LSC Game Day - October 17

LSC Live Scoreboard (with Live Stats)

LSC Scoop Audio and Video Links for each team

Game Notes
Abilene Christian*
Angelo State
Eastern New Mexico*
Midwestern State*
Tarleton State*
Texas A&M-Kingsville*
West Texas A&M*
Central Oklahoma
East Central (none)
Northeastern State (none yet)
Southeastern Oklahoma*
Southwestern Oklahoma (none online)
Texas A&M-Commerce (none yet)

Newspaper articles
Javelinas seek longest win streak in 20 years
With the end of the regular season in sight, any victory would be big. None would be bigger for seventh-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville than Saturday night in Wichita Falls against Midwestern State in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, and for several reasons.

A win would extend the Javelinas’ unbeaten run to 8-0, something that hasn’t happened since they ran off 11 regular-season victories in 1989. With postseason hopes simmering, a win also would sustain momentum needed for the final three games against upstarts Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State sandwiched around a date at top-ranked Abilene Christian.

Mustangs aim to make own luck vs. Javelinas
While the 22nd-ranked Midwestern State Mustangs have suffered a pair of losses in the closing seconds in two out of the past three weeks, the No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas have had much better luck this season.

They have:

Scored 19 points in the second half to take a come-from-behind win over nationally ranked Delta State in the opener;

Overcame five turnovers in an overtime win over West Texas A&M;

Forced six turnovers against Tarleton State, including two that set up the final two scores that broke a 20-20 fourth-quarter tie;

And prevented Texas A&M-Commerce’s upset bid last week with three turnovers — a pair of fumbles that helped them overcome a 34-21 deficit and then an interception to ice the contest.

The Mustangs (5-2, 1-2) will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes tonight as the undefeated Javelinas (7-0, 3-0) invade Memorial Stadium tonight for an 8 o’clock Lone Star Conference South showdown.

Maroon and white zone
Analysis, statistics, strategies, quotes and numbers about today's Lone Star Conference game between West Texas A&M (2-5 overall, 1-2 in the LSC South) at No. 1 Abilene Christian (7-0, 2-0), 2 p.m., Shotwell Stadium, Abilene.

Rams out to bounce back from defeat
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Last weekend, the Angelo State University football team’s reward for earning its first national ranking since 2005 was a date with now-No. 1 Abilene Christian.

The Wildcats defeated the Rams 38-14 and knocked ASU out of the national rankings just as fast as the Rams appeared in them.

This week, the Rams’ opportunity to rebound and get back on the winning track leads them to Durant, Okla., to face Southeastern Oklahoma, a team they have defeated only once in six meetings since the teams began playing each other in 2002.

“We are going to make the playoffs,” ASU sophomore receiver Zach McCormick said. “That is our mindset. We are going to do whatever it takes to do that.”

ACU preview: No. 1 'Cats face struggling Buffs
What’s riding on this game: ACU cames into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 1 in the all-important NCAA Super Regional Four rankings. If ACU can hold on to the No. 1 region ranking, the Wildcats will get a first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage through three rounds. The defending Lone Star Conference champs also share the overall LSC lead with Texas A&M-Kingsville, with both 5-0 in conference play. WT can only play a spoiler role this year. This is the second time this season the Buffs have faced the No. 1 team in the nation. They opened the season against No. 1 Grand Valley State.

Big D: ACU has one of D-II's best units this year
For the past few years, the Abilene Christian defense has lived in the shadow of one of Division II football’s most explosive offenses. Guys such as quarterback Billy Malone, running back Bernard Scott and receiver Johnny Knox got all the attention.

Well, until the defense gives up 68 points like it did in last year’s second-round playoff game against West Texas A&M — or 76 points in the second-round playoff game against Chadron State the year before.

Suddenly, the defense is in the spotlight — and in the hot seat.

“You get used to that as a coach, especially here,” said Jason Johns, ACU’s fourth-year defensive coordinator. “Nobody cares about defense until you give up a bunch of points. Offense is what gets the crowd excited — guys like Bernard, Johnny and Billy. And that’s great. I really don’t care.”


East Central looks to avoid eighth loss
Although winning seasons haven’t exactly become a habit over the past six decades, East Central University has finished with more wins than losses 25 times since 1950, and only nine times have the Tigers lost as many as eight games in a season during that span. That number will swell to an even 10, however, if ECU loses at home to Texas A&M-Commerce in Saturday afternoon’s Lone Star Conference North Division contest at Norris Field.