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Sorry for the delay in getting the blog posted. I have been really working a lot, lately. I have barely have enough time for anything but work lately. I know ya'll like to read it and to know what surrounds each matchup.It was a good weekend at the LSC festival. Several out of conference teams came to play and they made several waves in the LSC. I was 3-2 this weekend, losing out on Tarleton and ENMU. Overall, I am 11-5; I really need to start gearing it up to finish with a good percentage. Matt Witwicki over in the NSIC blog is kicking my butt with correct prediction percentage. Let's see how I can do this week... Lets get started with an LSC ranking of where the teams are at. Hopefully, most will agree with the list.
Thoughts around the LSC:
-Angelo State has only turned the ball over once this season
-ENMU will have to re-asses their secondary after giving up 3 long pass TDs, all in the same quarter
-Midwestern State handled the Hounds easily and looks to put TSU up against the wall this week
-McMurry: will they prove that they can hang with these LSC teams?
-Tarleton State moves up and then goes back down with a loss to Florida Tech, any consistency with this team?
-Texas A&M Commerce: can they compete for the LSC title with this new found talent level?
-Where is the West Texas A&M passing game? Are they a running team now?
Things were shaken up this week. We have several undefeated teams left in the Lone Star Conference. There are several great games this week. I hope everyone will be in attendance in these matchups. It's all about the LSC this week!
- [*=1]Midwestern State (2-0) (1-0)stepped up to the test last week against ENMU. This team has surprised with how well they have played with the loss of several key players from last season. Jake Glover appears to be fitting in quite nicely at the QB position. The offense only played 20 minutes last week and were able to come away with a victory. This team could be at the top by the end of the season if they keep striking fear into LSC foes with their defense. They have another big test this week, its kind of strange that they play both of the teams that they lost to last season in back-to-back weeks...
[*=1]Tarleton State (1-1) (1-0) game last week and pretty much lost the game because of turnovers. They looked pretty good against WT but the buffs are not the same as last year. This week should be an eye-opener to see exactly where this Texan team is at. At this point in time, I worry about their secondary. They have given up quite a few yards in 2 contests but it is not terrible. If they can fix the turnover issues, look for them to continue to improve each week with Cary Fowler at the helm. I just worry about their consistency week-in and week-out.
[*=1]Angelo State (2-0) (1-0)State is the team I am looking forward to watching this week. Why? I want to see exactly where this team is at. Western Colorado and McMurry are good teams but playing WT this week should really show how much this team has improved and if they are ready to contend with trying to earn the LSC title. Their passing seems to be improving each week and the rushing is a little lower than the passing. Balance is key, which allows for unpredictability. I am still waiting to see more out of RB Blake Smith and what he can do. Washington appears to be hanging in the pocket more and running less, so far this season. We shall see how this trend continues.
[*=1]Texas A&M Commerce (2-1) (1-0)really hammered the Javelinas last week. It was pretty much over at the half. Rollison has played well at times and struggled at times. It has hard to tell though when you see a D2 team play an FCS team sometimes. The Lions have ran the ball pretty consistently for Colby Carthel at the helm. Running for 41 attempts last week and 25 passing attempts. Things appear to be going smooth for the Lions so far. Their 3rd down percentage really needs improvement if they want to beat the better LSC teams. 33% probably won't cut it. However, their red-zone offense is really pouring it on when they are in that position. They have a good test this week against the ENMU Hounds. Let's see if they can survive Blackwater Draw.
[*=1]Eastern New Mexico (2-1) (0-1) - ENMU had to feel bad about their secondary performance last week. They gave up the big paly 3 times in one game, within a matter of minutes from each other. I'm sure Coach Lynn will be pushing the secondary this week to step up and make some plays against TAMC. Last week, Buurma only threw 1 INT and it turned out to be a defensive TD. He was definitely down a little last week in his passing game. The rushing game appears to be running smooth; however, 5 turnovers in 3 games is not impressive. This was one of their demons last season, as well. Buurma will need to step up and lead this team with some more passing yards to keep teams off-guard with their triple-option. He had done well up until the MSU game. Let's see what they have in store for TAMC this week at home.
[*=1]West Texas A&M (1-2) (0-1)re an interesting and different team this year. They are still trying to find themselves. I cannot remember a time since 2005 that the buffs only had 2 passing TDs going into their 4th game of the season. Their passing game is still not their and it may never come to light this season. I was glad to see Rabb connect with Anthony Johnson this last week for a TD pass. That is a step in the right direction. Their special teams is the one factor that truly stands out. The S/T really keeps them in games. The Buffs need to bring the hammer down on their rushing defense. They are giving up quite a bit of yards. And like always the WT team is high in penalties 26 for 238 yards in 3 contests. If the WT offense can find their passing game again. They can find make serious waves. They have a big test this week on the road. Will Rabb find this very talented receiving core?
