LSC Roundup 9-18

Javelinas looking for 3-0 start Saturday - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller
KINGSVILLE — The foundation may not be rock-solid yet. But there is no question Texas A&M-Kingsville's football team has started building what could be another successful season.

Ranked sixth among NCAA Division II ballclubs, the Javelinas are off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season. They will attempt to stretch that to 3-0 Saturday night when they host longtime rival Texas A&M-Commerce in a Lone Star Conference crossover game at Javelina Stadium.

"I'm sure outside of our locker room there weren't many people who thought we'd be 2-0 right now, I'll say that. But it's very important," fourth-year A&M-Kingsville coach Bo Atterberry said. "Getting wins any way you can get them is very important, getting your confidence up.

"But it's also about understanding where you made the mistakes in those wins and being able to move forward from those and just get better every week," Atterberry said. "If you keep winning you're going to keep getting everybody's best so you better be on the top of your game."

The Javelinas shocked the D-II world by beating defending national champion Northwest Missouri State in the opener 16-7 on the road and then weathered an uneven offensive effort last week, again riding superb defense, to silence East Central (Okla.) 20-7 in an LSC crossover game, also on the road.

"We can't complain with a win. It's great to be 2-0. Anytime you beat a team in the LSC it's a good win," junior quarterback Nate Poppell said. "Everybody plays tough. ECU came to play. They played fast, they played tough and they got after us a little bit. But anytime you can get off to a 2-0 start it leaves a good taste."



Rams remain among the elite - NathanWright, San Angelo Standard Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas — After three weeks of play, four teams in the Lone Star Conference are undefeated — Abilene Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Midwestern State and Angelo State.

Three of those teams are ranked in the Top 15 in the country. The one that isn’t is ASU. The one team that has a loss and is ranked is West Texas A&M — which lost to nationally-ranked Grand Valley State to open the season.

Four teams have yet to win a game — Southwestern Oklahoma, East Central, Incarnate Word and Tarleton State. The Texans are the surprise team in that group.

TSU usually IS one of the top teams in the LSC South, but has lost back-to-back games to Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma.

ACU preview: Wildcats open at home trying to go 3-0 - Joey Richards, Abilene Reporter News
What’s riding on this game: A loss against East Central could come back to haunt ACU later in the season and keep them out of the playoffs. It sure would put the heat on them to remain perfect the rest of the way. A victory could propel the Tigers to their first playoff berth since joining the Lone Star Conference in 1995, though they’ll pretty much have to be perfect the rest of the way — and the Tigers haven’t won more than two games a season since 2005. This is East Central’s last season in the LSC. n Last week: No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and then held off East Central for a 20-7 victory in Ada, Okla. ACU blocked three punts — scoring on two of them — in a 43-13 victory over Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.

Scouting East Central: The Tigers are averaging 15 points and 222 yards of total offense per game. They had 86 total yards against Kingsville, including minus-9 rushing. Their lone touchdown came on a 10-yard interception return by Charles Burks, one of four interceptions on the night for the Tigers. Fort Hays State beat the Tigers 45-23 in the season opener. QB Tyler Vanderzee has thrown for 372 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. WR Zack Patterson has 13 catches for 175 yards and two TDs. RB Charles Opeseyitan leads the team in rushing (19-60, 1 TD). The defense has five sacks, five interceptions, two blocked kicks and forced six turnovers overall.

“They’re the best defensive front we’ve faced to this point,” ACU coach Chris Thomsen said. “Washburn was good, but this team has two legitimate defensive ends and some really, really tough interior players. Schematically, they do things that are tough with their blitzes. They’re not just going to sit there. They’re going to move around and try to trick you. Their secondary rapidly improved from Week 1 to Week 2. Kingsville’s a top-10 team, and they’re right there at the end with a shot to win.”

Rule grad Dudensing plays key role for Wildcats - Joey Richards, Abilene Reporter News
Emery Dudensing played a key role on one of college football’s most explosive offenses his freshman and sophomore years at Abilene Christian University.

The 5-foot-9, 240-pound fullback was a starter in the Wildcats’ phenomenal 93-68 victory over West Texas A&M in the second round of the playoffs as a sophomore in 2008. Yet not only did he not score in that game, he didn’t even touch the ball.

