LSC Roundup 11-23

The Short List - Dave Henry, Amarillo Globe News
Continued rumblings about a new WT football stadium bring this to mind: Borrow a page from Central Missouri, which knocked the Buffs out of the playoffs Saturday. The home side of UCM's Audrey J. Walton Stadium resembles a D-I facility. There is a multi-level facility on the home side, with an expansive press box, elevators, suites, bathrooms and offices. The visitor's side? Not so much. There are bleachers on the visiting side that look like they were stolen from a local middle school and four porta-potties. It looks like Cowboys Stadium merged with Bonham Middle School. Save money and build half a stadium ... It was nice to see Taylor Harris finish his WT career as the all-time leader in passing yards and total offense. Harris battled through injuries and was a class act, win or lose


All-LSC picks don't add up - Bob Forrest, Ada Evening News
Old habits apparently die hard where the coaches in the Lone Star Conference’s North Division are concerned.

The same coaches who picked East Central in August to finish last in this year’s North football race came back three months later to snub some of the players who led the Tigers to the school’s first-ever division title.

Although ECU’s nine first or second-team selections on the All-North Division offense and defense released last week were seven more than the Tigers received following last year’s 0-11 campaign, the list wasn’t nearly as long as it should have been.

And the first question that comes to mind is “WHY?”
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Bob Forrest raises a very interesting point. Here is a breakdown of the All-LSC selections by team, in order of division finish.

School (Division Record) 1st-2nd-HM selections
ECU (5-1) 2 - 7 - 14
NSU (5-1) 8 - 3 - 4
ENMU (3-3) 11 - 4 - 5
SWO (3-3) 1 - 6 - 5
SOSU (2-4) 7 - 1 - 4
TAMC (2-4) 2 - 1 - 1
UCO (1-5) 2 - 10 - 4

ACU (6-0) 12 - 7 - 10
TAMK (5-1) 4 - 10 - 6
WTAM (4-2) 10 - 5 - 6
MSU (3-3) 3 - 3 - 5
TSU (2-4) 1 - 1 - 8
ASU (1-5) 2 - 5 - 8
UIW (0-6) 0 - 0 - 5

At first glance of first team selections, it would seem that ECU, SWO and TAMK are under-represented, while ENMU, SOSU and WTAM are over-represented. It does strike us as odd that teams that finish lower in the standings can have 6 (WT compared to TAMK, SOSU to SWO), or even 9 (ENMU to ECU) more players selected to the first team than the teams finishing above them. Even more puzzling, is a team (SOSU) that finishes 3 games behind another (ECU) and has five more first team selections. Another puzzler - how does the LSC North Lineman of the Year only garner honorable mention?

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QUARTERBACK GREG McELROY OF ALABAMA,
RUNNING BACK ISAAC ODIM OF MINNESOTA DULUTH
TOP ESPN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® FOOTBALL TEAMS

From the LSC
Second Team
Karlton Graves - Offensive Lineman - Eastern New Mexico

NINE FINALISTS NAMED FOR HILL TROPHY
AS NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FLORENCE, Ala. -- A field of 24 candidates has been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on the national ballot where all 148 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 25th winner. The top two players from each of Division II's Super Regionals advance to the national ballot, but three players advanced from Region 4 due to a tie in the voting.

The list of 2010 finalists is comprised of seven quarterbacks and two running backs. Five of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season and one of this weekend's second round playoff matchups will have Hill finalists facing each other.

Advancing from Super Regional 1 are senior quarterback Zach Amedro of West Liberty (W.V.) University and freshman running back Franklyn Quiteh of Bloomsburg (Pa.) University.

Super Regional 2 is represented by sophomore quarterbacks Bo Cordell of the Tusculum (Tenn.) University and senior quarterback Nick Hardesty of Henderson State (Ark.) University.

The top vote getters in Super Regional 3 were Colorado School of Mines junior quarterback Clay Garcia and Michigan Technological University senior running back Phil Milbrath.

