Recap of Week 9 & Week 10 Preview in the Lone Star Conference

Week 9 of this crazy season continued to create more surprises in the already outrageous Lone Star Conference. Overall, Division 2 football has gone through lots of changes and several conferences are in disarray. Let’s get to the Players of the Week.


Joe’s Outstanding Players of the Week

Offense: Christian Long, Eastern New Mexico, SR, RB
Long had a career day against West Texas. Long rushed 27 times for 123 yards and 3 rushing TDs. He played a big role in providing the upset over West Texas, including ENMU’s last TD.

Defense: Rush Seaver, Angelo State, SR, S
Seaver played great defense in their win over A&M Commerce. Seaver racked up 8 total tackles with 3 TFLs and 3 sacks. Seaver also forced a fumble and had 1 fumble recovery.

Special Teams: Dmajeric Tucker, Eastern New Mexico, FR, RB/KR
Tucker took a kickoff and returned it for 99-yards. Tucker muffled the ball and picked the ball up and ran it for 99 yards, all the way in for a score. Tucker also ran the ball in for the final 2-point conversion to win the game



Week 9 Recap:

I went 2-2 this weekend only missing on the Angelo and ENMU game. ENMU played a great game against WT. They played outstanding and really progressed throughout the game. I was not surprised at all by the outcome of the Angelo game. On another note, Tarleton earned a share of the Lone Star Conference Title. Now lets get to the recaps.

West Texas A&M v. Eastern New Mexico
Final Score: ENMU 39 West Texas 38

WT came out and took a 31 to 17 lead at the half. Then, it was all hounds. ENMU came out in the second and took it to WT. The hounds kept running the same run play off the left and right guard’s hip and WT could not adjust or stop the play. ENMU just continued to run the play and stretch the run on the far outsides. WT had absolutely no answer for the running scheme and the buffaloes were so focused on the run game that the ENMU passing game was wide open when they tried to throw. WT lucked out with the ENMU receivers’ dropping several TD passes. The most impressive part of the game was ENMU going for a 2-point conversion with 1 minute left in the game to take the lead. It was a very gutsy call and was successful. WT tried to get the ball down the field but a holding call pushed them back to set up a 67 yard field goal attempt that was rushed and fell short, giving the upset to ENMU.

Takeaways: ENMU played one of their best games of the year. They played very well in the rushing game and had several great passing plays that caught WT off-guard. ENMU obtained the wagon wheel for the first time, since 2004. Coach Lynn has done a great job turning this ENMU program around for the better. WT struggled on the defensive side of the ball. They do not seem to have any answers for the rushing game. The strange thing is that this is almost the exact same defense from last season. How could they struggle this bad? They only lost 2 players to graduation, how could they have been that huge of an impact? It seems very strange to me. I bet WT fans think the same way.

Up Next: West Texas hosts West Georgia and Eastern New Mexico plays host to Midwestern State.


Tarleton State v. Texas A&M Kingsville
Final Score: Tarleton State 45 Texas A&M Kingsville 20

Tarleton State got back on the winning track with a win over Kingsville. TSU came out with a big run by Marquis Wadley, scoring from 39 yards out. Kingsville answered back with a 10-point run. After that it was all Tarleton. Kingsville would score a FG and a late TD to make the final score 45 to 20. Kingsville’s Trevor Pesek had a big interception against Tarleton and took it all the way to give the lead to Kingsville early. The Javelinas stepped up and made big plays on the offensive side of the ball. They put up one of their biggest offensive outings this season. Unfortunately, Tarleton forced 3 turnovers against the Javelinas and took advantage of the turnovers.

Takeaways: Kingsville’s QB Caleb Bedford had one of his best performances of the season going 25 for 40 with 307 yards for 1 passing TD and only throwing 1 INT. Tarleton put up a great offensive output of 579 total yards. On the other side, the Javelinas defense continued to struggle and had no answer for the Texan offense.

Up Next: Tarleton State hosts Southwestern Oklahoma. Texas A&M Kingsville travels to Angelo State.


Midwestern State v. Menlo College (NAIA)
Final Score: Midwestern State 64 Menlo College 7

Menlo had no answer for the potent MSU rushing offense. Midwestern ran it into the end zone 8 times and could not be slowed down or stopped, racking up 412 rushing yards. On the other side, the MSU defense held the Menlo offense to under 200 yards of total offense. They stopped the run cold by only giving up 62 yards. The defense also forced 3 turnovers to keep the Menlo offense in check all game. However, it was against an NAIA team. Midwestern should have played the way that they did, being a ranked Division 2 program.

Takeaways: Midwestern played lights out and took full advantage in the run game. The mustangs are playing their best ball on the season. The defense has really progressed over the season and played good football against Menlo.

Up Next: Midwestern travels to ENMU.


