MSU quarterback Eskridge produces big numbers, if not ratings
Midwestern State quarterback Zack Eskridge is the first to admit that Saturday afternoon’s Texas-Oklahoma game will have a bigger draw than the contest between Texas A&M-Kingsville and the Mustangs later that night at Memorial Stadium.
But he might not be as quick to say the signal callers will be better in that game.
After all, he does lead NCAA Division II in passing efficiency and has thrown for more touchdowns and yards than Texas’ Colt McCoy, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford or TAMUK’s Billy Garza.
“I think there will be more eyes on that game,” Eskridge said with a laugh. “But I think ours will be worth watching. I got to meet both those guys this summer at the Manning camp (Manning Passing Academy) where I got a job as an assistant coach. They were great guys to hang around with — as were Peyton and Eli — and I learned a lot.”
Midwestern State looks to take out frustrations on Javelinas
In a span of three weeks, the fortunes have been reversed for Midwestern State’s football team. Winners of their first four ballgames, the Mustangs have dropped two of their last three, both in frustrating, last-second fashion, falling from the NCAA Division II Super Region Four rankings. Unlike seventh-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville, which travels to MSU for Saturday night’s Lone Star Conference South Division game with the No. 5 spot in the region in tow, the 5-2 Mustangs are in a precarious position with regard to a potential playoff bid.
Yet Bill Maskill, the school’s all-time leader in coaching wins in his ninth season in Wichita Falls, isn’t dwelling much on any postseason implications riding on the game against the 7-0 Javelinas.
“I think that we can’t worry about the big picture down the road. We’ve got to worry about us and this game. Whatever happens down the road, we’re not in the position Kingsville’s in,” said Maskill, who is 57-26 at MSU and has guided the team to two playoff appearances. “This is a great opportunity for us to play a team of their caliber on our home field. What could happen we don’t talk about. This game is the next game on the schedule and it happens to be Kingsville,” he said. “It’s the most significant game because it’s this week. That’s kind of how we approach every game.”
No. 13 Tarleton travels to face Harp-less Hounds
A key figure will be missing from the Eastern New Mexico offense when No. 13 Tarleton State visits the Greyhounds in Lone Star Conference South Division play on Saturday.
Jaklewicz: ACU can't hide with No. 1 bull's eye on back
As a homecoming treat for its fans, Abilene Christian will be in different jerseys.
Not a throwback, like all the NFL teams. No, new ones. Stylish white with purple and black trim, and a big red bull’s eye on the back.
Each player’s number? 1.
This week, ACU advanced to No. 1 in NCAA Division II for the time. Just in time for the West Texas A&M game.
Probably never crossed WT coach Don Carthel’s mind to tell his Buffaloes in practice that they will be facing No. 1 for the second time this season.
“I’ll stay mum on that,” said Wildcats coach Chris Thomsen, who may feel as if he’s entering a long-running Target ad the next four weeks. If ACU wasn’t between the crosshairs before, well, now they are.
Abbreviated season
Here's how it's gone for West Texas A&M running back Keithon Flemming this season: He saw his first action of the year Saturday after missing WT's first six games with a painful left elbow that was dislocated in the Buffs' final preseason scrimmage.
The elbow, wrapped in a pad/brace, wasn't a problem as Flemming piled up 101 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in WT's 34-24 Wagon Wheel win against Eastern New Mexico. However, in the fourth quarter, Flemming suffered a concussion. He remembers little about the game, the touchdowns or even answering postgame questions at the media tent at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
"I guess I was a little out of it," Flemming said.
LSC_rankings
(from the Abilene Reporter News)
1. ACU (7-0, 5-0 LSC) — The offense took a big step in putting up 38 points against a good Angelo State team on the road. Now the Wildcats face their big rival of late, West Texas A&M, and the Buffs have nothing to lose against the No. 1 team in the nation.
2. Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-0, 5-0) — The Porkers escaped Commerce with a 35-34 victory by after scoring 21 fourth-quarter points for the come-from-behind win. The Hoggies get another big test this week at Midwestern — a team that desperately needs a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive.
3. Tarleton State (6-1, 4-1) — Wow, Garrett Lindholm booted two field goals in the final 12 seconds, including the game-winner — a 55-yarder as time expired — to knock off Midwestern, 31-28. The Texans, who take on ACU on Oct. 24, are hanging in the playoff race — and the LSC title hunt, too.
Did you know that one of the top teams in Division II has a Hispanic QB?
Gather ’round, Hispanic football fans. Les tengo dos preguntas.
What is the name of the Hispanic who is starting at quarterback for one of the top NCAA Division II teams in the country, and what university does he play for?
If you know the answers, give yourself a pat on the back for being a true college football fan, not just someone who follows the so-called big-time schools.
If you don’t have a clue about las respuestas, you need to venture out to a small-college game soon. You don’t know what you’re missing.