Advancing from Super Regional 4 are Northwest Missouri State senior quarterback Blake Bolles, University of Central Missouri senior quarterback Eric Czerniewski and Abilene Christian University sophomore quarterback Mitchell Gale. All three of these quarterback's teams are still alive in the playoffs and Czerniewski and Gale will face each other in the second round of the playoffs this Saturday.

Gale, a sophomore from Alva, Okla, is third in the nation in passing efficiency (167.3) and 17th in total offense per game (300.6 yards per game). He also leads the nation in touchdown-to-interception ratio with 33 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. He led the Wildcats – ranked No. 2 in the country and No. 1 in Super Region Four – to the first 11-0 regular season in program history and the team's second Lone Star Conference championship in the last three seasons. He will also lead Abilene Christian into the second round of the playoffs this weekend.


Notebook: Second Round Preview - NCAA.com
Eight second round matchups are set for this Saturday

No. 4 Central Missouri (10-2) at No. 1 Abilene Christian (11-0), 12 p.m. CT
The Mules won their first-ever playoff game with a 55-35 defeat of West Texas A&M, earning the right to play top-seeded and unbeaten Abilene Christian on Saturday. Senior quarterback Eric Czerniewski collected 368 yards passing and four TDs in the game as the Mules advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs for the first time in program history.

ACU received a first-round bye for the second time in the last three years after the Wildcats posted their first 11-0 regular season mark in school history. The Wildcats are one of five Division II teams that have earned playoff berths in each of the last five years. Northwest Missouri State, Grand Valley State, Albany State and North Alabama join the Wildcats on that list.

The Mules entered the playoffs averaging 488 total yards and 386 passing yards per game, good for fifth and fourth in the nation, respectively. ACU ranks in the top 10 in passing offense (313.82 ypg), total offense (476.74 ypg), scoring offense (43.55 ppg) and rushing defense (80.64 ypg). This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

No. 3 Northwest Missouri State (10-1) at No. 2 Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-1), 12 p.m. CT
The Bearcats survived a first-round scare against rival Missouri Western, rallying from a 17-0 deficit for a 28-24 victory to advance to a rematch contest at second-seeded Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday. It was the largest deficit Northwest has overcome to win in 41 playoff games as the Bearcats continued on their quest for a sixth straight appearance in the national championship game.

TAMUK defeated then-No. 1 Northwest, 16-7, to open the season and went on to post its first 10-win season since 2003. The Javelinas boast the nation’s top rushing defense, which is allowing just 54 yards on the ground per game. TAMUK is giving up just 14.27 points per game, which ranks seventh in the nation.

Northwest leads the series 2-1, including two meetings in the NCAA playoffs. The Bearcats defeated TAMUK, 49-34, in the 1998 semifinals, and topped the Javelinas, 34-14, in the second round in 2004.


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LSC Weekly Basketball Release
Lone Star Conference basketball teams are off to a good start, with 11 squads still undefeated. Action continues over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with non-conference games.

The LSC men have a 37-13 overall record so far this season, including a 17-8 mark in the South Division and 20-5 in the North. In the NCAA South Central Region, the men’s teams are currently 11-5 combined versus Heartland Conference teams and 4-2 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

The LSC women are 21-21 overall, with a 7-11 mark in the South and 14-10 in the North this season. In the NCAA South Central Region, the women’s teams are currently 13-14 combined versus Heartland Conference squads and 3-2 against the MIAA.



PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
NORTH MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Dauntae Williams, University of Central Oklahoma, SR, Guard, Missouri City, Texas, Missouri City HS
Williams led UCO to a perfect (3-0) week as the No. 18-ranked Bronchos improved to 5-0 on the year, averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals a game. The senior guard scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals in an 86-78 home win over NAIA’s No. 2-ranked Southern Nazarene. Williams scored a game-high 19 points with four 3-pointers, four assists and three steals in a 95-75 rout of Mid-America Christian on the first day of SWOSU Classic and then had eight points, four boards, two assists and two steals while playing just 15 minutes of a 92-50 drubbing of Arlington Baptist the next day.

