September 11th, 2025 3:00pm
Week 1 Recap
Not the best week for the LSC, as the conference went 4-5 in non-conference games. This was particularly true if you were playing an RMAC team.
Now, about last week:
Colorado Mines wins at West Texas A&M 33-31
Once again, WTAMU was in a shootout with an RMAC team in the first half. The Buffaloes went back-and-forth with Colorado Mines, with three ties and three lead changes in a first half that saw points on 8 of the half’s 13 drives. Mines was ahead 28-24 at the half after WT’s Levi Crowder made a 32-yard field goal as the first-half clock hit triple zero. RJ Martinez was once again the engine driving the Buffaloes’ offense, eventually contributing a total of 404 total yards (274 passing and 130 rushing on 23 carries) and scoring 3 touchdowns on the ground. But even with the pace of the game slowing down in the second half, WT tied the game at 31 on a 1-yard Gene Sledge run, capping the longest drive of the game (7 minutes and 24 seconds) on their only possession of the third quarter.
Then the roof caved in on the Buffaloes. A coffin-corner punt by Mines punter Lucas LeSieur pinned the Buffaloes back at their 7-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Martinez called his number and lost the ball, recovering it for a 4-yard loss. On the next play, Martinez went back to the same play and lost the ball again, and this time the ball bounced into the end zone. Martinez fell on it for a Mines safety and a two-point Mines lead. From there, Landon Walker’s (30 carries for 138 yards) legs and Joseph Capra’s efficient passing (17 of 27 passes for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns) churned down the clock. WT did force a punt to get one final chance and drove to the Mines 41-yard line, but the Mines defense stopped Martinez on downs, and Mines ran out the game’s final 5:27 to win it.
Colorado Mines improves to 1-0 and West Texas A&M falls to 0-2.
Western Oregon wins at home over Southern Oregon 27-7
In last week’s column, I had this game targeted as a possible upset given Southern Oregon’s standing in the NAIA and the teams’ longstanding rivalry, but Western Oregon made sure that wasn’t the case, getting out to a 27-0 lead before the Raiders would score their only points of the game. The Wolves did that they did best in their wins last year, pairing an effective ground game (Jermaine Land had 139 yards on 19 carries and Terayon Sweet 58 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown) with enough of an air attack (Jordan McCarty had 137 passing yards and a touchdown). However, starting quarterback Kainoa Jones was injured after scoring the Wolves’ first two touchdowns and his status for next week is currently unknown.
For Southern Oregon, Dom Montiel completes 27 of 45 passes for 248 yards but was intercepted 3 times as the Raiders had just two drives of over 7 yards (48 and 66 yards) in the first 3 quarters of the game, a total of 12 possessions. SOU’s inability to move the ball consistently, especially on the ground (28 rushing yards on 21 carries) played right into the Wolves’ hands.
Western Oregon improves to 1-0 and Southern Oregon falls to 1-1.
#10 Angelo State wins at home over Emporia State 41-20
Angelo State had the best first quarter they have had in who knows how long. After Braeden Fuller’s lone completion of the game (much more on that later), an 80-yard touchdown to Corey Sandolph, Demetrias Charles went to work tormenting Emporia quarterback Ben Harris. Charles intercepted passes on consecutive ESU possessions, including a pick-six. Four total ASU touchdowns got the Rams out to a 27-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. And then the Rams played some messy football for the next two quarters, allowing Emporia State and their fast-paced offense to crawl back into the game with 12 points in the second quarter to pull within 27-12 at halftime. Contributing to the ugliness was the loss of Fuller to a leg injury that was said to be a calf strain (his future status is unknown, but he was on the sidelines and able to walk after the injury, according to the ASU radio announcers). While Smith and the ASU offense had some troubles, like Smith fumbling a touchdown out of the Emporia end zone for a touchback while diving for the end zone, they eventually figured things out when it mattered the most, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to hold back a desperate Hornets rally attempt. The ASU defense dominated at times, picking off ESU quarterback Ben Harris 4 times (Xavier Walton joined Charles with 2 picks), but also bent and didn’t break in that key second quarter when it seemed they were on the field the entire time.