Give up?
Rams ready for storm
SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Lone Star Conference North Division has a combined record of 10-32. Five of those 10 wins belong to Southeastern Oklahoma. The Savage Storm lead the division, along with Texas A&M-Commerce.
This week the Savage Storm face an Angelo State team with the same record (5-2). SOSU can move closer to a showdown with the Lions for the division title with a victory — and hand the Rams their second consecutive loss. SOSU comes into the game off a big homecoming victory against Central Oklahoma. ASU suffered its first LSC loss of the season last week against No. 1 Abilene Christian.
Texas Lutheran linebacker Jack Moses is not trying to sound vindictive when he says he and a number of the Bulldogs hold some animosity toward the Incarnate Word Cardinals. It's just that going against the Cardinals represents a unique opportunity for Moses and anyone else from San Antonio on the TLU roster. It's a chance for the non-scholarship players from nearby TLU in Seguin to beat a startup scholarship program.
“For some of us San Antonio guys, there's kind of some animosity toward them,” said Moses, a Churchill graduate. “Not anything bad. ... It's just like we're kind of trying to prove something.”
It would stand to reason that such feelings could make for the start of an enduring rivalry when UIW (3-3) and TLU (0-5) meet at 2 p.m. Saturday at Benson Stadium. Only one problem: It might be the one and only time UIW plays either TLU or its other neighboring school, Trinity. Not only does UIW stand to gain little by fostering a rivalry with either program, it also appears impossible for the Cardinals to schedule such games in coming years. When Division II UIW starts play in the Lone Star Conference next season, 10 of its 11 games will be mandated by the conference each year. In addition, scheduling Division III-level TLU or Trinity will not help UIW in terms of reaching the playoffs.
Angelo St. gets an early start to the madness
Wednesday night — or should I say Thursday morning — officially marked the beginning of the college basketball season for the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles. To commemorate the kickoff of formal practices, Midnight Madness was held at the Junell Center for students and fans alike.
Today is the first day that NCAA Division II teams are allowed to begin holding formal practices, so many schools get a head start with a midnight workout-turned-celebration with a party-like atmosphere known as Midnight Madness. ASU was no exception, offering free food, games, prizes and even a $10,000 reward to one lucky student. Doors opened at 11 p.m., with the 2009-10 Rams and Rambelles set to hit the court at midnight, when the scoreboard clock finally hit 00:00.
WT basketball prepares for first practice
The West Texas A&M men's and women's basketball teams begin their first day of workouts at 12:15 p.m. today at the WT Fieldhouse.
Krista Gerlich returns for her fourth season guiding the Lady Buffs. Gerlich led WT to a 28-6 record last year and an appearance to the Elite Eight quarterfinals. Her team lost several outstanding players to graduation, including four-year starter and All-American Emily Brister.
Rick Cooper returns for his 17th season guiding the Buffs. WT went 16-11 last season and tied for fourth in the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 6-6 record. The Buffs return two starters in senior guard Nick Burns and 6-foot-7 forward/post Bijan Dotson. Burns averaged 11.2 points per game last season. Dotson averaged 5.3 rebounds.
MSU tennis duo takes almost-perfect mark to nationals
Losing is never a good thing, but if you have to, dropping your first match of the season right before you get ready to play in a national tournament is probably the way to go.
Lone Star Conference Volleyball weekly release (10/14/09)
LSC play continues
Lone Star Conference action continues this week with 13 games including one on Wednesday, six on Thursday and six on Saturday.
West Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Abilene Christian and Southeastern Oklahoma were each unbeaten in league action last week. The Lady Buffs picked up their 56th-consecutive LSC triumph on Saturday, which dates back to 2006 including conference and championship matches.
LSC Volleyball Players of the Week
OFFENSIVE
Kristin Chancellor, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Sr., MB, Bellville, Texas/Bellville HS
Chancellor led the Javelinas to a perfect 2-0 week. She had six kills and a season high nine blocks in a three set victory over Cameron and 13 kills, five blocks and a .591 attack in a four-set win over previously unbeaten in the LSC, Midwestern State. She had only one attack error during the week, posted a .500 attack and averaged 2.00 blocks per set.
Alaina Sivells, Angelo State, Sr., MB, Marble Falls, Texas/Marble Falls HS
In her return from missing six straight games due to injury, senior Alaina Sivells sparked Angelo State to a 1-1 week, including a sweep of Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday night. Sivells averaged 3.67 kills per set and hit at a .364 clip in her return with the ‘Belles. She had seven kills along with four blocks against Texas A&M-Commerce and added 15 kills and a pair of blocks in a three-game loss to Texas Woman’s Saturday. In addition to her 3.67 kills, Sivells had 1.00 blocks per game. With 22 kills in the two matches, Sivells became just the 10th ASU player in program history to record 1,000 career kills, now with 1,010.
