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The month was March and the year, 2002. Significance of this month and year? This was the month and year that Midwestern State hired Bill Maskill to be their next Head Football Coach. That same year on September 14, 2002 was the last time that the Midwestern State Mustangs lost their division 2 regular season out of conference game. Yep, the Mustangs last division 2 regular season out of conference loss occurred in September 2002.The 14th
9/14/02........ at Nebraska-Omaha............................ L, 45-23
8/28/03...... Arkansas Tech....................................... W, 27-12
9/6/03.......... at Sam Houston State............................ L, 30-9 (Div. 1)
9/2/06.......... Langston (Okla.)................................... W, 34-26
8/25/07....... at Adams State (Colo.)........................ W, 41-15
9/20/08...... Newberry (S.C.)..................................... W, 24-10
8/29/09....... New Mexico Highlands........................ W, 41-0
9/19/09........ at Incarnate Word................................... W, 49-7
9/2/10........... at New Mexico Highlands................... W, 52-6
9/10/11.......... at Missouri S&T....................................... W, 41-0
11/12/11.......... at Northeastern State........................ W, 37-34
10/4/12......... at West Alabama................................. W, 42-27
11/10/12......... West Georgia........................................... W, 35-17
9/21/13.......... at West Georgia..................................... W, 35-17
10/12/13........ McMurry........................................... ....... W, 66-20
10/19/13........ West Alabama........................................ W, 45-21
11/2/13........... Menlo (Calif.).......................................... .. W, 64-7
9/13/14......... Missouri S&T......................................... W, 40-23
9/5/15........... Truman State (Mo.)................................. W, 31-3
9/12/15.......... at Colorado Mesa........................ W, 16-13 (OT)
10/17/15 .......Humboldt State (Calif.)...........................W, 35-10
Is this a coincidence? No, this is a Lone Star Conference Football Dynasty.
The next edition of the LSC rankings are here for the LSC Blog. There are 2 regular season weeks left until the LSC playoff on November 7th.
- nd half last week. Stangs take the top spot. Can they keep it after this week against the #2 team, Texas A&M Commerce?
- rd quarter and cruised past West Texas. The potent rush defense shut down the WT running game and held them to under 50 yards rushing. Offensively, the lions put up 491 total yards on the Buffaloes and forced 3 turnovers, while only giving up 1 turnover. Interesting play of the game: Half back pass from Running Back Richard Cooper to Chris Chumlay for 12 yards and a Touchdown. The score put them up 21-10 on the Buffs heading to halftime.
- Eastern New Mexico (5-2) (2-2) - ENMU had their backs up against the wall in a shootout with Tarleton State. I was almost 100% right on predicting the amount of points they would score. I was a little shocked at how many points that they gave up to the Texans. The Greyhounds too control with a Kamal Cass TD in the final 2 minutes of the game to have a lead of 11 points. Buurma only threw the ball 13 times, but accumulated 141 yards and a score. He and Cass ran for a combined 256 rushing yards and 5 rush TDs. Big week at home for the Greyhounds against the Rams of Angelo State.
- rdth
Week 8 Previews and Predictions:
Eastern New Mexico (5-2) v. #19 Angelo State (5-2), 2pm Kickoff
Portales, NM Blackwater Draw (final regular season game at the Draw)
ENMU is having a great year, with their only losses coming against Midwestern by a small margin and Texas A&M Commerce, both were back-to-back games earlier in the season. The Greyhounds went toe-to-toe last week with an extremely potent Texan offense. They ended up sealing the game in the final quarter; however, they gave-up a season high 44 points to the Texans. In my mind, the last 2 weeks of the ENMU regular season schedule are the 2 most critical games. They do have a long shot to make the NCAA playoffs; but, there season could still allow for them to make it in if they win out. They have the team to do it; but, can they win these critical games.
Angelo State has a critical game that cannot be taken lightly at Blackwater Draw. The Rams offense has had great offensive production this year (3,853 total yards). However, the defense has not been where we all anticipated that it would be. They are giving up a staggering 352.3 yards per game. Coming into the season as the favorite for the season, they have had their struggles. The season is not over for the Rams, yet. However, the playoffs are on the line throughout the end of the season. Which means they may play the teams that they lost to again. I still believe that Kyle Washington is one of the best in D2 and the league. A much needed win for the Rams has to be on the team's mind.
Greyhounds pull it out at home and stay alive.
Prediction: ENMU 38 Angelo State 35
Oklahoma Panhandle State (4-2) v. Tarleton State (1-5), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Stephenville, TX, Memorial Stadium
The Texans were so close to bringing home a much-needed win against ENMU last week. I expect with Zed Woerner back at the QB position that things will be looking better for the offense. The good thing for the offense is that OPSU is giving up 258 passing yards per game, which is the strength of the Texan offense. Unfortunately, the defense for the Texans is still the worry. This may come to a game on who can put up the most points.
Concluding thoughts: Look for Woerner to hook up with Tandy and Meyers early and often. Who ever can put the most points on the board wins this one. High scoring game all-around.
Texans take this one in a scoring affair.
