Game Previews and Predictions Week 4

Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State are idle this week.

Northeastern State at North Dakota
The 43-13 score would have you believe that the Riverhawks were just blown out of the water Saturday against ACU. But let's look at the negatives and positives for NSU: Negatives - 3 blocked punts (2 returned for TDs, 1 setting ACU up on NSU 12 yard line), 1 punt return for TD, 83 yard TD run, QBs a combined 8-26 passing for 112 yards  Positives - held ACU offense to just 332 yards and 3 FGs outside of the meltdowns above, QBs threw for 2 TDs and no Ints.  Not enough to get them past ACU, but the Riverhawks are looking better than the past several seasons.

North Dakota comes into the game with an 0-2 record, dropping games to Idaho and Northern Illinois after finishing last year at 6-5. Offensively, the Fighting Sioux are averaging 108 yards rushing and 194 passing, while allowing 245 on the ground and 284 in the air. An annual national contender while in D2, UND has yet to take the step up to serious contender in IAA.

Teams typically see an improvement in talent when they face IAA (FCS) teams, but a week after facing ACU, the Riverhawks are possibly facing a team with less talent this week. They will need to improve their punt game dramatically and keep the crowd from being a factor in a usually raucous Alerus Center. Though an upset is unlikely to happen this wee, look for NSU to keep the score a little closer than last week. UND 35-17.

Tarleton State at Northwestern State (LA)
While its not a surprise that it has taken the Texans some time to find a rhythm offensively, no one expected them to be 0-2. The offense did have two sustained drives and a quick strike for their 3 TDs, but they only averaged 3.7 plays and 7.4 yards on their other 10 possessions, with 6 punts, 2 missed FGs and 2 turnovers. The defense only gave up 333 yards, but allowed three scoring drives averaging 65 yards and UCO was 7-13 on third down conversions. And the four times when UCO started a possession in Tarleton territory, they scored three TDs and ran out the clock.  The Texans are not yet out of the LSC title hunt or the NCAA playoffs, but they don't have any more wiggle room.

The Demons closed out the 2008 season with a 34-24 win over Stephen F. Austin. Since then they have lost 13 straight, including a 65-21 loss to Air Force and a 19-7 loss to Samford. They are averaging 209 yards passing and just 55 rushing, while allowing 338 on the ground (remember Air Force) and 200 passing.

In a normal year, this is a game that Tarleton would be very competitive in and possibly favored to win - two weeks ago, we would have picked the Texans to beat a winless Demon squad. But NSU is very hungry, and possibly desperate for a win. Couple that with the lace of consistency on either side of the ball for Tarleton, and we think NSU will pull it out. Northwestern 31-21.

East Central at #5 Abilene Christian
The Tigers lost as expected to #6 Texas A&M-Kingsville, but by a much closer margin (20-7) than anyone forecast. The Javelinas outgained ECU by a 452 to 87 margin, but four interceptions by ECU kept the game close. The defense did their part, in addition to the interceptions, ECU picked up 5 sacks, and allowed just one TD in four red zone trips for TAMK. It would have been even closer had the offense chipped in a little. ECU started in TAMK territory 3 times and left empty handed 3 times. Five second half possessions resulted in 16 plays for 12 total yards.

On the other hand, ACU won big without putting up huge offensive numbers. But when your punt defense is destroying the opposition (3 blocked punts resulting in 2 TDs, and setting the ACU offense up on the NSU 12 yard line, and a punt return for TD), you don't need to move the ball up and down the field to score a lot of points.  The defense did their job, giving up just 204 yards and picking up 4 sacks.  NSU had just two possessions of 20 or more yards.

East Central has shown improvement through the first two weeks, but still have a way to go.  Abilene Christian looks to be similar to last year - great defense, but maybe more consistent on offense, and ready to exploit their opponents weaknesses.  ACU comfortably, 45-17.

Southeastern Oklahoma at #9 West Texas A&M
It was a night of big plays for the Savage Storm offense -  TD passes of 81, 74 and 61 yards and a 60 yard run that set up a first quarter field goal.  The rest of the night, SOSU put up 195 yards on 45 plays.  Baylen Laury (152 yards, 2 TDs rushing) and Logan Turner (288 yards, 3 TDs passing) had games worthy of their preseason expectations.  The defense allowed 383 yards, 181 rushing and 202 passing, but did a good job on third downs, allowing just UIW to convert just 3 of 15.  Steven Harris is second in the LSC with 11.5 tackles per game and has an interception as well.

West Texas A&M dominated last week's romp over Southwestern Oklahoma in every conceivable way.  The offense piled up 557 yards despite emptying the bench.  Taylor Harris threw for 304 yards and 4 TDs despite only playing the first half, and Brittan Gloden and Stephen Burton combined for 8 receptions for 226 yards and 3 TDs, again all in the first half.  The defense held SWO to 212 yards, picked off three passes, and scored 2 TDs of the own.  Special Teams?  How about a blocked punt for a TD.  The Buffs now lead the LSC in scoring (54 points per game), total offense (562 yards per game) and pass offense (421.5 yards per game).

The Savage Storm better have enjoyed last week's win, because this week they are facing a tough, athletic Buffalo team that may be Coach Carthel's best yet.  WT in a big way, 49-17.

Texas A&M-Commerce at #6 Texas A&M-Kingsville
Going into last week's game, the Lions had to be feeling pretty good.  A stout second half showing in game one against Upper Iowa gave them some confidence heading into the Harvey Martin Classic at the Cotton Bowl.  They opened up with a 10 play 78 yard drive resulting in a short field goal to take a 3-0 lead.  After that, the offense could only muster up one more scoring drive, ending the day with just 274 yards, allowing 7 QB sacks and throwing 3 Intercepions, one of which was returned for a TD.  The defense did play a bit better, allowing just 344 yards, but gave up TD passes of 83, 37 and 33 yards.

An ugly win is still a win, but the Javelinas are going to have to finish on offense if they are to go far this season.  They moved the ball well against ECU (452 yards), but poor field position, four interceptions, and a poor performance in the red zone (4 trips, 1 TD, 2 FGs) resulted in just 27 points (20 for the Javelinas, 7 for the Tigers).  The defense has been stellar in 2010 and now has 7 straight quarters without allowing a score.  The Hogs lead the LSC in rushing (20 yds per game) passing (120.5) and total defense (140.5, with Midwestern State second at 266.5).  ECU started 3 possessions in Javelina territory (2 in the red zone) and came away with 0 points.  The Tigers were able to cross midfield just twice on their own, but on those two occasions did not get closer than the 39 yard line.

