Daily football roundup 9-29

Buffs avoid road letdown

By Greg Jaklewicz

West Texas A&M coach Don Carthel tore up his pregame speech that invoked the Alamo, which his football team had toured the day before.

Instead, Carthel talkJed about Southern California, the No. 1 Division I team that lost, 27-21, to Oregon State in Corvalis, Ore. Upsets happen, he told his team. Don't get upset.

Despite making a long road trip (668 miles), playing before one of the most enthusiastic crowds in the Lone Star Conference and quickly falling behind 7-0, the No. 6 Buffs didn't go the way of Southern Cal, Georgia, Florida and six other ranked D-I teams that were beaten last week.

Go to Amarillo.com for the rest of the story.

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Javs look to built on defeat

By George Vondracek

KINGSVILLE -- Obvious as it was painful, Mike Martinez posed the question before it was asked late Saturday after the track meet that was West Texas A&M's 55-35 football victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

"Why can't we come out and play the whole game like we did in the second half?" A&M-Kingsville's senior linebacker mused.

Good query. Ascertaining the answer during the course of the final six ballgames of the season will determine whether the Javelinas are indeed on the rebound with their program or simply are treading water.

Go to Caller.com for the rest of the story.

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Late 64-yard bomb lifts Tarleton to unlikely win

By Brad Keith

It was over, or so it seemed.

Even after stopping Southwestern Oklahoma State on fourth and short, Tarleton State’s chances of remaining undefeated looked bleak.

Tarleton had the ball with only 25 seconds remaining, trailed 21-17, and stood at their own 36 yard line.

Then, junior receiver Eric Foreman rose above the Southwestern defense to catch a deep ball, and eluded the only Bulldog with a chance of stopping him for a 64-yard touchdown with only 13 seconds on the clock, lifting the Texans to a 24-21 road win that came under the most unlikely set of circumstances at Milam Stadium in Weatherford, Okla. Saturday.

Go to the EmpireTribune.com for the rest of the story.

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UCO wraps up Lions for first win of the year

By Jeff Harrison

Central Oklahoma head coach Tracy Holland was all smiles as he walked off the field at Wantland Stadium Saturday night. But then again so was the entire UCO football team, who pulled out their first win of the season, a 21-13 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce.

“I’m so excited for this football team, they have played the schedule from hell basically, and they have kept the faith, they kept working, and kept getting better from week to week,” Holland said. “So to play the No. 1 seed in the North division and beat them is just a huge win for us, we’re very excited.”

Go to Edmondsun.com for the rest of the story.

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Shawn Williams: Securing the Cotton Bowl's future

On a sunny and mild afternoon – a day that would have been great for football – the city of Dallas and Mayor Tom Leppert unveiled a new and improved version of the historic Cotton Bowl.

I walked away impressed by the wider concourses, expanded media area, club-level seating and toilets that actually flushed (yes, I checked). But any mention of the Cotton Bowl since has been met with one word: Cowboys.It's as if residents expected Dallas to throw in the towel when America's Team chose to make its move further west.

Go to Dallasnews.com for the rest of the story.

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Blocked field goal denies NSU first win

ADA — Northeastern Sate University’s football team probably can’t have a more frustrating loss than the one it suffered against East Central in the Lone Star Conference North Division opener for both teams at Norris Field on Saturday.

A 37-yard field goal attempt by Jared Homer was blocked by Charlie Burks and Ryan Madison got the loose ball on a lateral from Dionte’ Dean and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown as the Tigers toppled the RiverHawks 55-49.

Go to Muskogeephoenix.com for the rest of the story.

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NSU blows past Southeastern Oklahoma

NATCHITOCHES — Not only did the Northwestern State Demons desperately need a win Saturday. They needed it to be convincing.

Their opponent, Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State, already had lopsided losses against Abilene Christian (59-10) and Tarleton State (51-10) this season.

Thanks to the Demons, the Savage Storm got another one.

Go to the Shreveporttimes.com for the rest of the story.