Recap of Week 8 in the Lone Star Conference

The LSC saw lots of great action with an upset in Stephenville. It was a fun filled weekend with upsets, wild scores and some close games. I cannot believe that we only have 3 weeks left in the regular season. This football season has definitely gone fast. I think we can all agree that the overall difficulty has increased in the Lone Star Conference. It was hard for any team to walk out undefeated in this atypical season in the LSC. Just imagine if ACU was still in the league. It would have made it just that more difficult for a team to run the table.

Week 7 Recap:

I went 3-1 this weekend only missing on the Tarleton State v. Commerce game and I stated that I would not be surprised if Commerce beat Tarleton. I am not surprised at all by the outcome, just surprised at the score and how it happened. Now lets get to the recaps.

West Texas A&M v. McMurry
Final Score: West Texas 90 Angelo State 57

What a wild game from start to finish. I saw a few things that I have never seen before in this game. The first thing that I saw was the Abilene, TX curse. There is something about the WT Buffaloes going to Abilene and having crazy high scoring games. Most of you will recall the other shootout in Abilene when the Buffs lost 68 to 93 to ACU. The second thing that I have never seen before was a blocked extra point by Taylor McCuller and he attempted to pass the ball in the end zone and the opposing team intercepted an illegal pass to count as a completed conversion. Statistically, this game amassed over 1,400 yards and the buffs were actually outgained in yards (only by a few). The game also saw 19 TDs scored in the entire game and probably could have seen more if the teams did not continue to run the ball in the entire 4th quarter. This game had it all: blocked extra point, onside kick recovery, FGs, rushing TDs, passing TDs and crazy statistics.

Takeaways: The WT offense found its rhythm again and how to score points in a big way. Vaughn looked good and poised in the pocket and completed several good passes. In the process, they completely forgot how to play defense. They could not stop the running or passing game. Improvement is needed and fast if they want to make the playoffs. However, the buffaloes have the best kickoff return game in all of Division 2 football and it has been consistent all season.

Up Next: West Texas hosts Eastern New Mexico.


Eastern New Mexico v. Texas A&M Kingsville
Final Score: Eastern New Mexico 13 Texas A&M Kingsville 10

I never saw this game being such a low scoring contest. I fully expected both teams to put up at least double this amount of points. The only points scored in the first half was a FG by Kingsville making the score 3 to 0 at the half. The 3rd quarter was the highlight of the entire game. ENMU struck first finding the end zone on a 5 yard run and taking their first lead of the game at 7 to 3. Kingsville fired right back on a 24 yard run of their own and regaining the lead at 10 to 7. A few drives later, ENMU forced a Kingsville fumble at the Kingsville 35 yard line and recovered the loose ball. They took full advantage by scoring on 22-yard run and taking the lead to 13 to 10 in favor of ENMU. The 4th saw several interceptions by both teams and a missed FG by ENMU to keep the final score at 13 to 10, with ENMU notching the win. Overall, this game was a defensive struggle by both teams and ENMU squeaked out with the win.

TakeawaysUp Next: Eastern New Mexico travels to Canyon to take on West Texas. Texas A&M Kingsville plays host Tarleton State.


Midwestern State v. Angelo State
Final Score: Midwestern State 49 Angelo State 43

If I had a second game of the week, it would have definitely been this game. The Rams jumped out to a 14 to 0 lead. Midwestern quickly answered with 2 TDs of their own making the score 14 to 14 at the end of the 1st. In the 2nd, the Mustangs scored on a passing play and on a loose football that they took 90-yards for the end zone. The Rams were able to settle for a FG before the conclusion of the half with a 28 to 17 Mustang lead. Midwestern came out at the half and pushed the lead all the way up to 42 to 17 before the Rams finally responded with a score of their own. MSU answered right back with a 49 to 23 lead in the early part of the 4th. ASU took off scoring 21 unanswered points and could not rally fast enough to edge out the Mustangs. Midwestern was held to only 285 total offensive yards and Angelo gained a whopping 562 yards in the game. The Rams outgained the Mustangs in almost every category, except for score.

Takeaways: Midwestern played a solid game on the offensive side of the ball. They were able to have effective drives that turned into points. The defense struggled against Angelo but took great opportunities against the Angelo mistakes and turned them into points. Keidrick Jackson and Jake Glover made several big plays to open this game up for the Mustangs. Angelo backed up their performance against WT by putting up an exponential amount of yards on the Mustangs. Kyle Washington has really changed over these past few weeks and has played outstanding. The Angelo State Rams have definitely found their groove but just cannot close games out. If they can figure that aspect out, they have a recipe for a playoff caliber team.

Up Next: Midwestern welcomes NAIA Menlo College to Wichita falls. Angelo State heads to Commerce, TX to take on the Commerce Lions.


Game of the Week: Tarleton State v. Texas A&M Commerce
Final Score: Texas A&M Commerce 22 Tarleton State 20

The game of the week lived up to everything that it was supposed to. Looking at these two great offenses, no on could imagine that the score would be this low. I expected these two teams to put up some big numbers. It was quite the opposite of that. Each team put up over 400 yards of total offense and the score was no indicator of that, at all. The Texans struck first in the 1st quarter with a 2-yard run. The Lions got on the board right at the beginning of the 2nd with a 88-yard TD pass to Vernon Johnson, knotting the score at 7 to 7. The Texans quickly answered with a FG. On the next drive, Davis hit Johnson again for a 27-yard TD pass and giving Commerce their first lead of the game at 14 to 10. The Texans answered the score on their very next drive with a rushing TD and making the score 17 to 14 to conclude the first half. The second half was far less exciting with a total of 11 points being scored. In the middle of the 3rd, TSU intercepted a Commerce ball and took advantage of the turnover by converting it into 3 points and increasing their lead to 20 to 14. The 3rd would conclude to open up the last quarter of play. The momentum change occurred in the middle of the 4th quarter with the TSU place kicker missing on a 19-yard attempt. TSU would hold Commerce on the next drive but would have a roughing the kicker call deny the change of possession and keep the ball with Commerce. The Lions would take full advantage a hook up on a 25-yard TD pass and tying the game at 20 to 20. During the extra point, the ball was snapped low and the place kick holder would pick up the ball and run in for a diving 2-point conversion and give Commerce the lead at 22 to 20. TSU took possession and marched down the field only to miss a 39-yard FG attempt and turn the ball over on downs to Commerce, sealing the upset.

Takeaways[/HTML]hem ultimately win the game. They had great play by Wide Receiver Vernon Johnson that almost counted for half of the teams passing yards. A few great plays by their special teams and a good judgment call by their place kick holder to run in on the extra point attempt.

Up Next: Tarleton State travels to Kingsville to take on the Javelinas. Texas A&M Commerce plays host to Angelo State.


A look ahead at this upcoming weekend game schedule (Week 9):
Eastern New Mexico @ #9/15 West Texas A&M: Saturday, November 2nd at 6 p.m.
Angelo State @ Texas A&M-Commerce: Saturday, November 2nd at 2 p.m.
Tarleton State @ Texas A&M Kingsville: Saturday, November 2nd at 7 p.m.
Menlo College (CA) (NAIA) @ #17/17 Midwestern State: Saturday, November 2nd at 1 p.m.