This will be the 58th meeting between the oldest LSC rivals.  With Fred Winborn in midseason form, look for the Javelinas to keep moving the ball and to start finding the endzone on a regular basis.  TAMK takes their home opener, 35-20.

Central Oklahoma at Incarnate Word
The Bronchos surprised quite a few people last week, knocking off Tarleton State and letting the LSC North know that they will have a say in the divisional race.  Josh Birmingham was once again effective, rushing for 97 yards and 2 TDs, while catching 5 passes for another 46. He is currently third in the LSC in rushing yards per game and all purpose yards.  Ethan Sharp was.....well.....er....sharp, hitting 19-24 passes for 190 yards and 2 TDs, while only tossing 1 interception.  The defense was solid giving up just 295 yards and shutting the Texans after taking a 31-21 lead with 10 minutes left in the game.

The reality of the playing in the LSC may have hit UIW last Saturday, as they dropped a 38-19 contest to Southeastern Oklahoma.  The Cardinal defense gave up some big plays, especially in the passing game (3 TDs averaging 72 yards) and were unable to stop the run, giving up 183 yards (6.8 per carry).  The offense was inconsistent, with a couple of good scoring drives, capitalizing when starting in SOSU territory, but also turning the ball over and going through lengthy stretches without scoring.  The Cardinals played three QBs in the game, and really need one to step forward as the clear leader.

There will be a lot of youngsters on the field for this one - 8 sophomores on offense and 9 on defense for UIW, while UCO will counter with 5 sophomores and 1 redshirt freshman on offense and 5 sophomores and 3 redshirt freshmen on defense.  So far, UCO's youngster have competed better, and we'll take them this week as well.  UCO 28-21.

Southwestern Oklahoma at #12 Midwestern State
You have to forgive the Bulldogs if they are looking forward to next year already.  A week after a 77-14 blowout loss to West Texas A&M, and now they get to travel to Wichita Falls and face the Mustangs?  Doesn't seem fair.  After a big loss, you try to find some positives.  The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on a couple of WT mistakes, an interception by Marvin Tribble gave the ball to SWO on the WT 30, and a blocked punt by Tribble set SWO up on the WT 1 yard line.  They would score TDs on both occasions, going 2-2 on red zone opportunities.  Of the 18 other possessions, 9 were 3 plays, and 5 resulted in negative yardage.  After two weeks, SWO is either last or next to last both offensively and defensively for scoring, total yards, rushing and passing.

Midwestern State dispatched Eastern New Mexico with relative ease last weekend, winning a 44-17 contest.  ENMU did keep things close in the first half, pulling to within 24-17 with 5:06 to go in the half, but it was all Mustangs after that, outscoring the Greyhounds 20-0 and putting the clamps on the ENMU offense.  Zack Eskridge had an off night (for him) passing, completing only 15 of 28 passes for 139 yards.  But he made up for it with his feet, leading MSU with 137 yards rushing.  Marcus Mathis continued his hot start, carrying the ball 16 times for 94 yards and a TD.  Chauncey Harris got in the act as well, picking up 63 on just 5 carries.  The defense held ENMU to just 272 passing yards, intercepting Wes Woods 5 times and not allowing a score over the final 35 minutes of the game.  After two week, MSU finds themselves second in the LSC both offensively and defensively in scoring and yardage.

This likely to be the mismatch of the week.  The Mustangs have yet to be challenged and the Bulldogs have yet to challenge.  It won't change this week either.  MSU 52-10.

2010 Recruiting Recap

1. West Texas A&M - A++
2. Texas A&M-Kingsville - A+
3. Tarleton State - A+
4. Midwestern State - A
5. Texas A&M-Commerce - A-
6. Northeastern State - B+
7. East Central - B+
8. Abilene Christian - B+
9. Southeastern Oklahoma - B
10. Central Oklahoma - B
11. Southwestern Oklahoma - B
12. Angelo State - B-
13. Eastern New Mexico - C
14. Incarnate Word - C

Potential impact players for 2010 (in no particular order)

ACU - Josh Morgan - RB
ECU - Rodney Picou - OL
ECU - Lonnell Rice - DL
ECU - Carlos Savala - OL
NSU - Gus Jones - LB
NSU - Gionni Harris - WR
SOSU - Sam Roberson - WR
SWO - Carlos Cuevas - OL
TAMC - Damien Davis - WR
TAMK - Johnny Tivao - DT
TAMK - Roman Pula - LB
TAMK - Junior Tivao - LB
TSU - Nick Stephens - QB
TSU - Terrance Henry - DB
TSU - Herman Marshall - DL
UCO - Artrell Woods - WR (if healthy)
UIW - Manuel Tijerina - OL
WTAM - Simi Kuli - DE
WTAM - David Grant - OL
WTAM - Gabe Tuata - WR
WTAM - Shawn Johnson - OL

Top long term prospects (in no particular order)

ACU - T.R. Varnado - DT
ACU - Brandon Bowles - LB
ACU - Ashton Williams - TE
ASU - Paul Ives - OL
ASU - Quinton Crow - LB
ECU - Ken Berry, Jr. - LB
ENMU - Keighen Thetford - LB
MSU - Joe Sanders - QB/Ath
MSU - Deterries Jackson - DT
MSU - Tyler Brown - OL
MSU - Demetrich Gilliam - LB
MSU - Neiko Conway - DB
NSU - Steven Hopper - RB
NSU - Isikeli Cocker - OL
NSU - Daryn Alves - Ath
SOSU - Sean Clayton - OL
SWO - Josh Dorman - QB
SWO - Cory Hines - WR
TAMC - Michael Johnson - DB
TAMC - Brandon Jackson - DB
TAMK - Josh Schneider - QB
TAMK - Henry Greathouse - DL
TAMK - Forest Jones - DB
TSU - O'Chea Thomas - OL
TSU - Devin Figures - DB
UCO - Dante Lipscomb - RB
UCO - Garrett Sullivan - OL
UCO - Terrance Davis - WR
WTAM - Westin Williams - QB
WTAM - Shane Sobnosky - LB

LSC Roundup 9-24

Jacob Rowe selected to 2009 AllState AFCA Good Works Team
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – For a select group of college football players, including Tarleton's Jacob Rowe, the words “sacrifice” and “commitment” extend far beyond the football field to places that don’t require helmets and shoulder pads. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today have announced the 22 student-athletes chosen for the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®, honoring dedicated and hard-working student-athletes for their off-the-field achievements and selfless contributions to their communities.

“This is a great honor for Jacob, our football team and our University,” said Tarleton head football coach Sam McElroy. “There are a great number of kids that do things throughout the year to help others, and for Jacob to be singled out as one of the best means a great deal to us. He certainly deserves this award and the things he does to help others is wonderful. We know he will continue to serve because that is who Jacob is.”

