The first week of football is in the books. I was able to catch almost every game via video, which tends to be very difficult to do watching LSC football. I followed every game this week to see some big plays and some disappointments. I was also surprised in a few of the openers. We are still waiting to see the Texans take the field, I bet those guys have to be pumped up and locked and loaded to fire off on an opposing team.

The first few weeks of doing football previews are always a little hectic in the LSC because of all of the Out-of-Conference games and doing 7 individual game previews. Especially, when a person is trying to gage where exactly each LSC team is at and where the OOC teams are in terms of performance and their future game performance.

　
Week 2 Previews and Predictions:



Texas A&M Kingsville (0-1) v. Missouri S&T (0-1), 7 p.m. Kickoff

Kingsville, TX, Javelina Stadium
Weather: High: 88 degrees Low: 70 degrees with 20% chance of Thunderstorms and wind between 5 to 10 MPH

Kingsville looked good last week against the birds of Incarnate Word. I fully expected a good game out of both teams and they delivered. It took the UIW QB to solidify the win for the Cards. Yes, the Javelinas still have a ways to go in the area of improvements but they looked solid last week. They led all the way until late in the 4th QTR. The Javelina rushing game (93 yards) left a little something to be desired but the passing game to have some good success. They also had some issues with stopping or slowing the running abilities of UIW.






Prediction: Missouri S&T 33 Texas A&M Kingsville 20


Western State (CO) (0-1) v. #12 Angelo State (1-0), Saturday, 2 p.m. Kickoff

Gunnison, CO Mountaineer Bowl
Weather: High: 75 degrees Low: 36 degrees with west northwest wind 5 to 10 mph





Thoughts: I expect the Rams offense to score and drive on the Mountaineers. The way they played last week, the offense had a few woes but did not suffer too drastically. They scored a lot of points and I expect that to be the same this week. However, they need to be able to slow down Ekeler or they could be in a world of hurt if they do not lock him down. With their ability to score quickly, I expect the Rams to take this one!

Prediction: Angelo State 45 Western State 25


Midwestern State (1-0) v. Colorado Mesa (1-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. Kickoff

Grand Junction, CO, Stocker Stadium
Weather: High 89 degrees Low: 55 degrees with west wind 5 MPH



Truman State still has a ways to go in becoming a top tiered team in Division 2. Mesa is typically a good team each year. QB Hagen Hutchinson looked sharp going 18-26 with 183 passing yards with 2 TDs and 26 rushing yards and a score. Another impressive starter was WR Straton Jones (7 rec. 86 yds, 1 TD). He appeared to be a big playmaker last week for the offense. I expect big things out of him this season! Taylor and Johnson shared carries at running back and accumulated 106 yards jointly, not amazing compared to rushers of the past but still effective.

Thoughts on this game: The Mustangs did a great job last week attacking the run. They will have to continue that strategy this week against Mesa. The Stangs were able to limit Truman to just 130 rushing yards on 33 attempts. This will be vital in this game. If they can continue to utilize their offense like last week and slow down or stop Jonathon Beverly, I fully expect the Mustangs to take this. However, if they cannot stop the run, look for a very close game.
Prediction: Midwestern State 28 Colorado Mesa 14


Eastern New Mexico (1-0) v. Adams State (0-1), Saturday, 5 p.m. CST Kickoff

Alamosa, CO, Rex Stadium
Weather: High: 78 degrees Low: 39 degrees with wind southwest around 5 MPH



Last week, the Hounds had a slow start against Highlands as they went into halftime with a 14-10 lead. However, after the half, it was a different story. The Hounds offense took advantage on key opportunities which led to a convincing win over Highlands. Getting 2 turnovers definitely helps to try and win a ballgame. The ENMU running attack exploded for 352 yards, like usual the passing game was pretty minimal with Buurma only completing 3 passes with 13 attempts for 79 yards (26.3 avg/comp.). The passing game did just enough for the offense to get the win. I fully expect them to have plenty success this week on the ground, as the Grizzlies gave up quite a few yards last week against Commerce. Last week, I thought the running backs did fairly well for having several replacements. They were led by Kamal Cass (96 yards, 1 TD). I fully expect this group to get close to or exceed what their total rushing yardage was last week.

Concluding thoughts: I expect the Hounds to run easily on Adams State and rack up over 300 rushing yards. I see Buurma having more passing success this week than last. Look for the Hounds to start slow again and then put the peddle down.
Look for the Hounds to start the season 2-0...

Prediction: Eastern New Mexico 35 Adams State 21


Tarleton State (0-0) v. Findlay (1-0), 7 p.m. Kickoff

Stephenville, TX, Memorial Stadium
Weather: High: 82 degrees Low: 60 degrees with south southeast wind between 5 to 10 MPH

The Texans will finally get their opportunity to show what they are made of as they take the home stand against a Findlay Oiler team that won convincingly last week against Hillsdale. Findlay is coming off a down year in their 2014 season (5-6). Hillsdale really had no answer for the Findlay passing game. The Oiler offense is led by QB Rhys Gervais, who went 27-34 with 364 passing yards with 3 TDs against Hillsdale. Gervais is a transfer from Western Illinois University. The Findlay offense used an assortment of RBs last week that totaled 223 rushing yards (25 yards from Gervais). The runners averaged 5.7 yards per carry which really complemented their passing attack. One big concern for the Oilers coming into this game is the amount of penalties that they had last week (14-101 yards). They will have to fix those woes to get success against Tarleton. The Texan defense, which needs the most help from last year to this season, will have to be on their toes against this good Findlay offense. If the Texans can get to Gervais and interrupt him, as well as, make some plays in the secondary, this will be a very winnable game. If not, this could really come down to a blow-for-blow type of game and will be high scoring.