[*=1]Texas A&M Kingsville (1-2) (0-1)are back and forth each week, it seems like. They still appear to be rebuilding unfortunately. The team really played poorly last week with several things going wrong (e.g. blocked punt, offensive turnovers). They really looked out of line when they played TAMC. Mitchell could only muster 66 passing yards and 3 INTs. He really looked shaken against the Lions. Rios appears to be back in the mix and we should see some things out of him, coming off his injury last season. It just doesn't seem like the playmakers are there for the Javelinas, like your Robert Armstrong's and other big names of the past. They need more offensive firepower to win more games this year. Can they achieve this? That is the big question...
[*=1]McMurry (1-1) (0-1) - The Warhawks got a good dose of the LSC last week and what they could expect if they were staying. They had a difficult time mustering any offense during the first half last week. The Rams absolutely shut down the McMurry run game. They had to be one-dimensional because of this factor. They went to their pass and could only get 2 TDs and threw 3 INTs. Their biggest problem is they have 7 turnovers in a total of 2 contests. That is 3.5 turnovers a game. It is very difficult to win in this conference with that stat hanging over your head. They are in the same boat as ENMU. The Hawks need to batten down the hatches and secure the ball. They have a good showdown with Kingsville this week. It should tell us something about this team.
Now, we move to this week's slate of games. Like many of ya'll, I am very excited to see this weekend's slate of games. I will try to watch every game if possible. I like the games this week and I have tried to analyze each thing that will distinguish the game changer. We will see where many of these LSC teams stand this week after this slate of games. LSC fans need to be up for this weekend, by all means.
Texas A&M Kingsville (1-2) v. McMurry (1-1), Saturday, 6 p.m. Kickoff
Abilene, TX, Wilford Moore Stadium
Weather: High: 84 degrees Low: 63 degrees partly cloudy with wind 5 to 10 MPH
The Javelinas really are a tough cookie to crack. I have had a difficult time getting a feel for this team. They have fluctuated a lot this season. I thought their game against Mesa was a good win. However, they were blown out last because of their sloppy play that lead to many TAMC scores. I like this matchup this week. These two teams should be fairly even. I expect a good game in Abilene. The main thing that will have to change for both teams from last week to this week is offensive production. They will need to move the ball up and down the field this week unless their previous contests. These two teams have struggled a lot with the turnover battle and that will probably be the difference maker in this one. I think the team that can commit the least amount of errors in this game and not turn the ball over will take this one. Where does that lead this game? I think I will give a slight advantage to the home team in this one. I call this a toss-up unless Kingsville has another miscue game like last week. I think they should be a little more crisp this week and have the potential to win this game. I call a toss-up...
Prediction: McMurry 31 Texas A&M Kingsville 28
Texas A&M Commerce (2-1) v. Eastern New Mexico (2-1), 4 p.m. CST Kickoff
Portales, NM, Blackwater Draw
Weather: High: 7 degrees Low: 57 degrees with partly cloudy skies and wind around 10 to 15 MPH
The Hounds will look to rebound from last week's letdown against the Midwestern Mustangs. The Lions will look to try and continue rolling but will face a good ENMU team that beat them last season. The biggest thing that stand out between these two LSC foes? Their run defense. Both of these teams have stellar run defenses. Commerce has only given up 370 rushing yards and ENMU has given up 179 rushing yards. WOW and that is in a total of 3 contests. I find that pretty impressive for these two teams run defenses. I think the advantage goes to TAMC. The Lions strength is their run defense, while ENMU's strength is their running game. This will be the difference maker. Can the Lions keep the ENMU running game in check and force the Hounds to win on Buurma's arm? Second, ENMU's weakness is their secondary and passing defense, giving up 1,053 passing yards. On the other side, the passing game is TAMC's strength, while passing for 1,116 yards already on the season. I mentioned earlier that the Lions have a great red-zone offense and they should definitely put up some points. I just don't think they Hounds can outscore the Lions unless they can create major havoc for the Lions offense. It's difficult to play in Blackwater Draw; but, I'll take the Commerce Lions in this game...The Lions passing game has a good game and the woes of the ENMU secondary continue...Lions roll
Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 42 ENMU 35
West Texas A&M (1-2) v. Angelo State (2-0), 7 p.m. Kickoff
San Angelo, TX, LeGrand Stadium
Weather: High: 82 degrees Low: 62 degrees mostly cloudy and wind between 5 to 10 MPH
The Buffaloes come into this game with a desire and need for a big win. They will be taking on a very talented Angelo Rams team that will be ready. The Rams have only allowed a total of 20 points in their first 2 games. This is a big game for both of these programs as they are trying to establish themselves in the LSC field and make a push for the NCAA playoffs. Right now, WT struggles with quarterback play and giving up too many rushing yards. If Rabb can get the ball to the playmakers and the defense can shut down Kyle Washington and the run offense, the buffs have a good chance in this game. The Rams have been good with spreading the ball around the field in both the rush and pass in their first two games. They will need to continue this success and shut the WT running game down. Yes, I said running game. They will need to force the buffs to win on Rabb's arm. For almost a decade the buffs have had Angelo State's number and have won since 2005. The last home win for the Rams against WT was in 2003, nearly a decade ago. Will that trend change? I think it will...But the Buffs should be competitive in this game. This is a great matchup and either team can win. The momentum will need to swing to see who wins this game... I'll take Angelo at home.
