Hmmmm.....5 right, 3 wrong last week...that leaves us 13-7 for the season, not the best start in the world, lets see if we can turn it around this week.
Last week's games
Abilene Christian 58, Fort Lewis 10 - 3 ACU QBs threw TD passes in this laugher
Texas State 48, Angelo State 28 - Rams gave SLC favorite a good game
Central Oklahoma 24, West Texas A&M 17 - Buff TD with one second remaining made game look closer than it really was
Texas A&M-Kingsville 39, East Central 7 - Javelinas emptied the bench in the second half
Eastern New Mexico 45, Southwestern Oklahoma 7 - ENMU with 657 yards of offense
Midwestern State 34, Southeastern Oklahoma 6 - Mustangs dominant on both sides of ball
Tarleton State 6, Northeastern State 0 - Defenses dominated; NSU had eight 3 and outs, TSU had seven
Southeastern Louisiana 41, Texas A&M-Commerce 7 - Lions punted 9 times.
This week's games
#12 East Central at #3 Tarleton State - mismatch of the week
ECU's season to date has been difficult. The Tigers were shut out in week one, and could only manage a late TD in week two. Marcus Johnson has really struggled, completing less than 50% of his passes, with no TDs and 3 Ints, and a QB rating of 34.2. Josh Phillips came on in relief last week, and led the Tigers to their lone TD. The defense is allowing 439 yards and 43.5 points per game. Opponents have a 55% 3rd down conversion rate, and are 9-11 in red zone opportunities.
Which Tarleton State will show up this week? The powerful unit that amassed 429 yards and 45 points in the season opener, or last week's group that could only muster two FGs and 224 yards against Northeastern State? Roderick Smith continues to be the offensive leader. He is 4th in the LSC with 138 yards and 4 TDs rushing. The defense has been solid. The Texans are 2nd in the LSC in scoring defense and 3rd in yards allowed. They shut out Northeastern State, limiting the Riverhawks to just 148 total yards on the evening.
The Tiger defense should be just what the doctor ordered for Tarleton's offense to get back on track. TSU 35-10
#6 West Texas A&M at Central Washington (#6 in D2football.com poll)
This was a preseaon marquee matchup of top 10 programs and a rematch of last year's thrilling opening round playoff game. While Central Washington has kept up their end of the bargain, West Texas A&M has been slow out of the gate, losing their first two games of the season.
Since Don Carthel took over as head coach in 2005, the Buffs have sported a high scoring, pass-happy offense. That has not been the case so far this year. WT is averaging just 373 yards and 20 points per game - and the scoring averaging is bolstered by late TDs in both games when the outcome was already decided. Taylor Harris completing 2/3 of his passes, but has more Ints (3) than TDs (2). Kelvin Thompson has been adequate at RB, but the Buffs miss Keithon Flemming tremendously. The defense has not been able to pick up the slack, allowing 434 yards and 30.5 points per game. They have yet to register a sack or interception.
Central Washington has won both of their games on the road - at Mesa State, and defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth on national television last Thursday night. With QB Mike Reilly gone, the Wildcats have won with tough defense - shutting out Mesas State and holding UMD to just 10 points. CWU is giving up 155 yards on the ground, but both opponents have been running teams. The pass defense has given up just 138 yards per game, no TDs and has picked off 3 passes. Offensively, All American Johnny Spevak is back at WR and has 13 catches for 170 yards and both of CWU's TD receptions. Ryan Robertson is the new QB and has been okay, but won't make anyone forget Reilly.
The Buffs find themselves in a tight spot. Already with two losses and games with ACU, TAMK, Tarleton State and Midwestern State still to come. Central Washington doesn't have a lot of wiggle room either. They might need to go undefeated to make the playoffs due to their scheduling difficulties. The Wildcats will take a close one at home - CWU 21-17.
#1 Abilene Christian vs. #10 Texas A&M Commerce at the Cotton Bowl
This is another game that looked more promising in the preseason. ACU is #2 in the nation, picking up where they left off last year. It is the defense that is getting recognition so far this season. The Wildcats have allowed just 254 yards and 12 points per game so far. The run defense has been especially tough, leading the LSC with just 33 yards per game allowed. After a slow start against Northwest Missouri, the offense has come around (maybe) - Fort Lewis is not exactly a solid measuring stick. Though just 7th in total offense, ACU leads the LSC in scoring. The QB position has been shared, with both Zach Stewart and Clark Harrell getting most of the snaps. Both have been efficient, but Coach Thomsen would probably prefer for one to win the spot outright.
The Lions have also had 2 quarterbacks splitting time, but have not had the same success. Reid Herchenbach has been the more accurate QB so far, but neither he, nor Adam Farkes, have a TD pass yet. The running game took a hit last week, when Jetavious Best went down with an injury. The strong defense of the past few seasons has yet to emerge early on. The Lions are giving up 31 points and 401 yards per game. The run defense has been good (91 yards per game), but will be challenged by ACU's backs.
Texas A&M Commerce is struggling with new personnel and systems. They have scored just 1 TD in each of their first two games and might be lucky to get that much this week. ACU 28-0
#13 Southwestern Oklahoma at #8 Angelo State
While a rebuilding year was expected for SWO, the margins of defeat in the first two weeks have been surprising. The Bulldogs find themselves at the bottom of the LSC in scoring and yards allowed. Teams have had equal success running (261 yards per game) and passing (314 yards per game). The offense hasn't done much better, scoring just 12 points and gaining just 200 yards per game. Senior quarterback Steve Day has thrown 6 interceptions and is completing just under 50% of his passes.