DEFENSIVE
Miranda Byrd, Midwestern State, So., OH, Atlanta, Texas/Atlanta HS
Byrd recorded her three-best dig performances of her career last week. The sophomore outside hitter followed a career-best 19-dig effort against Lubbock Christian with consecutive double-doubles at Tarleton State (13 kills, 17 digs) and at Texas A&M-Kingsville (17 kills, 15 digs.). The Atlanta, Texas native averaged 4.64 digs and 0.45 blocks per set over the three matches. Byrd also paced the Mustangs’ attack with 3.45 kills per set with a .162 hitting percentage.
Virginia Hernandez, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Jr., L, Katy, Texas/Katy HS
Hernandez led the defensive effort for the Javelinas as they won two conference matches. She had 11 digs, a kill and an assist in a three-set win over Cameron and came back with one of her best matches of the season against Midwestern State. She tallied a season high 24 digs in the four-set win. She only had one reception error during the week.
SETTER
Ijeoma Moronu, Abilene Christian, Jr., S, Fort Worth, Texas/Paschal HS
Moronu -- the reigning Lone Star Conference co-Setter of the Week -- was solid again for the Wildcats, leading ACU to a pair of 3-0 victories over Texas Woman’s and Texas A&M-Commerce last week. ... Moronu finished the weekend with 67 assists, 12 kills, 29 digs and six total blocks as ACU improved to 17-5 overall and 4-1 in the LSC. ... Moronu averaged 11.17 assists per set, and she hit .407 from the setter position, finishing with 12 kills and only one error on 27 total attacks.
Katie Rickwartz, West Texas A&M, Sr., S, Canyon, Texas/Canyon HS
Rickwartz expertly led the Lady Buffs to two sweeps last week against Southwestern and Central Oklahoma. She recorded 74 assists, averaging 12.3 assists per set and led the team to a combined .402 hitting percentage. She also contributed seven kills, a service ace, 13 digs, and two block assists. Against Central Oklahoma, Rickwartz recorded 43 assists and led the team to a .417 hitting percentage. That percentage was good enough to be the eighth best match percentage in the WT record books. This season, Rickwartz is averaging 11.1 assists per set and has 967 total assists.
Lone Star Conference Soccer Weekly Release (10/14/09)
Defense shines in week seven
Of the thirteen games on the Lone Star Conference schedule last week, seven saw two or fewer goals scored, while three had only three. As further evidence of the impressive back line play, just four individuals had multi-point performances and only one managed a multi-goal game, while nine LSC defenses notched shutouts.
Players of the Week
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Emerson Rodrigues, Eastern New Mexico, Jr., F, Natal, RN, Brazil/Colegio Objectivo Potiguar
Rodrigues made all three of his shots on goal count last week, scoring Eastern’s only goal in a 1-1 tie at Hardin-Simmons and twice more in ENMU’s 3-0 win at Adams State. His final goal of the week snapped a tie for the Greyhounds’ career goal-scoring lead, moving Rodrigues into first place in that category.
MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Landon Fruge’, Midwestern State, Jr., D, Cypress, Texas/Klein HS
Fruge’ tallied his first goal of the season and helped organize a defense which limited Northeastern State to two shots in a 2-0 win for Midwestern State Friday night in Tahlequah. The junior defender from Cypress played a key role in leading the Mustangs to their ninth shutout of the season as MSU outshot the RiverHawks 9-2.
WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Halla Ali, Texas Woman’s, So., MF, North Richland Hills, Texas/Birdville HS
Ali scored the game-winning goal against West Texas A&M with 1:06 left in overtime to help the Pioneers in a come from behind victory. She is one of five Pioneers to start all 11 games this season. The wins against Eastern New Mexico (Saturday) and West Texas A&M (Monday) are TWU’s first back-to-back wins this season.
WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Jacqueline Horner, Texas Woman’s, Sr., MF, Denton, Texas/Denton HS
Horner played fullback in both games. She matched up against the top scorers from Eastern New Mexico (Samantha Lawrence, 6 goals) and West Texas A&M (Lindsay McHorse, 8 goals) on defense and held them to just one shot each. She scored the game-winning goal against Eastern New Mexico on a free kick just outside the box, helped the team snap a five-game losing streak and jump started the offense that hasn’t scored a goal in five games. She has played in all 11 games this season.
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER
Natalie Wilson, East Central, So., GK, Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner HS
Wilson, a sophomore, made seven saves and recorded the shutout as East Central beat 10th-ranked Midwestern State 1-0 on Sunday. Wilson had five of her stops in the second half, including two big saves in the final two minutes to help preserve the victory. She also stopped a shot off a header with just over seven minutes to go. It was Wilson’s first career shutout win. It was the first time Midwestern State lost in 18 matches and the Mustangs’ first home loss since Sept. 11, 2008, a span of 12 games.
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