Prediction: Angelo State 35 WestTexas A&M 27
Game of the Week: #25 Midwestern State (2-0) v. #23 Tarleton State (1-1), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Stephenville, TX Memorial Stadium
Weather: High: 86 degrees Low: 63 degrees mostly cloudy with 5 MPH winds
Midwestern's domination of ENMU definitely surprised me. I thought that it was a fairly even matchup but the Mustangs came out and made a statement. I will hand it to Bill Maskill, he is a great coach and can sure reload a team quickly. I was right about one thing, it would take Jake Glover using his arm to win the game and he did in a big way. He threw 3 deep TD passes of 52, 68 and 74 yards. That and the defense were the difference maker. Glover only threw 22 passes but went over 300 yards with no INTs. Plus, ENMU had the ball for 40 minutes compared to MSU's 20 minutes. Midwestern is making major strides to show that they can contend for the LSC title. This will be another tough game for the Mustangs to step up for the challenge.
The Texans last week could not take down a surprisingly up and coming Florida Tech team. I thought FT would need a few more seasons to really take the next step but they proved something against TSU. They showed that they are not a pushover team. The Texans fumbled the ball away last week along with their victory. The Texans take one step forward and then another step backward. This happened last season down the stretch and why they failed to make the playoffs. If they are not careful they could very well see themselves losing 2 games in a row.
The key for TSU to win this game will be to eliminate the turnovers, establish the run game and not give up the big play. ENMU could not contain the big play and it killed them last week. The Texans need to throw the ball around to complement their good running game. It will be tough against this stingy ball hawking Mustang defense. The Mustangs will need to run the ball effectively against the Texans and Glover will need to do exactly what he did last week to complement the run.
What does this come down to? The Mustang defense. I think the Midwestern defense has played great in the first 2 games giving up only a small amount of points and creating good pressure and turnovers. The Texans will have to find a way through a good defense and score early and often to out do the good MSU offense. I think the Texans will be up for this game at home against the Mustangs. They beat them last season and have the potential to do it again.
However, I just see the Midwestern defense being too much for the Texans and Jake Glover having a good day to keep the Texans in check. Midwestern rolls into Stephenville and out with a win, and the Texans lose two straight games in a row...
Prediction: Midwestern State 38 Tarleton State28
Texas A&M Kingsville (1-2) v. McMurry (1-1), Saturday, 6 p.m. Kickoff
Abilene, TX, Wilford Moore Stadium
Weather: High: 84 degrees Low: 63 degrees partly cloudy with wind 5 to 10 MPH
The Javelinas really are a tough cookie to crack. I have had a difficult time getting a feel for this team. They have fluctuated a lot this season. I thought their game against Mesa was a good win. However, they were blown out last because of their sloppy play that lead to many TAMC scores. I like this matchup this week. These two teams should be fairly even. I expect a good game in Abilene. The main thing that will have to change for both teams from last week to this week is offensive production. They will need to move the ball up and down the field this week unless their previous contests. These two teams have struggled a lot with the turnover battle and that will probably be the difference maker in this one. I think the team that can commit the least amount of errors in this game and not turn the ball over will take this one. Where does that lead this game? I think I will give a slight advantage to the home team in this one. I call this a toss-up unless Kingsville has another miscue game like last week. I think they should be a little more crisp this week and have the potential to win this game. I call a toss-up...
