LSC Roundup 9-5

ACU preview: Wildcats seek offensive firepower, second win
What’s riding on this game: ACU puts its No. 3 national ranking on the line against a Skyhawks team that has won only three games the past two seasons. The Wildcats have won a school-record 11 straight regular-season games.

Last week: ACU, then ranked No. 5, knocked off then-No. 2 Northwest Missouri State 19-14 in a nationally televised game at Shotwell Stadium. The Skyhawks, who play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 23-13 in Durango, Colo. ACU beat Fort Lewis 46-7 in the only previous meeting Sept. 13, 2003, in Abilene.

Scouting Fort Lewis: Tim Jenkins (9-16-1, 118 yds., 2 TDs) and Justin Peters (7-17-0, 78, TD) split time at quarterback last week. Sam Apraku (10-40) led a rushing attack that gained 40 total yards against the Aggies last week. The Skyhawks defense forced two turnovers and held the Aggies to 83 yards passing.

“They spread it out, throw it all over the place,” ACU coach Chris Thomsen said. “They’ve got a really good running back, who complements their passing game. They’ve got a couple of good, quick receivers. Defensively, they’re not as big as Northwest (Missouri) up front, but they’re quick. They can give you problems in the blitz game and running game.”

Double duty: Williams back on football field after break for basketball
Antwon Williams was recruited to Angelo State to play football and basketball.

He chose football. But that didn’t keep him off the basketball court.

The sophomore from Pflugerville is in his second season playing football for ASU head coach Dale Carr. He was on the team in 2007 but did not play football last season to concentrate on basketball.

Mustangs look to slow Savage Storm offense
The Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm lead the Lone Star Conference in scoring and total offense after putting up 54 points and 531 yards in last week’s season opener against Henderson State.

On the other hand, the Midwestern State Mustangs had the only shutout in the conference and lead the LSC in total defense after holding New Mexico Highlands to 124 yards in their 41-0 win.

So something will have to give tonight when the Mustangs and Savage Storm open LSC crossover play with a 7 o’clock game at Paul Laird Field in Durant, Okla.

MSU had to come from behind to win last year’s meeting, 27-20.

“They’re well coached; play hard; and are aggressive,” MSU head coach Bill Maskill said of SOSU. “They threw the ball for 359 yards last week and they’re not afraid to throw it down the field. They also got 172 yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns. That’s a bunch of offense. And we don’t match up in any of those categories.

“Coach (Ray) Richards feels like this is their best team since he’s been there.”


Javelinas hope to build on opening victory
A&M-Kingsville aims for first 2-0 start since 2005

KINGSVILLE — The text messages, phone calls and well wishes started around 10:30 p.m. last Saturday. Texas A&M-Kingsville had just come off a huge win, 28-17 over then fourth-ranked Delta (Miss.) State.

In between the congratulatory back-slaps and kudos was the burning query — what will the Javelinas do with this unexpected jump start to the season?

It isn’t the first time the Javelinas had beaten a nationally ranked opponent under coach Bo Atterberry’s watch. They downed No. 13 Tarleton State 27-16 last October. They then proceeded to finish the season 3-2.

“I think this group’s pretty hungry for more. You saw where we were playing Tarleton last year, a ranked opponent and beating them at their place, that was all good,” said Atterberry, whose Javelinas host East Central (Okla.) tonight, the first of four home games to open the season. “But you saw where that got us. We were home during the playoffs.”


Beating the spread
Analysis, statistics, strategies, quotes and numbers about today's Lone Star Conference game between the No. 13 West Texas A&M Buffaloes (0-1, 0-0) and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (0-1, 0-0) ...

1st and goal: Don't pay attention to the numbers. UCO leads the series 10-8-1, but the Buffs have won four in a row over UCO. The average score - 40.5-14. WT has not lost to UCO since Don Carthel took over in 2005. "They've got a lot of new players, and they're going to be better than they were last year," said WT senior offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb. "It is going to be a new challenge for us." In a 49-18 win over UCO last season in Edmond, Okla., the Buffs racked up 637 total yards and a Wantland Stadium-record 32 first downs.


Kelvin Thompson
Jr., running back from Mineral Wells, (5-11, 200)


Why the No. 5 jersey? "My first year of football I was 22, after Emmitt (Smith). I just like the number."

Name a running back you admire or emulate. "Emmitt Smith or Terrell Davis."

What's your major? "Business management. I have liked almost all of my classes. I've had a lot of good professors."