In fact, after starting three seasons for ACU, it wasn’t until the season opener of his senior season that Dudensing finally — finally — got into the end zone, catching a four-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Gale in a 34-26 victory over Washburn. Then last week, Gale threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Dudensing.

Suddenly, Dudensing’s turned into a bit of a scoring machine.

“It was really exciting,” Dudensing said. “I knew back in ’07, ’08 that we had Bernard (Scott), Johnny (Knox), Billy (Malone) and a bunch of guys. I was kind of the fifth option. I knew I wasn’t going to score, but I thought maybe I’d get lucky in a game. It’s been nice, though. I scored a bunch in high school. Whatever role they want me to do, I’ll fill that role, But it’s been really fun to get in the end zone these last two weeks.”


Going gets tougher for ECU football team - Bob Forrest, Ada Evening News
Ada — An East Central University football team has rarely come out of a loss feeling as good about its future as the Tigers did after dropping a 20-7 decision Saturday to sixth-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville. But this week’s opponent, fifth-ranked Abilene Christian, has a way of turning good feelings to bad in a hurry.

“We’re playing another terrific team,” said ECU head coach Tim McCarty, whose 0-2 squad will face the 2-0 Wildcats at 6 p.m. Saturday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. “They’re a team that doesn’t have a whole lot of weaknesses.”



and from the Amarillo Globe News...
LEGENDARY HONOR
A presentation of the Gene Mayfield Endowed Scholarship Award will be made during tonight's game. Mayfield, a former WT quarterback, coached the Buffs from 1971-76 and ranks seventh in career victories (24). As a high school coach, Mayfield took four teams to the state championship game (1962 Borger, 1965, 1968, 1970 Odessa Permian.) Mayfield, who died in October 2009, was inducted into the WT Hall of Champions in 1988. For more information on the GMESA, contact Jimmy Campbell at 806-670-5700 or by e-mail at jimmiejet@aol.com.



Getting personal with ... Brittan Golden (Junior outside receiver, Denver City, team-leading 239 receiving yards)
Since your dad, Phillip Golden, is pastor of First Baptist Denver City, I have to ask the question: Is it true preachers kids are the worst kids? (Laughing) "That's what I hear."

Any of his sermons stick? "I've heard countless. He did one on the David and Goliath thing ... overcoming obstacles. I've always remembered that one."

Did you sing in the church choir? "Not really. I sang with my mom a couple of times." Are you any good? "Not really. My mom was a choir teacher, so I kind of was a singer growing up." Any desire to sing again? "I do it every now and then on my own, but not really in front of people."

How close were you to playing baseball at Wayland Baptist? "Close enough that if WT hadn't sent me the letter to come play football, the week after I probably would have been at Wayland." What position? "Shortstop, a little pitcher and catcher." How fast was your fastball? "Not too fast, 83 maybe. My curveball was my out pitch. It was slower and caught people off guard."

Coach Speak, Ray Richards
SE Okla. State head coach Ray Richards

Richards took over as head coach at SEOSU in 2005 and is 32-22. Head coaching record is 46-52.

Richards spent 10 seasons as defensive coordinator at SEOSU (1989-98). In 1991, SEOSU had the No. 1 defense in the NAIA (allowed 10.6 points a game).

The Illinois native was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 1988.

"West Texas is explosive on offense. We're going to have to slow them down and come up with some turnovers. I think that will be crucial for us. We also have to keep them from hitting big plays. We need to move the chains and keep their offense off the field. If we execute we have a chance to make some plays and make it a ball game."

West Texas A&M head coach Don Carthel

Carthel, who took over at WT in 2005, needs two wins to tie Frank Kimbrough for No. 2 in all-time WT victories (54).

Carthel, who also coached at Eastern New Mexico (1985-1991) also needs two wins to reach 100 career victories (98-59-1).

Under Carthel, the Buffs are 15-1 against the Lone Star Conference North Division and 6-1 against LSC North opponents at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.

"Southeast Oklahoma is generally going to be in the running for the LSC North championship. They're pretty close to Dallas, so they get a lot of kids south of the Red River to play for them. We're going to see a good level of football."