Prediction: McMurry 31 Texas A&M Kingsville 28
Texas A&M Commerce (2-1) v. Eastern New Mexico (2-1), 4 p.m. CST Kickoff
Portales, NM, Blackwater Draw
Weather: High: 7 degrees Low: 57 degrees with partly cloudy skies and wind around 10 to 15 MPH
The Hounds will look to rebound from last week's letdown against the Midwestern Mustangs. The Lions will look to try and continue rolling but will face a good ENMU team that beat them last season. The biggest thing that stand out between these two LSC foes? Their run defense. Both of these teams have stellar run defenses. Commerce has only given up 370 rushing yards and ENMU has given up 179 rushing yards. WOW and that is in a total of 3 contests. I find that pretty impressive for these two teams run defenses. I think the advantage goes to TAMC. The Lions strength is their run defense, while ENMU's strength is their running game. This will be the difference maker. Can the Lions keep the ENMU running game in check and force the Hounds to win on Buurma's arm? Second, ENMU's weakness is their secondary and passing defense, giving up 1,053 passing yards. On the other side, the passing game is TAMC's strength, while passing for 1,116 yards already on the season. I mentioned earlier that the Lions have a great red-zone offense and they should definitely put up some points. I just don't think they Hounds can outscore the Lions unless they can create major havoc for the Lions offense. It's difficult to play in Blackwater Draw; but, I'll take the Commerce Lions in this game...The Lions passing game has a good game and the woes of the ENMU secondary continue...Lions roll
Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 42 ENMU 35
West Texas A&M (1-2) v. Angelo State (2-0), 7 p.m. Kickoff
San Angelo, TX, LeGrand Stadium
Weather: High: 82 degrees Low: 62 degrees mostly cloudy and wind between 5 to 10 MPH
The Buffaloes come into this game with a desire and need for a big win. They will be taking on a very talented Angelo Rams team that will be ready. The Rams have only allowed a total of 20 points in their first 2 games. This is a big game for both of these programs as they are trying to establish themselves in the LSC field and make a push for the NCAA playoffs. Right now, WT struggles with quarterback play and giving up too many rushing yards. If Rabb can get the ball to the playmakers and the defense can shut down Kyle Washington and the run offense, the buffs have a good chance in this game. The Rams have been good with spreading the ball around the field in both the rush and pass in their first two games. They will need to continue this success and shut the WT running game down. Yes, I said running game. They will need to force the buffs to win on Rabb's arm. For almost a decade the buffs have had Angelo State's number and have won since 2005. The last home win for the Rams against WT was in 2003, nearly a decade ago. Will that trend change? I think it will...But the Buffs should be competitive in this game. This is a great matchup and either team can win. The momentum will need to swing to see who wins this game... I'll take Angelo at home.
Prediction: Angelo State 35 WestTexas A&M 27
Game of the Week: #25 Midwestern State (2-0) v. #23 Tarleton State (1-1), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Stephenville, TX Memorial Stadium
Weather: High: 86 degrees Low: 63 degrees mostly cloudy with 5 MPH winds
Midwestern's domination of ENMU definitely surprised me. I thought that it was a fairly even matchup but the Mustangs came out and made a statement. I will hand it to Bill Maskill, he is a great coach and can sure reload a team quickly. I was right about one thing, it would take Jake Glover using his arm to win the game and he did in a big way. He threw 3 deep TD passes of 52, 68 and 74 yards. That and the defense were the difference maker. Glover only threw 22 passes but went over 300 yards with no INTs. Plus, ENMU had the ball for 40 minutes compared to MSU's 20 minutes. Midwestern is making major strides to show that they can contend for the LSC title. This will be another tough game for the Mustangs to step up for the challenge.
The Texans last week could not take down a surprisingly up and coming Florida Tech team. I thought FT would need a few more seasons to really take the next step but they proved something against TSU. They showed that they are not a pushover team. The Texans fumbled the ball away last week along with their victory. The Texans take one step forward and then another step backward. This happened last season down the stretch and why they failed to make the playoffs. If they are not careful they could very well see themselves losing 2 games in a row.
The key for TSU to win this game will be to eliminate the turnovers, establish the run game and not give up the big play. ENMU could not contain the big play and it killed them last week. The Texans need to throw the ball around to complement their good running game. It will be tough against this stingy ball hawking Mustang defense. The Mustangs will need to run the ball effectively against the Texans and Glover will need to do exactly what he did last week to complement the run.
What does this come down to? The Mustang defense. I think the Midwestern defense has played great in the first 2 games giving up only a small amount of points and creating good pressure and turnovers. The Texans will have to find a way through a good defense and score early and often to out do the good MSU offense. I think the Texans will be up for this game at home against the Mustangs. They beat them last season and have the potential to do it again.
However, I just see the Midwestern defense being too much for the Texans and Jake Glover having a good day to keep the Texans in check. Midwestern rolls into Stephenville and out with a win, and the Texans lose two straight games in a row...
Prediction: Midwestern State 38 Tarleton State28
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