I really have no doubts that this Texan offense is going to score points. With the likes of Meyers and Tandy at the receiver positions, it is almost inevitable. I expect around 150+ accumulated passing yards between the two of them. If these guys go over 100 yards receiving each, I fully expect that to be enough for the Texans to win. However, we have not seen QB Zed Woerner in full game action this season, so he will have to be one of the determining factors of this game. Woerner does have some game experience from last season and had several big passing games. I expect him to be ready to go in this one.

Like I have stated, my concerns are on what this Texans defense is going to do and how they are going to perform. They have a tough test against Findlay. Somebody out of this defense has to step-up and be a real playmaker for the Texans. I expect we will know who that person is coming out of this game.

Players to Watch: Findlay: QB Rhys Gervais (364 passing yds, 3 TDs); RB Chauncey Bridges (82 yards, 2 TDs); RB Daiquone Ford (79 yards); WR Jason Moore (114 yards); WR Dylan Blunk (102 yards, 2 TDs); DL Jared Evers (4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs); DL Cyle Skidmore (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL)


This is a good matchup of teams. I look forward to following this game. I think this ultimately comes down to the Findlay passing offense versus the Tarleton secondary. The Texans and Oilers both have potent offenses, the problem is stopping those offenses. If the Texans can cause some turnovers and capitalize, I see this game being a winnable game. Look for the Texans to have some weakspots in the secondary, I see a bend but not break mentality and game coming out of those safeties and corners. At least this team is used to playing some pass-heavy teams in the LSC. They will get some of that on Saturday.

I'll take the Texans in a tough first game in Stephenville...

Prediction: Tarleton State 45 Findlay 31


West Texas A&M (0-1) v. #2 Colorado State - Pueblo (1-0), 5 p.m. Kickoff

Canyon, TX, Kimbrough Memorial Stadium
Weather: High: 77 degrees Low: 59 degrees with partly cloudy skies and south southwest wind around 15 MPH

The rivalry of the Buffaloes and Thunderwolves make their way back to Kimbrough Stadium. I was able to watch both of these programs last week in their first week games. To say the least, I saw some really good things out of CSUP in week 1. I was honestly a little surprised on how good they looked in their season opener. The CSUP and WT running games both looked very impressive last week (CSUP-298 yds) (WT-262 yds). The WT passing game looked suspect last week (especially in the 2nd




WT: RB, Geremy Alridge-Mitchell (124 rushing yards, 2 TDs); QB Preston Rabb (131 passing yards, TD; 93 rushing yards); WR, Jarrian Rhone (83 receiving yards, TD); LB, Carter James (8 tackles, .5 TFL): the entire D-Line



The Buffaloes should have won last week with their big early lead and even had an opportunity at the end of the game to possibly tie or win the game.
To conclude, if the Buffaloes want to win this game they have to connect on the deep pass plays and over the middle, limit the potent CSUP offense and find ways to gash this good CSUP defense.

Azusa Pacific was a good football team, as they showed that last week. However, Colorado State Pueblo is a great football team and have looked great in their first game, as well as last season. I see this as a critical game for WT and a much-needed win to get some momentum back heading into the season. The Buffaloes have the potential and capability to win this game. Can they put all the pieces together and do enough to pull out a win?

The defending national champions hold-off the Buffaloes.

Prediction: CSUP 34 West Texas A&M 17



Game of the Week: #11 Delta State (1-0) v. #17 Texas A&M Commerce (1-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. Kickoff

Commerce, TX Memorial Stadium
Weather: High: 81 degrees Low: 57 degrees, southeast wind 5 to 10 mph

The first ranked match of the season has come for the Lone Star Conference. The Statesmen of Delta State will be welcomed to Commerce, TX by the Lions. The last time that these 2 teams faced off was in 2013, with the Lions edging Delta State with s 45-37 win. Head Coaches Todd Cooley and Colby Carthel almost have identical win-loss records at their respective schools, both coming in with 17 wins. These are two football teams that know how to win.

For Delta State, they are led by QB Tyler Sullivan, who had a great game last week against FVSU. Sullivan was a Harlon Hill Finalist last season with 3,358 passing yards with 27 TDs and 15 INTs. He had a 63.8% completion rating and rushed for 208 yards with 7 TDs. Sullivan comes in as an experienced QB for the Statesmen and will be one of the key players in this game. He accounted for 5 Touchdowns last week, 3 through the air and 2 on the ground. Look for him to be a big threat for this Lions defense, as they will need to spy on him all game long with a linebacker.







Defensively for the Lions last week, they accumulated an incredible 8.0 TFLs, 3 sacks and 2 INTs. It is not too far-fetched to state that the Lions dominated on the defensive side of the ball by only giving up 256 total yards, most of those coming in passing (177). However, this week will prove costly for the Lions if the secondary cannot step-up and make some big plays. The Statesmen love to pass the ball and they sure are going to do plenty of that. They will probably have a little more success running the ball than Adams State last week. Watch for this Lions defense to be a force to be reckoned with on the D-Line as they only allowed 2.0 yards per rush last week and they will continue to try and force their way into the Statesmen backfield.
With this being the first duel-ranked opponent contest in the LSC, I asked how excited are the Lions heading into this game?



In watching the Lions last week, I felt that they had a slow start in the first quarter to get things going. However, they responded quite convincingly with 24 points in the 2nd quarter and never lost control or momentum heading into the 2nd

I asked Coach Carthel, what would a win over Delta State do for the Commerce Lions?



Concluding Thoughts:



Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 35 Delta State 31