Prediction: Tarleton State 56 OPSU 35
West Texas A&M (2-4) v. Texas A&M Kingsville (1-6), 7 p.m. Kickoff
Kingsville, TX, Javelina Stadium
Kingsville Homecoming
All year I have indicated that the Javelinas are improving each and every week. I have also indicated that they may sneak up and surprise someone. I thought that surprise was going to be last week. However, I believe that this may be the week that the Javelinas sneak up on the Buffaloes. This will be a great game to attend, as both teams have had their share of difficulties in winning games.
The Buffaloes will be greeted to the Javelina Homecoming this weekend with Kingsville looking to bring a homecoming win to the big crowd. It appears that Homecoming may be in the elements this year. That factor will add even more issues to trying to win this game for either team. I would expect a wet one, Buffalo and Javelina fans. One team may be swimming their selves to victory.
Texas A&M Kingsville comes into this game still looking for their first LSC win under Head Coach Wilkinson. As the team has been in a dog fight the last two weeks and barely lost to both Tarleton State and Angelo State. They still remain in each and every game this year. They have tended to be pass heavy (1,817 yards) this year; but, last week proved to be a much different approach with a run heavy game. What I am saying is, what style of offense will show up this week against the Buffaloes? Will the Javelinas try to win through the air or will they focus on run first and ask questions later.
Concluding Thoughts: I foresee this being a really close game. I would be a little shocked if this was a blowout in either direction; one, because of the elements and two, because of the struggles of both of these teams right now.
This could be the game that I have talked about all year for the Javelinas to sneak up and get a win.
Prediction: West Texas A&M 36 Texas A&M Kingsville 34
LSC GAME OF THE YEAR (probably part 1):
#9 Midwestern State (7-0) v. #8 Texas A&M Commerce (6-1), 3 p.m. Kickoff
Commerce, TX, Memorial Stadium
Commerce Homecoming
This is definitely the biggest LSC game to date. Most of the game of the week will focus on my interviews with Colby Carthel and Bill Maskill.
Comments about the game from the Head Coaches:
Joe: What will be the offensive and defensive keys for the Lions to defeat Midwestern State?
Colby Carthel:
Joe: The Commerce rush defense has looked great this season, currently sitting at #23 in the nation. What are your thoughts about the continued success from the Lions defense?
Colby Carthel:
Joe: If the Lions win against Midwestern State, Commerce will be the LSC Conference Champions. Did you see the team possibly being back-to-back conference champions after the graduation of so many seniors last season?
Colby Carthel:
Joe: Final question Coach Carthel. How excited are the Commerce Lions heading into this game with LSC Conference Champions on the line and 2 undefeated LSC (LSC schedule) teams going at it during the remaining weeks of the regular season?
Colby Carthel:
Joe: Coach Maskill, what is the injury status of QB Hagen Hutchinson?
Bill Maskill: Hagen did dress last week, but he did not play. He is capable of playing this week. QB Quade Coward has been doing an excellent job lately and getting the practice reps while Hutchinson was hurt. That has helped his improvements over the past several weeks and allowed Quade to come into his own.
Joe: What do you see as being the offensive and defensive keys to defeating Texas A&M Commerce?
Bill Maskill: Defensively, we have to deal with the huge offensive line of Commerce to try and get penetration on the QB. They have 2 very talented running backs that we will need to limit and try to prevent them breaking open a big run. The Commerce wide receivers continue to get better each and every week and will be tough to manage. WR Darby Smith has been playing really well for the Lions and we will need to watch out for him, as well as, Evans and Macon.
Joe: The Midwestern State defense has forced 16 turnovers this season, what do you contribute the success of the team making teams turn the ball over?
Bill Maskill: Being opportunistic and taking full advantage of situations. We have to and need to be in the right place at the right time. We are playing very hard at getting after the ball each and every week. I feel that these factors have helped us in getting crucial turnovers on the field.
Joe: How does the team feel after hadnling a top-GNAC team in Humboldt State?
Bill Maskill: We were uncertain on what we could expect out of Humboldt State. We watched lots of film and made many calls to see what we were up against. It is unlike the teams in the LSC, as we know what WT, Tarleton or any other team is going to throw at us. We had to be apprehensive coming into this contest and limit their very good running back. The team was excited to feel that we played a good game and stayed consistent in our game plan.
Joe:How excited is your team heading into this game with LSC conference champions on the line and 2 undefeated LSC (LSC schedule) teams going at it during the remaining weeks in the season?
Bill Maskill: We knew it was on the horizon; but, we truly have not discussed it much. We have focused on improving each week and playing harder. We have to play well, in order to have success. We know that we will probably have to play in the elements this week. It all comes down to us having to take each week, one at a time.
Concluding Thoughts:
What a GAME! This game will probably be in the conditions of rain. That further throws a wrench into everything, as passing may prove to be difficulty. Hopefully, the clouds just for enough time to get a 3-hour football game in. The Mustangs are not quite as potent on offense as the Lions and the Lion run defense is probably the best in the league. Therefore, the Mustangs have a tall order in running the ball this week. However, Quade Coward has had really good success through the air in recent weeks. Last week he put up almost 300 yards and 4 TDs.
In order for the Mustangs to win, they are going to have to throw the ball and have success in that department. If they have to run on the Lions, it may not be enough.
The Lions by a slim margin for home field advantage.
Lions by 1 point.
Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 34 Midwestern State 33
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