’ resurrection.

The RiverHawks are embedded in a rebuilding mode. The program hasn’t had a winning season since 2000 when the then-Redmen made their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Since then, Northeastern has won just 22 times in 82 ballgames.

“There’s been a big turnover here from when I got here. There are 40-50 new players in the program and a whole new coaching staff just in the last six months,” second-year NSU coach Kenny Evans said. “Their attitude’s been great. They know they have a chance once we mature and everything. They know we have a chance to be a good football team. They see the mistakes they’ve been making that have been costly. Right now, practices, meetings, everything has been up-tempo,” said Evans, whose team faces its fourth nationally ranked opponent Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference crossover game. “If we continue to improve at some point we’re going to be turning the corner. This is the result of an eight-year downturn at Northeastern. It’s just going to take time.”

Carr answers the call for Mustangs
Although he has shown flashes of potential, Midwestern State running back Neal Carr has basically been caught up in a numbers game since he joined the Mustangs. The running backs ahead of him on the depth chart — namely Marcus and BeeJay Mathis — have been putting up big numbers so Carr hasn’t played in many games.

So when the 5-11, 200-pounder got his chance in last Saturday night’s game against Northeastern State he made the most of it with a game-high 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns — one from 58 yards out.

“It’s not really frustrating,” Carr said, “but obviously I want to play. I know everyone gets their chances and has to make the most of their opportunities. I talked to the O.C. (offensive coordinator Dean Norsworthy) before the game and he said I might get my opportunity tonight. I just tried to take advantage of it as best I could.”

Inspirational mission
West Texas A&M placekicker James Chandler walked into a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting in January and was handed a flier about a mission trip to Taiwan.

Without looking at many of the details, Chandler, a native of London, jumped at the chance. It would be his first mission trip - Mission Impossible. Just getting to Taiwan was a monumental exercise in paperwork, red tape and, ultimately, faith.

However, it was a life-changing trip for Chandler, who could go down in the record books as one of the best kickers in WT history.

Hounds going on record-setting pace
PORTALES — Just two seasons after scrapping a power running attack it had relied on for years, the Eastern New Mexico University football team is shattering NCAA passing records.

Behind sophomore quarterback J.J. Harp, the Greyhounds (1-2) lead NCAA Division II with an average of 646.3 yards per game. Overall in the NCAA, the Hounds trail only Division III DePauw (Ind.), which is averaging 665 yards.

Harp has thrown for an average of 563.3 yards through three games and is on pace to shatter the all-divisions NCAA record of the late Steve McNair, who averagied 527.2 yards per game in his top season at Alcorn State.

LSC Rankings
From Joey Richards of the Abilene Reporter News.

Area Colleges Report - Sept. 17, 2009
Best Bet
UIW football: The Cardinals get a preview of their future in the Lone Star Conference with a home game Saturday against Midwestern State.

LSC Weekly Soccer Release
Thirteen Lone Star Conference teams kept their opponents off the board during week three of the soccer season. Ten goalkeepers combined on the effort and three were in net for more than one of the shutouts. West Texas A&M travels to Midwestern State to kick off the men's conference slate on Friday, while the women have one more week of non-LSC play ahead of them.

Players of the Week
MEN'S OFFENSIVE
Ben Everson, West Texas A&M, Jr., F, Middlesbrough, England/Middlesbrough College
Everson got two goals off the bench for the Buffs in a 7-1 win against UT-Permian Basin in the WT home opener. WT is 4-1 overall and travels to rival Midwestern State on Sept. 18 for the LSC opener.

MEN'S DEFENSIVE
Raul Herrera, Midwestern State, Jr., GK, Dallas, Texas/Berkner HS
Herrera notched a pair of shutouts while leading No. 12 Midwestern State to a pair of wins last weekend at Texas A&M International and St. Mary's (Texas). The junior transfer from Richland College stopped a season-high nine shots for his third shutout of the season against Texas A&M International, then didn't have to face a shot in a 3-0 blanking of St. Mary's. Herrera leads the LSC in goals against average (0.33), save percentage (.875) and shutouts (four).

WOMEN'S OFFENSIVE
Hanna Horeis, Angelo State, Fr., M, San Angelo, Texas/Central HS
Horeis scored in each game this week for the Rambelles as they extended their winning streak to four games, matching a school record. Horeis' goal in the 68th minute at No. 5 Incarnate Word gave ASU a 1-0 victory over the Cardinals. It was the second straight season that the Rambelles have upset UIW. Horeis scored her first career goal in ASU's 6-0 rout of Texas A&M International in Laredo on Friday.

WOMEN'S DEFENSIVE
McKenzie Caldwell, Central Oklahoma, So., D, Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett
Caldwell spearheaded a Central Oklahoma defense that posted three straight shutouts last week as the Bronchos evened their record at 3-3-1. UCO earned 1-0 wins over Dallas Baptist and Newman and a 2-0 victory over Oklahoma Baptist. Caldwell and her defensive mates allowed those three opponents just 13 combined shots, including a mere six on goal.

WOMEN'S GOALKEEPER
Melanie Peterson, Angelo State, Jr., GK, Fort Worth, Texas/Fossil Ridge
Peterson posted her first two shutouts of the season as the Rambelles improved to 4-2. Peterson opened the week with one save as she and her Rambelle defense gave up just four shots in a 6-0 win at Texas A&M International. Peterson then made seven saves Sunday as the Rambelles upset No. 5 Incarnate Word, 1-0, in San Antonio. She now has six career shutouts to her credit, moving her into fifth place all-time at ASU.