LSC Roundup 9-25

Mustangs are not taking Bronchos lightly - J. Scott Russell, Times Record News
The Midwestern State Mustangs aren’t sure who they’ll be playing tonight at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla.

The uniforms will be those of the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

The question, however, is will it be the team that beat Tarleton State two weeks ago or the one that fell in overtime to the Incarnate Word Cardinals last Saturday night?

Kickoff for the Lone Star Conference crossover game between the No. 10 MSU Mustangs (3-0) and the Bronchos (1-2) is 7 p.m.

“We don’t know what Tarleton has got,” MSU head coach Bill Maskill said. “And Incarnate Word is playing really, really hard right now. We’re basing our opinion on what Tarleton has been in the past.

“Sometimes it’s good to play a team after a loss like that; sometimes it’s bad. We’ll just have to see.”

Javelinas not taking Incarnate Word lightly - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller
SAN ANTONIO — Each week presents a new challenge for Texas A&M-Kingsville’s football team. This week is no different, even if it is against a fledgling program such as Incarnate Word.

There are a few tidbits the 3-0 and sixth-ranked Javelinas need to consider when they face the 1-2 Cardinals in the Lone Star Conference South Division opener tonight.

The Javelinas can ill afford a slip-up, not with nationally ranked foes Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M, surging Angelo State and always-dangerous Tarleton State lurking during the next four weeks in South ballgames. It also will be the Javelinas’ first test without LSC rushing leader Fred Winborn, who was booted from the squad earlier in the week for violating team and university academic policies.

A&M-Kingsville’s defense, tops among NCAA Division II teams, also must continue its dominance while the offense rounds into shape.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity and I know they do, too,” fourth-year A&M-Kingsville coach Bo Atterberry said. “Being an upstart program I’m sure they’d find no better way of starting it and trying to keep it going by beating us, with us being just down the street.”



UIW prepares for No. 6 A&M-Kingsville - Blake Hurtik, San Antonio Express News
Now that the euphoria from Incarnate Word's improbable overtime win last week has worn off, reality hits Benson Stadium hard tonight with the Cardinals hosting sixth-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Facing the Javelinas (3-0, 2-0 Lone Star Conference) means more than simply dealing with their suffocating defense, which is the top-ranked in Division II.

A&M-Kingsville brings tradition and mystique, having won seven national championships and 34 Lone Star Conference titles. It also has produced three Pro Football Hall of Famers: Gene Upshaw, Darrell Green and John Randle.

The Javelinas also will bring plenty of fan support. The school requested 1,000 tickets and more are expected to show up. It has the potential to create the kind of gameday atmosphere that UIW hopes will become standard, especially after just 2,117 fans attended last week's game.

“That's what college football is supposed to be,” UIW coach Mike Santiago said. “I'm glad that we get to experience that.”

ASU FOOTBALL: The time is now - Nathan Wright, San Angelo Standard Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Angelo State head football coach Dale Carr knows that the high-powered offense of West Texas A&M can’t be stopped.

What he and his team hope to do today when the Rams host No. 9-ranked WTAM is to somehow slow the Buffaloes down enough to outscore them.

“You don’t stop them,” Carr said. “Even the teams that have beaten them in the past, I don’t want to say you have to outscore them, but you have to play good defense and hope they make some mistakes and you force them into punting situations.

“You don’t just line up and shut them down. I don’t think anybody just tries to stop them.”


UIW makes a name for itself in LSC - Nathan Wright, San Angelo Standard Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas — It didn’t take long for Incarnate Word to prove it can compete in the Lone Star Conference.

In just their second LSC crossover game since joining the conference over the summer and in just their second season of playing football, the Cardinals stunned Central Oklahoma 42-41 in overtime last Saturday.

With UCO leading 41-35 after scoring first in overtime, Paden Lynch threw a 9-yard scoring pass to running back Trent Rios on the sixth play of UIW’s overtime possession.

Thomas Rebold kicked the decisive extra point to give the Cardinals an history victory.

Lynch and Rios combined for more than 250 rushing yards, fueling an offense that finished with 413 yards and looked nothing like a program in just its second season of football.

“We can play in the best Division II league in the country,” UIW head coach Mike Santiago said. “I don’t know how many we can win, but we can play with them.”


Getting personal with ... Nathan Slaughter - Amarillo Globe News
(True freshman wide receiver, Lubbock High, starter at inside wide receiver)

You scored your first collegiate touchdown last week in your second game as a starter (on a 33-yard pass from QB Taylor Harris). How did it feel? "It was a good feeling. Everyone dreams of getting in the end zone. I know I was running as fast as I could to get there. We had a run play called but the linebackers were real far inside. Taylor checked to a bubble screen. It was just a quick little hot route."

Since you're a true freshman (18 years old) any grief from the vets? Any carry my pads-type stuff? "Not yet (laughing). I haven't got any of that."

Are you surprised to be starting as a true freshman? "I wasn't expecting to play. I just came in with a mindset of trying to do all I can to get there. When (wide receiver) Jeremy (Watson) went down (with a season-ending injury), I knew I had to step up."

Coach Speak, Dale Carr - Amarillo Globe News
Angelo State head coach Dale Carr

Carr is in his sixth season as ASU head coach with an overall record of 25-31.

Carr, a native of Odessa, was a junior on Odessa Permian's 1980 Class 5A state champions.

At ASU, Carr is 1-4 against the Buffs, with his lone win coming 58-53 in 2005.

"WT is pretty well-rounded. They have been running the ball well as well as throwing it to a lot of different receivers. They are pretty sound offensively and make you defend a lot of things. I think we've played 10 spread teams in a row. WT has a few different wrinkles."