ARN Lone Star Conference rankings
1. ACU (4-0) — The offense takes a step forward, and the defense does a fine job against a potentially explosive Southeastern team. Now, can they shut down — or keep up — with the No. 1 offense in the nation in Eastern New Mexico this week?

2. Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-0) — The Hoggies keep on squealing, rooting up 530 yards on offense last week against Northeastern State (Okla.). They’ve got the sixth-best offense in the nation, and they’re not too bad on defense either — ranked No. 7 in the nation.

3. Midwestern State (4-0) — Who says they don’t play defense in the LSC? The Mustangs are ranked No. 4 in the nation in total defense, and QB Zack Eskridge is ranked No. 2 in passing efficiency.

Lone Star collision: No. 17 Midwestern State takes aim at Angelo State
SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Midwestern State University football team went into this season picked to finish fifth in the Lone Star Conference South Division, just one spot ahead of Angelo State — its opponent this week. After allowing just 16 points in four games this season, and outscoring their opponents by an average score of 44.5-4, the Mustangs have moved all the way up to No. 17 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.

After soundly defeating four schools with a combined 3-12 record, MSU will get its toughest test of the season Saturday against the 3-1 Rams at San Angelo Stadium. It is the Lone Star Conference South Division opener for both teams.

Javs gear up for West Texas A&M
CORPUS CHRISTI — For the first time since Don Carthel arrived on the West Texas A&M campus four-plus years ago, the Buffaloes aren’t striking a lot of fear in their football opponents. The Buffaloes have posted at least 10-win seasons under Carthel and have reached the NCAA Division II playoffs in each of his four seasons as coach. They have unleashed a spread-out passing style of offense that has since become the choice of poison for teams in the Lone Star Conference, as well as the rest of the country’s college squads.

This year, some of the gaudy offensive numbers still are being posted. But at 1-3 entering Saturday night’s Lone Star Conference South Division opener against 10th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas isn’t strutting as haughtily as it had been.

“I don’t know if this bunch has played well enough to get any swagger yet,” said Carthel, who in four seasons has moved into third on WT’s all-time list of coaching wins with 45. “They’re going to have to earn their stripes. That has yet to be done. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of improving to do before we can be with the upper part of this conference.”

MSU's Tanner shows off speed
Anyone looking at Andy Tanner when the Midwestern State Mustangs go to an offensive formation with four wideouts might think he is the possession receiver of the foursome — and he may be. But don’t make the mistake of believing he is the stereotypical “slow, white guy.”
Do that and he’s liable to make you pay — just like he did last Saturday night against the Incarnate Word Cardinals.

He caught five passes for a career-best 146 yards and three touchdowns — including the Mustangs opening score where he caught the ball on a bubble screen and ran 80 yards for the TD. But the 5-11, 185-pound senior opened up quite a few eyes on that play. After catching the pass from Eskridge, it appeared Tanner would probably get a first down after he turned the corner. Several Cardinals had the angle on him and could simply push him out of bounds. But those players never got the chance as he sprinted by them, down the sideline to tie for the third longest reception in school history.

“I come out here and work hard every day,” Tanner said. “Coach says to expect success; expect to win; expect to catch every ball; and expect to make big plays. That was what I was trying to do. Once I got by everyone I was just thinking, ‘Don’t get caught and score.’ At that time we needed a big play from somebody on offense. The defense had just made a big play, but we were rusty and not looking good. We needed someone to spark us.”

ASU volleyball capsule, 9/24
The Rambelles look to get back on track tonight when they travel to Abilene to face their archrival ACU. ... ASU is coming off a three-set loss to No. 7 West Texas A&M on Saturday. The ’Belles lost 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 to the Lady Buffs. Chelsea Gibson led ASU with eight kills. Kaitlyn Standard added seven. Alex Allard led ASU with 11 digs. Alex Woolsey had 23 assists and 10 digs. ... ACU is coming off a three-set sweep of Eastern New Mexico on Saturday ... ASU is 53-27 all-time against ACU. The ’Belles won last year’s match between the two teams in four sets. ... ASU will take a break from conference action this weekend when it travels to Topeka, Kan., for the LSC/MIAA Crossover Tournament.

WT Volleyball Preview
The Match: No. 7 West Texas A&M (13-2, 2-0 Lone Star Conference) at Texas A&M-Commerce (14-3, 2-0), 7 tonight, Texas A&M-Commerce Field House, Commerce.

Rambelles prepared to bounce back in LSC
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Riding a six-game winning streak, the Angelo State University women’s soccer teams opens Lone Star Conference play Friday against archrival Abilene Christian. Since a 10-0 loss to Regis to open the season, the Rambelles have gone 6-1, with that one loss coming against then-No. 3 Metro State, a 1-0 double-overtime defeat.

Over the past six games — all wins for the ’Belles — ASU has outscored its opponents 14-3. ASU’s lastest victory was an overtime win against Dallas Baptist last Saturday in which Christian Willman converted a penalty kick four and a half minutes into the extra period.

Lone Star Conference Soccer weekly release (09/23/09)
Women’s conference play kicks off
The first women’s Lone Star Conference match of the season will take place this Friday, as Abilene Christian travels to Angelo State. The first men’s conference game of the season saw a double overtime tie between West Texas A&M and Midwestern State last Friday.

Players of the Week
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Nick Auditore, Midwestern State, Sr., F, Phoenix, Arizona/Desert Vista HS
Auditore notched two goals in the opening 25 minutes to help No. 18 Midwestern State bury Eastern New Mexico as the Mustangs rolled to a 5-0 win. Auditore, who leads the Lone Star Conference with five goals, placed two of his five shots on goal as MSU also fought West Texas A&M to a scoreless draw Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.

MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Ryan Spence, Midwestern State, So., D, Decatur, Texas/Decatur HS
Spence helped organized a defense that allowed 16 shots and just two shots on goal last week against No. 18 West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. The sophomore from Decatur played a key role in limiting Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Ben Everson to three shots with just one falling on goal in Friday night’s scoreless draw against the Buffs. The No. 12-ranked Mustangs have strung together five-straight shutouts and lead the national with a 0.25 team goals against average.

WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Courtney Wilson, Abilene Christian, Jr., M, Odessa, Texas/Odessa HS
Wilson scored three goals last week including two against Dallas Baptist. Her first two points of the young season included a penalty kick late in the game to give the Wildcats a 3-1 victory over DBU. In a 3-2 victory against UT-Permian Basin, she scored the game tying goal in the 82nd minute off a corner kick to send the game to overtime.

WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Alli Miller, Central Oklahoma, Sr., D, Norman, Oklahoma/Norman North HS
Miller headed up a dominating defensive effort that carried Central Oklahoma to a pair of easy wins last week. The senior fullback and reigning LSC Defensive Player of the Year led the Bronchos to back-to-back shutouts as UCO ran its winning streak to five straight. Miller and the Bronchos allowed just nine shots in two games -- including two on goal -- in rolling over St. Mary’s (4-0) and Texas A&M International (6-0).

WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER
Mallory Whitworth, Midwestern State, Fr., GK, McKinney, Texas/McKinney HS
Whitworth made five saves and recorded her first career shutout last week to help No. 12 Midwestern State get out to its best start in school history at 5-0-1. The true freshman from McKinney made one save and played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 shutout of Northwood (Texas) Thursday night, then made four saves while playing in the second half of Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Oklahoma Baptist. Whitworth rates ninth in NCAA Division II in goals against average at 0.29 and is 11th in save percentage at .917.

LSC Roundup 9-22

Backups get opportunities in Buffs' rout

While West Texas A&M was glad to earn its first victory of the season Saturday, besting Southwestern Oklahoma State, 41-15, in Weatherford, Okla., the Buffs got other things accomplished.

Just about everybody who got on the bus saw action against the Bulldogs. Twenty-six Buffs recorded at least one tackle. Eleven Buffs caught passes. Three quarterbacks played.

"Everybody came through healthy. That's what I'm concerned about," said WT head coach Don Carthel, whose team has battled numerous injuries.

ACU stays at No. 2 in D-II poll
The Abilene Christian University Wildcats held on to the No. 2 spot in the American Football Coaches Association Division II national poll that was released.

The top 10 spots in the poll remained unchanged, with Grand Valley State (4-0) heading the list at No. 1 with 24 first-place votes and 624 points. ACU got 593 points, and North Alabama (4-0) is No. 3 with one first-place vote and 577 points.

Javelinas remain at No. 10 in country
KINGSVILLE — There was no change among the top 10 teams in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II rankings on Monday. That means Texas A&M-Kingsville will take its No. 10 ranking into Saturday night’s Lone Star Conference South Division opener at three-time defending conference champion West Texas A&M. The Javelinas are 4-0 for the first time since 2004 when they last advanced to the Division II playoffs. They picked up win No. 4 last Saturday, defeating Northeastern (Okla.) State 31-14 and will be making their first road trip of the season this weekend to Canyon. The Buffaloes have struggled in their first three ballgames but posted their first win of the season last weekend by beating Southwestern (Okla.) State 41-15.

MSU surges up to No. 17 in the AFCA national poll
Midwestern State rose four spots in the most recent American Football Coaches’ Association Division II Poll released Monday. The Mustangs, now ranked No. 17, are coming off their fourth win of the season after defeating Incarnate Word 49-7 last Saturday in San Antonio. The victory is MSU’s third win by 40-points or more, the second time in school history the program has had as many in a season.

Lone Star Conference Football weekly release (09/21/09)
Lone Star Conference divisional play starts this week with three South and two North match-ups. The South Division won all six Lone Star Conference crossover games last week. The South has been victorious in 16 of 18 games against the North this season.

Four teams - Abilene Christian, Midwestern State, Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville - remain unbeaten in 2009.

Players of the Week
NORTH OFFENSIVE
Adam Farkes, Texas A&M-Commerce, Jr., QB, Boston, Mass./Univ. of Maine
Farkes broke one school record and nearly set two more in his first collegiate start at Texas A&M-Commerce. Farkes set a new single-game record for passing yards as Adam Farkes recorded 447 yards passing, eclipsing the previous marks of 442 held by Buster Faulkner against Northeastern State (2004). He nearly broke the school record with 32 completions (record: 33) on 61 attempts (record: 63). In addition to his passing efforts, he ran the ball in for two touchdowns.

NORTH DEFENSIVE
Steven Harris, Southeastern Oklahoma, So., S, Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS
Harris led all defenders with 13 tackles in Southeastern’s 33-14 loss to No. 2 Abilene Christian. He tallied three solo and 10 assisted and with that total moved into the top 10 in the conference in tackles with 8.2 per game for a total of 33 on the year.

NORTH SPECIAL TEAMS
Joe Kok, Northeastern State, Sr., P, Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow HS
Kok continued to improve on his average as he booted six punts for a 46.8 yard average with a long of 54 yards. He pinned 10th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville inside its own 20 yard line on half of his punts on the night. The preseason All-America honoree leads the LSC in punting and among the nation’s leaders in this statistical category as well.

SOUTH OFFENSIVE
J.J. Harp, Eastern New Mexico, So., QB, Argyle, Texas/Argyle HS
Harp posted his second consecutive 600-yard passing day, connecting on 46 of his 65 attempts for 602 yards with no sacks or interceptions, to lead the Greyhounds to a 76-56 win over Texas A&M-Commerce. He tossed five touchdown passes as ENMU scored a school single-game record 76 points.

SOUTH DEFENSIVE
D’Angelo Waites, Angelo State, Sr., LB, Austin, Texas/Lanier HS
Waites led an Angelo State defense that limited East Central to just 172 yards of offense, including just 56 yards on the ground, and collected four sacks in a 29-9 win by the Rams. Waites had a game-high 12 tackles (seven solo), including two stops for a loss. He had 1.5 sacks against the Tigers and had a forced fumble. He is the Rams’ leading tackler on the season with nearly eight stops per game. ASU leads the conference with 14 sacks through four games.

SOUTH SPECIAL TEAMS
Kendrick Johnson, Abilene Christian, Jr., WR, Mexia, Texas/Mexia HS
Johnson returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter, his second punt return for a touchdown this season (73-yard return vs. Fort Lewis on Sept. 5). ... Johnson joins former Wildcat great V.T. Smith as the only two Wildcats to have two punt returns for touchdowns of at least 70 yards in the same season. ... In 1948, Smith returned a punt 70 yards for a score against Southwestern and had a 71-yard return for a TD against Arkansas.

ACU in third after first day at Territory Classic
The ACU golf team shot a 7-over 295 Monday to finish the first round of the Territory Classic in third place behind St. Edwards (290) and Dallas Baptist (291). Playing at The Territory Golf Course in Duncan, Okla., Cyril Bouniol led ACU, shooting a 1-under 71. That Bouniol in a three-way tie for second, but just a stroke behind leader Santiago Quintero of St. Edward’s.

Mustangs in 6th after day 1 at The Territory Classic
DUNCAN, Okla. — Midwestern State fought through some adverse conditions Monday to place sixth at the first day of The Territory Classic. MSU shot a 301 13-over team score at the Par-72 course.