Angelo State improves to 2-0 and Emporia State falls to 1-1.
https://sanangelolive.com/news/sports/2025-09-09/angelo-state-rams-move-no-8-national-rankings
Colorado Mesa wins at home over Eastern New Mexico 28-7
Eastern New Mexico went on an 11-play, 80-yard drive to score the first points of the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chad Ragle to Gerry Gomez. The Greyhounds would gain 83 yards over their next 7 possessions, not having a drive of longer than 29 yards until a 7:49 drive that started in the third quarter and carried over into the fourth quarter but ended with nothing while Mesa scored on three straight drives in the third and fourth quarters. The Greyhounds were outgained on the ground for the second straight week, this time by 242 to 194 yards. ENMU also turned the ball over 3 times (2 interceptions and aa lost fumble), leading to 7 Mesa points and allowing the Mavericks to take the victory formation on their final possession. The Greyhounds were up for the challenge, but they put too much pressure on their defense as the game wore on.
Ragle led the way for the Greyhounds, carrying the ball 24 times for 120 yards to lead all rushers. However, they had issues stringing together positive plays to sustain drives, allowing Mesa to take and then extend the lead. Aiden Taylor led Mesa with 113 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries and Liu Aumavae kept the mistakes to a minimum, completing 9 of 14 passes for 137 and the 23-yard touchdown pass to Myles Newble that gave the Mavericks a lead they never gave up.
Colorado Mesa improves to 1-1 and Eastern New Mexico falls to 0-2.
#16 Texas-Permian Basin wins at Adams State 41-7
The Falcons took a “let’s get everyone in” approach to this game, playing a host of players who wouldn’t normally get playing time early and often. Issac Mooring, who helped right the UTPB ship last season after their starting quarterback was lost to injury, got the majority of the game’s snaps and was UTPB’s top passer with 266 yards and 3 touchdowns (note: it wasn't clear to me whether UTPB starter Kanon Gibson was injured during the game). Ten Falcons caught passes, led by Traylen Suel’s 5. Seven Falcons carried the ball, led by Kory Harris’ 11. With all those players coming in and out, UTPB leaned more on the defense than in last year’s 67-point showing, but still accumulating points even though they held the ball for just 23:22 of the game.
Adams State was led by Ahmare Merrida, who ran for 134 yards and the Grizzlies’ lone score on 18 carries. Quarterback Tyson Smith threw for 12 yards on 4 of 14 completions with an interception. The Grizzlies did outgain UTPB 231 to 84 yards on the ground, but it was really all they could do on offense, having 57 rushing attempts to UTPB’s 55 total offensive plays on the day.
Texas-Permian Basin improves to 2-0 and Adams State falls to 0-2.
#7 Western Colorado wins at Midwestern State 38-13
Western Colorado scored touchdowns on their first 3 drives to take a 21-0 lead while Midwestern State couldn’t get into WCU territory until their fourth drive, and then they turned the ball over on downs at the WCU 2-yard line. The Mustangs wouldn’t score until the fourth quarter when they were down 35-0.
For MSU, Jakolby Longino completed 27 of 49 passes for 302 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception, but that was about all the Mustangs could muster on offense. Jalen Coulter (19 yards) and Christian Olige (12 yards) were the only rushers with positive yardage totals, as MSU finished with -9 yards on 27 carries. Demonte Greene did have a solid game, catching 11 passes for 98 yards to lead MSU. Jamarion Carroll scored the Mustangs’ lone touchdown on a 1-yard touchdown pass.
For WCU, Drew Nash was more successful as a passer than as a dual-threat quarterback, completing 18 of 27 passes for 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception. Isaiah Jones led WCU with 56 rushing yards and Caden Measner (66 yards and touchdown on 6 catches) and Ramon Ruiz (59 yards and a touchdown on 3 catches) were the Mountaineers’ top receivers.
Western Colorado improves to 2-0 and Midwestern State falls to 1-1.
Texas A&M-Kingsville wins at home over Lincoln University, California 60-12
TAMUK quarterback Jack Turner fumbled away the first two drives, giving the Oaklanders a brief glimpse of hope. Then the Javelinas righted themselves and came away with points the next 7 times they had the ball (6 touchdowns and 1 field goal) as they took a 38-0 halftime lead. TAMUK worked in the second-teamers in the second half and Lincoln scored the first 12 points of the second half, but there would be no miracle as the Javelinas scored the game’s last 22 points.
For TAMUK, Turner completed 15 of 24 passes for 278 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first half. CJ Thompson led three Javelina receivers who had over 74 receiving yards with 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. Andre Branch led 4 rushers with 65 yards and a touchdown. For Lincoln, Bob Brazzel completed 14 of 32 passes for 194 yards and 3 interceptions and also led with 43 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Congratulations to Scott Parr on his first win at Kingsville.