West Texas A&M head coach Don Carthel

A win tonight would tie Carthel for the No. 2 spot in WT victories (54) with the legendary Frank Kimbrough.

A win tonight would also give Carthel his 100th career coaching victory (99-59-1).

Under Carthel, the Buffs are 22-2 on the road against LSC opponents and 13-2 against the LSC South.

"Angelo State feels like they are going to compete for the Lone Star Conference South championship. Their offense is really loaded to put up some big numbers. They are well-coached, and we're going to have to eliminate mistakes."

Maroon and White Zone - Amarillo Globe News
1st and goal: How much does this game mean to the Rams? ASU had an open date last week after defeating Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Commerce by a combined score of 72-48. According to WT head coach Don Carthel, the week off served a purpose for ASU. “They spent exactly half of their spring ball scheming just against West Texas, offensively and defensively,” Carthel said. “This is the key date for their whole season.They moved Eastern New Mexico up to the zero week so they could have two weeks to prepare for us. They will be well-coached and well-prepared.”

2nd and goal: Few can compete with the Buffs’ passing attack, but the Rams will give it a try. ASU has plenty of weapons in fifth-year senior QB Josh Neiswander (third in the LSC in total offense, 310 yards per game, and passing yards per game, 305); WR Dekarai Pecikonis was the LSC Offensive Player of the Week against TAMC (three catches for 111 yards and a TD) and is second in the LSC with 136 yards a game. Pecikonis and fellow WR V’Keon Lacey both went over 1,000 yards receiving for their career against TAMC. The pair combined for 11 catches for 88 yards and a TD against WT last season.

3rd and goal: WT’s offense has been lights out this season, especially early. In their past two games. The Buffs have outscored opponents 45-0 in the first quarter. WT is second in the nation in passing offense (421.5 yards per game) and second in the nation in total offense per game (562 yards). The Rams defensive secondary will be tested. ASU gave up 444 yards passing against WT last season and is 10th in the LSC in pass defense (260 yards a game). ASU plays a 3-3-5 defense, with two free safeties listed among the starting 11. Buffs QB Taylor Harris was 30-of-39 for 414 yards with zero picks and two TDs against ASU last season.

4th and goal: Chip Shots — The Rams have not allowed a sack in two games this season, while WT is second in the LSC with 11 sacks ... A poll question on the ASU website this week asked: “Which home contest are you looking forward to most?” Forty-one percent of more than 250 votes went to tonight’s WT game ... Cornerback Tae Evans leads the Buffs in tackles with 27, including 15 solo stops, eight more than any teammate ... The Buffs trail in the overall series against ASU, 8-14-0, but have won the past four meetings ... WT WR Tyson Williams leads the LSC in catches per game (9.7) and receiving yards per game (141).



No. 5 Wildcats wary of winless Texans - Joey Richards, Abilene Reporter News
What’s riding on this game: ACU, ranked No. 5 in the American Football Coaches Association national poll, needs a victory to remain undefeated on the season and keep up with No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville, No. 9 West Texas A&M, No. 24 Midwestern State and Angelo State in the Lone Star Conference title race. WT is at Angelo State today. The Wildcats play Kingsville next Saturday in Kingsville. Tarleton is seeking its first victory, which could re-energize the Texans’ season. Tarleton hasn’t started the season 0-4 since 1998. Last year, ACU didn’t score a touchdown in a 13-6 loss in Stephenville. ACU is 16-10-4 all-time against the Texans.

n Last week: The Wildcats rolled up 559 yards of total offense and the defense forced three turnovers in a 47-7 victory over East Central at Shotwell Stadium. Northwestern State (La.), a Football Championship Subdivision team, snapped a 15-game losing streak with a 17-14 victory over Tarleton.

n Scouting Tarleton: First-year coach Cary Fowler took over a young team this season, a team with only eight seniors on the roster. Nick Stephens, a transfer from Division I Tennessee where he was a starter, injured his shoulder in the Texans’ opener after throwing for 255 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Aaron Doyle has started the last two games, completing 33-of-68 passes for 389 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. WR Jeken Frye leads the team with 21 catches for 369 yards and four touchdowns. RB Evan Robertson has run for 234 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries. The Texans are averaging 334.7 yards on offense, including 214.7 passing, per game, while allowing 324.7 yards, including 202.7 passing, per game. Tarleton has been outscored 85-58 this season.

“Tarleton is going to be the toughest defense we’ve faced to this point,” ACU coach Chris Thomsen said. “They’re taller and more athletic than anybody we’ve played. The margin of error becomes greater, because they’re moving faster and stronger and they’re taller than anybody we’ve played. It’s a real challenge for our offense.”


Hounds out to make statement in LSC North opener - Dave Wagner, Clovis News Journal
After 11 years in the South Division since the Lone Star Conference went to divisional play in 1999, Eastern New Mexico University’s football team is set to make its North Division debut today.

The Greyhounds could get themselves off to a quick start with a win over defending champion and North preseason favorite Texas A&M-Commerce at Blackwater Draw.

“They’re the (defending) division champions, the way we look at it,” ENMU coach Mark Ribaudo said. “The road through the North goes through Commerce.”


ECU faces good opportunity this week - Bob Forrest, Ada Evening News
Ada — East Central University head coach Tim McCarty doesn’t remember the last time the Tigers won a football game. He isn’t suffering from amnesia...he just wasn’t there.

McCarty was in his final season as an assistant at Kansas State when ECU clubbed Southwestern, 42-21, in Week 9 of the 2008 campaign. The victory wasn’t only the most complete by a Tiger squad against a Lone Star Conference opponent in more than a decade in the league — it was also a complete surprise. ECU carried a 2-6 record into the game and totally dominated a Bulldog squad coming off a string of solid efforts.