WT women's golf team tied for ninth
In Ponte Vedra, Fla., the West Texas A&M women's golf team is tied for ninth place after Monday's opening round of the Queens Invitational at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
The Lady Buffs shot 335 to trail first-round co-leaders Belmont Abbey and Ashland University by 24 shots.

Lady Buffs top New Mexico State, 2-0
In Las Cruces, N.M., midfielder Lindsay McHorse only took two shots during the 90 minutes she was on the pitch, but she made both count. McHorse's shots hit the back of the net in the West Texas A&M 2-0 win over New Mexico State on Monday.

The Lady Buffs (6-0-1) took eight shots against the Aggies (3-5-0) in front of 937 fans in Aggie Memorial Stadium, four in each half. The Aggies took 10 total shots. West Texas A&M keeper Kelly Skehan only needed four saves to secure the shutout win.

2009 Preview - Tarleton State

2008 Recap
The Texans came out of the gate hot last year, opening the season 5-0 and ranked as high as #13. The offense was averaging 38.6 points (3rd in LSC) and 400 yards per game (4th in LSC). The defense was stifling, giving up just 12.8 points (2nd in LSC) and 225 yards per game (1st). They appeared to be primed to challenge for an LSC title and playoff spot. But that was all against the LSC North. Against the LSC South the numbers were more pedestrian: the Texans finished the LSC South 3-3, getting outscored by an average of 24-29, and outgained by 355-398 yard per game margin, capped by a season ending 51-0 blowout at West Texas A&M with a playoff spot still possible.

Overall, the offense finished fourth in the LSC in both scoring (30.5) and yardage (375.5) per game. The offense was the most balanced in the LSC, 187 yards per game and scoring 25 TDs rushing and passing for 188 yards per game. Scott Grantham threw for 1,993 yards, with 14 TDs and 11 Ints, completing 54% of his passes. Eric Foreman and Devin Guinn combined to catch 76 passes for 1,129 yds and 8 TDs. Roderick Smith led the rushing game with 1,024 yards and 13 TDs. The offensive line loses three starters, plus a two time second team All LSC South FB and their top WR.

Defensively, despite their late season struggles, the Texans led the LSC in points allowed (21.8) and were second in yards allowed (39.3). The pass defense was tops in the conference (197 yards per game), while the run defense was 9th (122 yards per game). Those stats didn't translate to individual honors - just 2 Texans were 1st team All LSC South, only1 named to the 2nd team and just 1 honorable mention. Tarleton will need to replace 5 starters from last year, with the secondary needing the most attention (3 starters lost).

2009 Outlook
Out with the old
FB George Murray - 2nd LSC South (2007 & 2008)
WR Eric Foreman - 40-661 3 TD receiving
OL Jarrod Sheppard
OL Devin Livingston - 1st LSC South
OL Mike Hernandez
DT Bryant Waters - 25 tackles, 1.5 TFL
LB Courtney Vincent - 23 tackles, 3 TFL
DB Tremaine Wright - 34 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 Int, 4 Passes BU - 1st LSC South
DB Keon Perry - 44 tackles, 2 Ints
DB O'Lindsey Brown - 66 tackles

Welcome Back
QB Scott Grantham - 154-283-1,993 14 TD, 11 Int
RB Roderick Smith - 137-1,024 13 TD, 4-201 1 TD KR - 1st LSC South - Preseason LSC South Off Player of the Week
RB/RS Travis Evans - 680 yds, 6 TDs rushing, 26 yd avg, 1 TD kick return - HM LSC South RS
WR Devin Guinn - 36-468 5 TD
WR Jahmeel Hobson - 15-178
TE Tanner Maher - 8-74 2 TD - 2nd LSC South
OL Dustin Washburn - HM LSC South
DL Alonzo Horton - 36 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks - HM LSC South
DL Jamaal Steamer - 52 tackles, 18 TFL, 4.5 sacks - 2nd LSC South
DL Ben Taifane - 20 tackles, 6 TFL
LB Marcus Phillips - 66 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 Int, 4 passes BU - 1st LSC South
DB Vance Ibewuike - 33 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 passes BU
DB Brandon Johnson - 37 tackes, 2 TFL, 5 passes BU
PK Garrett Lindholm - 12-19 FG, 42-43 PAT, 78 points

In with the new
OL Adrian Campbell - Arkansas/Butler JC
WR Devon Gray - Dodge City CC
LB Corey White - Trinity Valley CC
DB Lonnie Buchanan - Mississippi Delta CC
DB Korey Smith - Navarro JC
DB J D Perkins - Tyler JC
DB Jeremy Sifford - Hutchison CC

All Conference Candidates
RB Roderick Smith
RB/RS Travis Evans
WR Devin Guinn
DL Alonzon Horton
DL Jamaal Steamer
LB Marcus Phillips
DB Brandon Johnson

All American Candidates
RB Roderick Smith
DL Jamaal Steamer

Big Games
Aug 27 Arkansas Monticello
Sep 19 @ Central Oklahoma
Oct 3 @ Texas A&M-Kingsville
Oct 10 Midwestern State
Oct 24 Abilene Christian
Nov 7 West Texas A&M

Best Case Scenario
9-2 If Roderick Smith justifies his preseason selection as LSC South offensive player of the year and Scott Grantham returns to his 2007 form, Tarleton's offense should be very formidable. The defense needs to replace most of the secondary, but if they can, Tarleton could be a playoff team. The schedule sets up nicely with 4 of the toughest games at Memorial Stadium.

Worst Case Scenario
5-6 The defensive replacements struggle to keep Tarleton at the top of the LSC charts against a wicked slate of offenses. The offensive line is not up to recent standards, causing the run game to slip and the passing game does not improve enough to compensate.

Football highlights to tide you over

LSC Roundup 7-9

Texas Tech receiver headed to UIW
The upstart Incarnate Word football program has received another gift — only this time it doesn’t come courtesy of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, a UIW athletics benefactor.

Texas Tech reserve wide receiver Todd Walker, who has a year of eligibility remaining, said he plans to play out his final season of with the Cardinals this fall.

A 6-foot-1, 180-pounder who runs a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash, Walker joins suspended wide receiver Jerrell Wilkerson (Texas) as the Cardinals’ only players from Division I schools.
Walker also considered Arizona.

“I got to meet with the coaches and players and definitely fell in love with it,” said Walker, a Pflugerville graduate. “I wanted to be part of the start of a new program for the record books.”

Walker caught seven passes for 37 yards last season. In 2007, he redshirted after suffering two hernias. He had 21 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns in 2006.

