LSC Roundup 9-19

ACU preview: Wildcats brace for a Savage Storm
What’s riding on this game: ACU, the defending Lone Star Conference champ, put its No. 2 ranking and unbeaten record on the line in an LSC crossover game. This would be a big win for a Southeastern team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004, even though it has finished third or better in the LSC twice and tied for the LSC North title three times. Central Oklahoma was unbeaten in the LSC North last season and missed the playoffs, so it’s important to win these games. Midwestern State, ACU’s rival in the LSC South, already has beaten the Savage Storm 34-6 this season.

Last week: Southeastern won a shootout in Portales, N.M., vs. Eastern New Mexico 49-47 in an LSC crossover game. ACU edged Texas A&M-Commerce 20-14 in overtime in an LSC crossover game at the Cotton Bowl. Last year, ACU beat the Savage Storm 59-10 in Durant, Okla. Southeastern leads the series 5-4, with its last win coming at home in 2005 (42-24).

Javs look to tighten their game, stay undefeated
KINGSVILLE — In order for Texas A&M-Kingsville to maintain its current successful course, it must stick with the plan.

The plan isn’t complicated, and it really has nothing to do with what Northeastern (Okla.) State may dish in tonight’s Lone Star Conference crossover football game at Javelina Stadium. Thus, the 10th-ranked Javelinas simply need to do what they do and do it better than they have done en route to their 3-0 start.

“I think the overall objective going in is to win every ballgame, and we’ve done that to this point,” Javelinas coach Bo Atterberry said. “I’ve mentioned this several times. We’ve got to tighten some things up for sure. We’ve made some mistakes in some areas. Fortunately some teams haven’t taken full advantage of some of those things and caught us on it.

“But our players understand through film study and things like that that we’re not going to be able to make some of those mistakes and get away with it as the season continues,” Atterberry said. “That’s every week. We won’t be able to get away with it this week. (For) everybody that comes in here we’re going to have to tighten our game up.”

High-scoring Rams not all about offense
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Last Saturday, the Angelo State University football team had its best offensive performance since 2005.

The Rams had 524 yards and scored 55 points in a 55-10 rout of Southwestern Oklahoma.

But what could easily be overlooked was the defensive effort in that game. The Rams held the Bulldogs to 233 yards — 24 on the ground — and 10 points.

It was the kind of effort the Rams expect this season from their defensive unit — which was just as dominant early last season as well.

“We have a lot of experience and a lot of depth,” ASU senior linebacker Edward Cantrell said.

The Rams opened the season with a strong defensive game against Texas A&M-Commerce, allowing just 190 yards — 34 rushing — and seven points to the Lions.

Following a game against Texas State, which saw the next-level Bobcats put up some bigger numbers against the Rams, ASU was back to its opening-game form against the Bulldogs last week.

WT faces do-or-die game against SWOSU
It's only September and four games into the season, but today's Lone Star Conference matchup between West Texas A&M and Southwestern Oklahoma State has the makings of a do-or-die game.

That's reality when you're winless and already tagged with a conference loss - which is the case for the Buffs and Bulldogs.

The loser of today's game will be more or less relegated to a spoiler's role in the conference race and a non factor as far as the postseason.
"(SWOSU) has struggled this year just like we have," said WT head coach Don Carthel, whose team is 0-3 for the first time since 2002. "This is going to be a battle of two teams that are hungry."

"Both of us are in the same boat," said SWOSU head coach Dan Cocannouer, in his first season in Weatherford. "As far as West Texas, they had a great year last year and are sitting at 0-3. There is a pride factor from their point. It is the same way with us. When you're 0-3, pride does play a lot into it. Both teams are fighting for pride."

MSU to face first-year program at UIW tonight
Before the season started, Midwestern State head coach Bill Maskill would occassionally lament about his team’s lack of experienced players on defense.

He shouldn’t expect any sympathy from his counterpart this week — Incarnate Word head coach Mike Santiago.

That’s because the Cardinals don’t have any experienced players on offense, defense or the special teams.

The 24th-ranked Mustangs (3-0) will make their first trip to San Antonio to take on the first-year program in a 7 p.m. game today at Benson Stadium.

Incarnate Word is 1-1 on the season, beating Monterrey Tech of Mexico 42-39 in the season opener before falling to Arkansas Tech 40-10 in Week 2.

“They’re a young football team without a lot of experience,” Maskill said. “Probably similar to where Midwestern State was 20 years ago. They’ve got 10 kids on the roster who are juniors or seniors and the rest are freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and sophomores.

“I think they did it the right way. They signed a class (in February 2008) and practiced last year. Then they signed another class this year and had a full off-season. It’s hard to do that — practice and not play. They’ve got a new stadium and a new locker room and they’ve done all the things to put them in position. They’re hungry, they’re excited and they’ll play hard. But it takes time. It’s taken us eight years to get here and we’re still fighting to stay ahead.”