NORTH MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Brent Friday, University of Central Oklahoma, JR, Guard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City North HS
Friday led UCO’s defensive efforts as the Bronchos won their home opener and swept two games at the SWOSU Classic to remain unbeaten at 5-0. The junior guard averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocked shots a game in wins over NAIA’s No. 2-ranked Southern Nazarene, Mid-America Christian and Arlington Baptist. Friday had nine points, four rebounds (three defensive), two blocks and a steal in an 86-78 win over SNU, eight points, five boards (two defensive), three steals and a block in a 95-75 rout of MACU and finished with 11 points, three rebounds (two defensive), four steals and two blocks in just 15 minutes of a 92-50 trouncing of ABC.

SOUTH MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Corin Henry, Tarleton State University, SR, Guard, Randallstown, Md., New Town HS
Henry averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 assists per game in the 2010 Texan Tip-Off Classic as he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Texans to two victories. He averaged .565 from the floor and .429 from the three-point arc while also pulling down five rebounds in the two games. In Friday’s win over Texas-Permian Basin, Henry tied a career-high with 29 points while recording four assists and three steals. He shot .571 from the field and .667 from the arc (2-3) while also going 11-15 in free throws (.733). On Saturday in the win over Newman, Henry was one assist away from a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. He had two steals as well. He shot .556 from the floor and was perfect (three-of-three) from the charity stripe. He had a 1.9 assist to turnover ratio and averaged his 21.5 points per game in just 30.5 minutes played per game.

SOUTH MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Marcus Ford, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, JR, Forward, Colorado Springs, Colo., Mesa Ridge HS
Ford generally has to guard the opponent’s top scoring threat. He held his opponents to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor and plays an important role in the team defense with his shot blocking abilities. He had 10 blocks on the week, including a career high five in a win against Texas Lutheran. He had 12 defensive rebounds and three blocks in a 56-53 loss to St. Edward’s. He led the Hoggie defensive effort that allowed just 56.0 points per game and a 36.7 field goal percentage.

NORTH WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Sumiya Darden, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, JR, Center, Fresno, Calif., Sunnyside HS
Darden averaged 21 points and 9.5 rebounds to lead Southwestern Oklahoma State University to a 3-0 start including two wins last week. The junior college transfer from Fresno City Community College had 30 points and 14 rebounds in SWOSU’s 93-82 victory over previously unbeaten Texas-Permian Basin.

NORTH WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Kayla Weaver, Texas Woman’s University, SR, Forward, Aquilla, Texas, Aquilla HS
Weaver was the team leader on defense and helped the Pioneers capture the 2010 Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere. She led the team in rebounds with 13 and defensive rebounds with 11. With Weaver’s leadership, TWU held the two opponents to 50.5 points per game and .352 shooting percentage including .056 from the three-point range. She was perfect 14-14 from the free-throw line in the two games and helped the Pioneers set a new school record with 17-for-17 free-throws as a team against UC-Colorado Springs. Weaver also led the team in scoring against UCCS with 20.

SOUTH WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Shelby Adamson, Tarleton State University, JR, Guard, Rockwall, Texas, Rockwall HS
Adamson had an outstanding performance in the TexAnns’ 74-64 victory over 20th ranked Lubbock Christian Saturday, Nov. 18th in Wisdom Gym. Adamson scored a career-high 26 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 11-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. She also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.

SOUTH WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Lindsey Mahone, Angelo State University, SO, Forward, Corpus Christi, Texas, Mary Carroll HS
Mahone was excellent in her Rambelle debut as she totaled 12 points, six rebounds and three steals in the ‘Belles’ 92-63 victory over Texas A&M International. Mahone, a sophomore transfer from Eastern Michigan, came back two days later and tallied nine points and nine boards to help ASU improve to 2-0 on the season.