While Walker figures to challenge for a starting spot from Day 1, Wilkerson’s presence might not be felt as soon.
Wilkerson passed his spring courses but must still pass summer school — which runs into the second week of camp — to regain his eligibility, Santiago said.

But even if Wilkerson does that, Santiago said he would not play in the Aug. 29 season opener against Monterrey Tech.
--------------------------------------------------
***(Scout had Walker rated as a 4 star recruit and the #20 WR nationally coming out of HS in 2005, Rivals had him rated a 3 star recruit and #44 nationally as an athlete)***

Related: Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe // 07.09.09
Related: Reagan football filled with new faces

OCC players head on
Several former Orange Coast College football players, as well as one current Pirate, have found a home at four-year programs, Pirates Coach Mike Taylor confirmed Wednesday.

Taylor said Shad Baichtal and Benjamin Soza, both sophomore safeties in 2008, will play next season at West Texas A&M and Lenoir-Rhyne College, respectively.

Summer two-a-days: AFC East, NFC West
4. Who the heck is Anthony Armstrong, and why should the rest of the NFL take notice?
Want a fantasy football "sleeper" this year that not every one of your buddies knows about already? Spend a last-round pick on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong. Who the hell is Anthony Armstrong?

Good question.

Though he was a star at tiny West Texas A&M, Armstrong went understandably undrafted by the NFL after college and ended up with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League instead. In Dallas, he became a fan favorite and a breakout star. He caught the eye of current Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, who was with the Cowboys front office at the time. When Ireland made the move to Miami, he brought Armstrong with him, adding the lightning fast receiver to the Dolphins' practice squad in 2008.

Still a relative unknown to even the Dolphins' rabid fan base, Armstrong turned a lot of heads in minicamps last month. When OTA sessions began in May, he was likely the eighth or ninth receiver on the depth chart. After lighting it up throughout the OTA sessions and in five minicamp sessions in June, Armstrong might very well end up being one of the main go-to wideouts in Miami this season. It's certainly not a given that he'll make the final 53-man active roster. But if he's on the field, watch out.

At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he's not a giant. But he's got speed — tons of it. Like No. 1 wideout Ted Ginn Jr., Armstrong's biggest task at hand will be learning to harness that speed, managing it to run precise and timely routes.

Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington spoke about Armstrong's lightning fast quickness with the South Florida Sun Sentinel last month.

"You can really tell the difference from his route-running from a year ago until now," he said. "He understands that his speed is his weapon, but only when he uses it appropriately. He can't just outrun everybody. He has to have proper technique getting off the jam and get good, clean releases. He's done a really good job of that this spring."

Every year, there's a receiver that emerges from nowhere to make an impact. Whether it be Marques Colston or Mike Furrey, these guys work their way up the depth charts and make it impossible for coaches to keep them off the field.

Anthony Armstrong could be that guy in 2009.

Just don't tell your fellow fantasy league owners. You'll want him all to yourself.

Cooper signs track scholarship with TSU

Former SWOSU Head Coach Ryan Held joins CollegeCoaches.net

College Coaches Network announced the selection of Ryan Held for the position of senior manager, football effective immediately. Prior to joining College Coaches Network, Mr. Held was the head football coach at SW Oklahoma State University.

Matt Brandmeyer, general manager for College Coaches Network., said that Held brings a tremendous wealth of experience and understanding about football recruiting. He [Ryan Held] also brings a tradition of winning and a lifetime of competition from the field to our business in this management position in a very competitive marketplace. "Ryan will be invaluable asset to our growth plans. He’s experienced recruiting from every perspective imaginable and his passion for football and helping high school athletes realize their dreams are undeniable."

Held is graduate of the University of Nebraska and received his M.S., Sports Management degree from the University of Tennessee . His coaching experience includes serving as the head football coach at SW Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK), head football coach at Panhandle University (Goodwell, TX), and interim head football coach at Peru State College (Peru, NE). Mr. Held has also held coaching positions at the University of Tennessee ( Knoxville , TN ) and the University of Nebraska ( Lincoln , NE ). His coaching and playing career has yielded four national championship football titles and five conference championships.

First Two Preseason Football Polls out

Not exactly D2 experts, but when there's no other news out there....


2009 Sporting News Preseason Division II Top 25 Poll
1. Grand Valley State [MI]
2. Northwest Missouri State
3. Minnesota-Duluth
4. Delta State
5. Edinboro [PA]
6. Pittsburg State
7. Bloomsburg [PA]
8. Carson-Newman [TN]
9. Central Oklahoma
10. Central Washington
11. North Alabama
12. Tusculum [TN]
13. California [PA]
14. Ashland [OH]
15. Abilene Christian
16. Tuskegee [AL]
17. Chadron State [NE]
18. Minn. State-Mankato
19. Valdosta State
20. Nebraska-Kearney
21. Seton Hill [WV]
22. Indiana [PA]
23. American International
24. Arkansas Tech
25. Shaw [NC]

Lindy's Magazine
1. NWMSU
2. GVSU
3. Minn-Duluth
4. Delta St.
5. Cal PA
6. Pitt St.
7. Bloom
8. ACU
9. C-N
10. Valdosta St.
11. Chadron St.
12. WTAMU
13. Ashland
14. UNA
15. Catawba
16. Tuskegee
17. West Chester
18. Nebraska-Kearney
19. Ind. PA
20. Tusculum
21. Edinboro
22. Wayne St. Neb.
23. Seton Hill
24. Mars Hill
25. CWU

Teams in red are non-conference opponents.

Afternoon Update

This won't help their SOS any...

ACU adds Fort Lewis for 2009
ACU director of athletics Jared Mosley announced Tuesday that the Wildcats have added Fort Lewis College to the 2009 football schedule, filling ACU's open date and giving it an 11-game schedule.

The Wildcats and Skyhawks will play on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Shotwell Stadium with a 6 p.m. kickoff. The Wildcats will not return the game in 2010 as the schools signed just a one-year contract. Fort Lewis had a game to fill after Northern Arizona dropped the Skyhawks from its schedule.

The Skyhawks are part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and finished 2-9 in 2008. The Skyhawks are just 3-18 in the last two seasons and have only scored 209 combined points, including 111 last season when they averaged 10.1 points per game.


So far, so good
When Tim McCarty talks about the positives from his first spring camp as East Central University’s head football coach since 2005, he uses words like “enthusiasm”, “intensity”, “effort”, “hustle” and “attitude”.

Depth and talent? We’ll see.