Angelo State v. Texas A&M Commerce
Final Score: Angelo State 25 Texas A&M Commerce 20

Angelo picked up their biggest win of the season against a very good and improved A&M Commerce team. The rams finally came through and closed out a good game with the score on their side. The rams jumped out to a 19 to 7 half time lead and had to fend off the Commerce rally in the 4th quarter. Angelo’s Washington and Calhoun had a great day going over 200 yards on the ground and Washington racking up 143 yards through the air. That would be more enough yards to take down the Commerce Lions. The ram defense gave Commerce fits all game, getting to the quarterback a total of 10 times. The Lions finally got going in the 4th but it was too little, too late.

Takeaways: Angelo has definitely stepped up on both sides of the ball and can play with any LSC team this year. A few tough breaks here and there and they would have a record above .500. They are playing some great football and are a force to be reckoned with. Commerce had difficulty giving QB Stewart enough time to get the ball to the Commerce receivers and ultimately aided in the loss to the rams. The lions had a little more success on the ground but still did not muster enough yards to be a threat.

Up Next: Angelo State hosts to Texas A&M Kingsville. Texas A&M Commerce travels to Houston Baptist.



Week 10 Preview and Predictions:

Several big matchups this weekend, let’s get to all the matchups.

#13/12 Midwestern State (7-1) (3-1) @ Eastern New Mexico (4-3) (3-1) Saturday, November 2nd at 2 p.m.
Portales, NM Blackwater Draw

The Hounds are coming off their biggest win of the season. Unfortunately, they have to play a Midwestern team that looks poised to be playoff bound and playing outstanding football, as of late. These two teams love to run the ball and both have an effective running game that will make this game clock run fast. Look for the Mustangs to be a little better on the defensive side of the ball and be more effective at stopping the run. The Mustangs will have to face a tough ENMU team that is very effective on 1st down plays. However, the Mustangs will be able to get some good running plays in against the ENMU defense. The big question will be to see if Midwestern can through effectively on the hounds, like WT did last week. If so, they should be able to win this one with ease. However, this ENMU team is not one that should be taken lightly. Look for ENMU RB Jordan Wells and MSU RB Keidrick Jackson to be big factors in this game.

Prediction: Midwestern 42 ENMU 35


Angelo State (3-6) (1-4) @ Texas A&M-Kingsville (2-6) (0-5) Saturday, November 9th at 4 p.m.
San Angelo, TX San Angelo Stadium

Angelo has played great football over the past several weeks and QB Kyle Washington has really emerged as a leader for this ram’s team. They will be taking on the Javelinas to pick up a possible 2nd straight win of the season. The Javelinas progressed last week, being able to push the ball down the field more effectively. They have continued to struggle at stopping other team’s offenses but they have finally found a groove in the offense. The Javelinas will have their work cut out for them taking on this potent Angelo offense that is clicking on all cylinders. They will need to stop the run to have any kind of chance in this game. I just don’t see that happening, especially, the way that Calhoun and Washington have been playing. Look for the rams to pick up their 2nd straight win…

Prediction: Angelo State 35 Texas A&M Kingsville 27


Southwestern Oklahoma (5-4) @Tarleton State (6-2) (5-1) Saturday, November 9th at 2 p.m.
Stephenville, TX Memorial Stadium

TSU will be taking on old conference foe, SWOSU. The Bulldogs are having a good season in the GAC and have really progressed with their passing game racking up 2,372 yards. On the flip side, SWOSU is giving up 2,400 passing yards to their opposition. Not a good sign for a team that is about to play a TSU unit that has a great arm in Fenske, with several big time wide receivers in the TSU arsenal. The GAC competition is just not up to par with the LSC, yet. Look for Tarleton to take down the Bulldogs and break the game open in the 2nd half. Tarleton rolls..

Prediction: Tarleton State 42 SWOSU 28


West Georgia (5-4) @ #21 West Texas A&M (7-2) (3-2) Saturday, November 9th at 6 p.m.
Canyon, TX Kimbrough Memorial Stadium

West Georgia comes to play a struggling WT team that is in a need of a win. They will be using their dual QBs, similar to the style that Tarleton does. The wolves are improved offensively from last season but the defense is not near as good as it has been in the past. However, the West Georgia pass defense is one of the top in the nation. They will need the pass defense to step up and play well, because WT leads the nation in passing yards and sure knows how to throw the ball around. Look for WT to get back to the running game some and trying to muster more than last week’s measly 13 total rushing yard performance. WT rolls on…

Prediction: West Texas 35 West Georgia 28


Texas A&M Commerce (6-3) (2-3) @ Houston Baptist (3-3): Saturday, November 9th at 3 p.m.
Houston, TX

HBU has been fairly balanced this season between the run and pass on the offensive side of the ball. However, they have not broken the 1,000-yard mark in either category. They give up more yards on the ground but are closely followed by yards allowed through the air. They will need to get their secondary ready for this game, as Commerce has one of the best passing attacks in Division 2 football. They will have to try and stop Vernon Johnson from burning them down the sidelines. I expect that the Lions will be too much for HBU and will be able to get behind the secondary. Look for the Lions to take out some rage from last week’s disappointing loss to Angelo State. Commerce gets back in the win column.

Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 42 Houston Baptist 14


I will post later to discuss the LSC standings, playoff picture, potential playoff teams from the LSC, discussion of the regional rankings and answer the LSC Trivia of the Week.