Angelo State followed up their week one victory with an expected loss to nationally ranked IAA Texas State. The offense, with Josh Neiswander back under center, is much improved. The Rams have scored 24.5 points and gained 353 yards per game, both solid improvements over last year. The defense is firmly in the middle of the LSC in points and yards allowed, even after facing Texas State.
This has all the makings of a trap game for Angelo State - coming home after a decent showing at a ranked IAA team and facing a team that is really struggling. The Rams cannot afford a letdown. Southwestern Oklahoma, on the other hand, just needs a game in which they are competitive. ASU 28-14
#7 Southeastern Oklahoma at #9 Eastern New Mexico
This matchup shows just how much things can change in one week. The Savage Storm go from leading the LSC in offense to scoring just 6 points and gaining just 222 yards. Dallas McCutcheon had a rough game, throwing 3 interceptions and was unable to guide SOSU on any scoring drives after two first quarter field goals. Justin Pitrucha came in the game in the fourth quarter and moved the teams some, but not to the endzone. Will there be a QB switch if McCutcheon has another down game? The pass defense is allowing 258 yards per game, and will be challenged by the LSC's #1 passing offense.
On the other hand, the Greyhounds looked like a totally different team last week, dominating Southwestern Oklahoma 45-7. JJ Harp has already thrown for over 1,000 yards and has 6 TD passes. Not surprisingly, the top 2 spots (and 4 of the top 10) for the LSC in receptions belong to ENMU receivers. They even found a running game last week, with freshman Troy Harris picking up 87 yards on the ground. The defense picked off 4 passes and limited SWO to just 180 total yards. Rodney Mitchell has two picks in each of ENMU's two games.
If we would have predicted this game a week ago, it would have been a solid SOSU pick. But last week's performances by both teams change things. While SOSU is probably better than they showed and ENMU is probably not that dominant, we still think ENMU will take this one at home - ENMU 35-24
#11 Northeastern State at #4 Midwestern State
If you would have offered Coach Kenny Evans this scenario a week ago - late 2th quarter, 1st and 10 on the Tarleton 25, down by 6 points - he probably would have jumped all over it. As it was, the Riverhawks could get no closer than the 20 yard line and lost a defensive battle 6-0. NSU held the Texans to just 224 yards of offense and kept them out of the end zone. The offense ran into an even tougher defense, gaining just 148 yards and only getting into Tarleton territory twice all night.
Are the Mustangs the Rodney Daingerfield of the LSC? (more importantly, does that reference date me as an old-timer?) After all, they lead the LSC in defense (points and yards) and are second in scoring offense. Yet they are not ranked nationally, and are "only" fourth in our Power Poll. They have run the ball well on offense, but it is the play of Zack Eskridge that has made MSU click. So far this year, Eskridge leads the LSC in passing efficiency, and has 6-0 TD to INT ratio. The defense is giving up just 58 yards rushing per game, and leads the LSC in pass defense (yards and efficiency). If they keep playing this well, the national voters will have to notice soon.
Things don't get any easier for NSU as they face the Mustangs. Midwestern State in another quietly (as far as the national pundits are concerned) solid win - MSU 38-14
#5 Central Oklahoma at #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville - Game of the Week
Another "what a difference a week makes" story. UCO, worn out by Pittsburg State in the season opener, turned around and went to Canyon and beat West Texas A&M. Unable to run the ball against PSU, the Bronchos piled up 288 yards, led by Jason Palmer's 148 and Ben Birmingham's 72. Brandon Noohi threw for 198 yards and added 65 on the ground. Ryan Gallimore, Kendall Hendricks and Matt Jackson combined for 13 catches and 190 yards. The defense held WT's vaunted passing attack to just 239 yards and picked off two passes. The run defense did their part as well, keep WT under 100 yards. Terry Hardeman had 10 tackles, 3 for losses and a sack and picked up the LSC Scoop defensive player of the week award.
The Javelinas continue to climb the national rankings - 9th in the D2football.com poll (24th in preseason) and 11th in the AFCA coaches poll (not ranked in the preseason). TAMK is scoring 34 points per game and is second in the LSC in yardage at 471. They are second in the LSC in rushing (behind UCO) and third in passing (yards and efficiency). Billy Garza had 4 TD passes in two and a half quarters last week, all to different receivers. Fred Winborn emerged as another RB option last week, gaining 61 yards on 7 carries (4 running backs have between 73 and 103 all-purpose yards). The defense has been even better, allowing just one TD through two weeks (the offense has allowed two), and just 189 yards per game.
Something has to give - Can UCO (167 yds per game) run the ball on TAMK (62 yds per game)? Can UCO (195 ypg) shut down TAMK's running game (161 ypg)? Can TAMK slow down UCO's passing game? UCO shut down WT's passing game, can they shut down TAMK's? If the Javelinas needed a wake up call, UCO's big win last week should have provided it. Both teams are playing very well, but the Javelinas have been more consistent and are at home - TAMK 31-21
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