“There has been a very, very good enthusiasm and high intensity — that’s one thing you’re looking for, and we’ve seen that kind of effort and self-motivation,” said McCarty, who inherited a team that went 3-8 in 2008 and a program that won just eight games in three seasons under former coach Kurt Nichols. “Defensively, I’ve been pleased this spring, especially this last week. You can see the kids are starting to understand how they should fit in their area and understanding technique, and there’s been a general hustle and getting to the ball with an attitude.

“There’s still plenty of work for our staff to do,” McCarty noted. “We’re chewing at the bit to put the pieces together. I don’t think anybody sits back and say ‘we’ve got what we want’. We’re pleased with effort and enthusiasm, but we have a lot of work to do in the talent department.”

Texas A&M-Commerce - 2009 Recruiting Class

Need Help:
Quarterback - Starter Terry May0 (2nd LSC North) and primary backup Trent Miller are gone, leaving the Lions with no experience at QB.

Running Back - Maurice DuPont is the only running back currently listed on the Lions roster - he rushed for 130 yards last year.

Defensive Secondary - Courtney Edmond (1st LSC North), Alex Contreras (2nd LSC North) and Elliot Jones (HM LSC North) are all gone. Kurt Rossum (2nd LSC North) returns as does Cory Whitfield, A. J. Billings, Ameer Ali and Shea Rodriguez - but all will be seniors.

Need Depth:
Wide Receiver - The LSC North receiver of the year (Willie Thorton) is gone. Carlton Richard, Matt McLaren and Danny Stark have also moved on. Ernest Quander and Taylor Fore are the only returnees who registered double digits in receptions.

Offensive Line - Darron Sheppard (1st LSC North) is gone. R. J. Brisbon (LSC North Co-Lineman of the year) leads a group back that includeds 6 who started at least 3 games - three are seniors though.

Defensive Line - Ricky Hope (LSC North Lineman of the Year) was a senior last year. William Green (1st LSC North) is back and joined by fellow starter Andrew Schwapp, Andree' Smith and DeCarlas Lue. Of the six returnees with game experience, five will be seniors.

Good Quality/Depth:
Linebackers - (If Andrew Gamboa is back - he was listed as a senior last year, but is on the current roster - if he's not back, this position moves up to the needs depth category). Gamboa and Chad Washington were both 1st team LSC North honorees. Senior Ramon Jackson returns as do juniors Stephen DeGrate and Arsenial Richardson, and soph. Austen Brewer.


The Lions lost several talented seniors off of last year's squad, and with the change in coaching staffs, lost some underclassmen as well. The positions that look okay for this year are senior-heavy, so they will need reinforcements for the future.

The new coaching staff, led by Guy Morriss, got off to a late start in recruiting. The former staff relied heavily on transfers, with relatively few high school recruits being signed. There is an apparent change in philosophy as well. We say apparent, because to date, just seven signings have been announced, and they are all high school recruits. A few to watch for - QB Brandon Colquitt, RB Aaron Wingfield, OL Connor Wise, and DL Nova Finau. QB Ricky Beaty (Henderson State) and RB Jamar Mosely (Washburn) have also transferred in and should compete for starting positions right away.

LSC Ranking - 13 (with current announced signings)

Overall Grade - Incomplete
Needless to say, TAMC is playing it close the vest. They will obviously announce more signings and transfers. When that happens, we will revisit their ranking.

West Texas A&M - 2009 Recruiting Class

Need Help:
Offensive Line - Two LSC South second teamers are gone (Devo Dorsey and Tommy Crowley) and an third starter, Hector Rodriguez, might not be back either. J'Marcus Webb returns, and will be an All-American candidate. Brad McCarty, Jon Ioane and Daniel Sherwood combined for 12 starts in 2008. Quite a few young players after that.

Defensive Line - With Brandon Swain and TJ Nickelberry (both HM LSC South) gone, and uncertainty surrounding Eugene Sims' (2nd LSC South) return, this is another postion short on experience. Broderick Marshall will be back (1st LSC South) and will be another All-American candidate. Other returnees with some experience are Marcus Rowe, Derrick Peoples and Rashad Sanders. Bo Campbell and Aaron Wampler don't have the game experience but should start to contribute this fall.

Defensive Secondary - Darnell Johnson (1st LSC South), Cashmin Thomas, Keyon Kiles, Kyle Seals, LeAndrew Hicks and Arseel Shakoor were all seniors last year, and Braelon Davis (1st LSC South) is not listed on the spring roster. Curtis Jefferson (2nd LSC South) and Jordan Smith are expected to "step into the safety positions and be quality players in the conference" according to Coach Carthel. Tae Evans and Maurice Caldwell lead a young group of cornerbacks.

Need Depth:
Quarterback - Maybe not more depth, but more experience. Keith Null leaves WT as #2 on the LSC career passing charts (pending ACU's appeal of NCAA sanctions). Taylor Harris is expected to be the starter and has played well in limited opportunities the past two seasons (as did Null, and Dalton Bell before him). Kyler Hill and Kevin Smith are two other returnees, but have little to no game experience.

Wide Receiver - Again, more experience is the issue here. Not only did All-American Charly Martin (95 receptions, 1,867 yds and 22 TDs in 2008) graduate, but Carl Johnson, Seth Hayden and Anthony Clark are gone as well (177 catches, 2,243 yards and 19 TDs) . A. J. Ruffins is the most experienced returning Buffalo (67 catches for 782 yards and 13 TDs in two seasons). After that, there is not much experience.

Linebacker - Another spot losing an All-American - this time its Jared Brock - and fellow starter Eldon Grimslid (2nd LSC South) as well. Starters Anthony Scott and Mark Ford are back, and Coach Carthel said "they both had great springs and give great leadership on defense." Zane Farris played a lot last year and is expected to be a starter. The final spot could be between Kevin McCluskey and redshirt freshman Taylor McCuller.

Good Quality/Depth:
Running Back - Keithon Flemming (2nd LSC South) and Kelvin Thompson return, and are backed up by Marcus Jackson, Joe Joe Jones and Davoyea Johnson.


West Texas A&M lost more talent than any other team, with the exception of Abilene Christian. Most of the departures will be filled from the current roster. There are a few transfers that will help out - Isiah Lewis on the offensive line, and Bryan Braman at linebacker to name two. But the number of transfers is much, much lower than in previous years. There may still be a few additions, (ala last summer with J'Marcus Webb and Broderick Marshall), but WT's philosophy of building around high school players is here.

And this year's high school recruiting class is HUGE. On signing day, WT announced 78 high school recruits had signed letters of intent. Broken down by position, it was 7 QBs, 5 RBs, 20 WRs, 9 OL, 6 DL, 14 LBs, 16 DBs and 1 kicker. And they weren't sacrificing quality for quantity either. Certainly a large number of the 78 will likely never see the playing field, but a good number of them will. QBs Spencer Church, Blake Forester and Luke Halpin, RBs Ketrich Harmon, Darius Miller and Chris West, WRs Torrence Allen, Dakota Dill, Joshua Graves, Derrick Osborn, Sidney Parker, Lance Ratliff, John Simpson, Regis Wilson and LaRay Woodard, OL Emory Atterberry, Micah Kemp, and Shaun Wesley. On defense, Kenneth Garrett, and Charles Rigsby on the DL, Brandon Boyd, Jacob Hanna, William Thornton, Cade Hollandsworth, and Kyle Voss at LB, while DBs Keith Baker, Kevin Butcher, Kendrick Green, Ryan Grametbaur, Paris Johnson, Zamir Linton and Chard Ward were all rated by several recruiting services. Harmon, Ratliff, Garrett, Johnson and Ward were mentioned as true freshmen who might not be red-shirted.

LSC Ranking - 1

Overall Grade: A++
Recruiting is not an exact science, so the WT staff made sure it covered all of the bases ... several times. The Buffs had more recruits rated than some schools had total recruits. It could be a challenge for the staff to get everyone enought reps to properly evaluate them, but that is an issue I'm sure they will be happy to take on.

Abilene Christian - 2009 Recruiting Class

Need Help:
Running Back - Losing two-time All American, Bernard Scott, the Harlon Hill winner (and back to back 2,100+ yds rushing) automatically means you need some help. Throw in Taber Minner's and Chauncy Campbell's departures and it becomes worse. Patrick Washington is the only running back from the 2008 roster scheduled to come back.

Wide Receiver - Another position losing a lot of talent - All-American Johnny Knox, TEs Kendrick Holloway (1st LSC South) and Ryan Keeling, WRs Jonathan Ferguson (2nd LSC South), Chris Morris, Rodney Freeman, andTyjuan Manning. Edmund Gates (1st LSC South) returns, but no other returning receiver caught more than 2 passes.


Need Depth:
Offensive Line - The Wildcats will miss All Americans Sam Collins and Joseph Thompson, but do have All American Tony Washington back, as well as Trevis Turner and Royland Tubbs (both 2nd LSC South). Four linemen will be seniors this fall.

Defensive Line - ACU lost three defensive linemen from last year, including Vantrise Studivant (1st LSC South). Aston Whiteside (1st LSC South) leads the returnees, which also include Nick Jones, Tony Metoyer and Ryan Smith. Could use some more experience here.

Good Quality/Depth:
Quarterback - Replacing the all-time leading passer in LSC history (Billy Malone) should mean that there will be a dropoff this fall. But Zach Stewart filled in very well in two starts last fall, and Clark Harrell and Mitchell Gale each had good springs.

Linebackers - Mike Kern (1st LSC South) will be missed, but Fred Thompson (1st LSC South), Bryson Lewis (2nd LSC South) and Eric Edwards (HM LSC South) return to lead a deep group of linebackers.

Defensive Backs - Nick Fellows (2nd LSC South) was a senior last year, but ACU returns Tony Harp (1st LSC South), Alex Harbison (2nd LSC South), Craig Harris (2nd LSC South), Drew Cuffee (HM LSC South), and several others who received a lot of playing time last year. There are five seniors in the group.


The Wildcats not only had 23 seniors on last year's roster, but that included the Harlon Hill winner and several other All Americans as well. They brought in several transfers to fill the immediate needs. Kyle Fox (Angelo State) and Reggie Brown (Blinn JC) will attempt to fill the void left behind by Bernard Scott. Kendrick Johnson (Kilgore College) will try to give ACU another receiving target, keeping teams from doubling up on Edmund Gates. Buck Burnette (Texas) should help the offensive line, and Marvin Jones (Laney College) is expected to fill the nose tackle slot. ACU also had an outstanding high school class - QB John David Baker, RBs Daryl Cantu-Harkless and Amon Pimpton, WRs Tayler Gabriel, Darian Hogg, Chris Allen, Caleb Winthorw and Josh Fellows, TEs Ryan Eastman and Tyler Sutton, OL Blake Spears, LBs Thor Woerner, Blake Rudd and Tanner Estes, and DBs Stephun Hazlett and Demetric Lee - and should help keep the good times rolling in Abilene.

LSC Rank: 2

Overall Grade: A+
With all the talent that ACU lost from 2008, recruiting this year was a tall task. But ACU has solid talent to step up in several spots, and did a good job in trying to fill other spots. Their HS class should be ready to compete for spots in a year or two.

LSC Roundup 4-13

ENMU football scrimmage important to newcomers
BLACKWATER DRAW — Saturday’s spring football intrasquad scrimmage may have been no big deal to some of Eastern New Mexico University’s established veterans. But it was the first semi-regular game that Erett Grubbs played back at his old home stadium on Saturday morning.

The sophomore lineman was part of the scrimmage, which is the first of three such events during the spring practice schedule at Eastern. Greyhound Stadium is a familiar locale for Grubb, since he played high school ball at Portales.

“It’s a good program; I like it,” Grubbs said of ENMU’s defensive approach to stopping offenses. “It’s a little bit different as far as the mentality, because there was a little more reading back at NMMI (New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell). It takes a little while to switch the defense that you play.”

RiverHawks improving in spring workouts
Despite finishing 1-10 last season, the school’s eighth straight losing season, the Northeastern State football team is approaching its spring workouts with a sense of optimism under second year coach Kenny Evans.

“This spring we’re so much farther ahead than we were last year,” said Evans. “We’ve done a lot of things to get the program back on track where it needs to be.”

One of areas where change is apparent is in the coaching staff where just one coach, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Matt Hodgson, remains from the John Horner era. Hodgson has been an assistant coach at NSU since 1999.

“Coach Hodgson has been here through some tough years and some tough times,” said Evans. “His work ethic and ability to accept a new system has helped us get to the point where we are now. He’s been instrumental in getting a lot of these young men here.”

“I think our talent level has definitely increased,” said Evans. “We could have as many as 14 former Division I players on the field next year. We’ve had two recruiting classes and signed 38 high school players out of Oklahoma and Texas. Those along with the walk-ons give us great talent for the future.”

ACU sweeps, increases lead
The pressure of staying on top can be draining. But the Abilene Christian baseball team did just enough Saturday to sweep a doubleheader from Northeastern State Oklahoma and increase its lead in the Lone Star Conference.

Rams complete sweep of SWOSU
For the first time since early March and only the second time in conference play this season, the Angelo State University baseball team broke out its broom Saturday.

ACU's McElvain drives in winner
Pitch to her. Don't pitch to her. Sometimes, you pay either way.