Texas A&M-Kingsville improves to 1-0 and Lincoln University, California falls to 0-2.
Montana wins at home over #23 Central Washington 42-17
Central Washington held their own with #10 FCS opponent Montana for a half, even holding a 17-14 lead for a few minutes in the second quarter and trailing just 21-17 at halftime. However, the Grizzles’ high-level FCS skill and depth ultimately took over as they outscored CWU 21-0 in the second half.
CWU gained 329 total yards, rushing for 221 yards. However, no one rusher stood out, with Beau Phillips leading with 69 yards and a touchdown. Kennedy McGill struggled with both passing and rushing, completing 7 of 16 passes for 76 yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions, and carrying the ball 13 times for 39 yards.
Montana gained 567 yards, with 310 yards on the ground. Eli Gillman rushed for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns and Stevie Rocker Jr. joined in with 72 yards on 5 carries. Keali’i AhYat completed 14 of 24 passes for 250 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Six of those completions went to Michael Wortham for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Not a bad showing for CWU, although it ended up being a near-carbon copy of that 2023 loss to Weber State, who was also ranked #10 in the FCS at the time.
Montana improves to 1-0 and Central Washington falls to 1-1.
New Mexico Highlands wins at home over Western New Mexico 69-55
Connor Ackerley had the game of his life, completing 34 of 57 passes for 529 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception. His WNMU team scored 55 points, scoring touchdowns on 8 of their 15 possessions. Derrick Sailor had 159 receiving yards on 5 catches and 2 touchdowns, Anthony Flores had 132 receiving yards on 7 catches and a touchdown, and Deuce Zimmerman had 92 yards on 9 catches and 2 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Highlands was better, scoring 8 touchdowns and 2 field goals on their 13 possessions. The Cowboys ran for 537 yards, with Jeffery Jones having an even better week than he had against ENMU, running for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 80-yard and 52-yard touchdown runs. Tevita Valeti added 138 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
The game was a back-and-forth shootout the whole way, with the game tied at 55 with 7:30 left after Ackerley’s last touchdown pass. The Cowboys took over from there, answering with a Valeti 15-yard touchdown run and the backbreaking 52-yard touchdown run by Jones.
Highlands wins the New Mexico Round Robin for the first time since the 2012 season, when both Highlands and WNMU were in the RMAC. Congratulations to the Cowboys for being the best Division 2 football team in New Mexico – it looks like they may be starting something positive with Jones running the ball like he has in his first two games.
New Mexico Highlands improves to 2-0 and Western New Mexico falls to 1-1.
LSC Week 1 Standings
School | LSC | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|
Angelo State | 0-0 | 2-0 | |
Texas-Permian Basin | 0-0 | 2-0 | |
Texas A&M-Kingsville | 0-0 | 1-0 | |
Western Oregon | 0-0 | 1-0 | |
Central Washington | 0-0 | 1-1 | |
Western New Mexico | 0-0 | 1-1 | |
Sul Ross State | 0-0 | 0-1 | |
Eastern New Mexico | 0-0 | 0-2 | |
Midwestern State | 0-1 | 0-2 | |
West Texas A&M | 0-1 | 0-2 | |
New Mexico Round Robin Standings
School | Record |
|---|---|
New Mexico Highlands | 2-0 |
Eastern New Mexico | 0-1 |
Western New Mexico | 0-1 |
New Mexico Highlands takes the New Mexico Round Robin for 2025.
Week 2 Preview
Week 2 has a little bit of everything:
All games are on Saturday, September 13. All game times are in the Central time zone.
Texas A&M-Kingsville at Northwest Missouri State (MIAA, 1-1), 1:30 PM
Series History: Northwest Missouri State leads 3-1
Last meeting: 2010 (Teams split 2 games)
Texas A&M-Kingsville visits Northwest Missouri State for the first time since the opening game of the 2010 season, which the Javelinas won 16-7. NWMSU got their revenge in the playoffs, winning in Kingsville 35-31 on a last-second touchdown catch and run by Josh Baker. Both teams come into this game with wins last week, and both wins were the first wins for their new head coaches. New head coach John McMenamin has split snaps between quarterbacks Chris Ruhnke and Zechariah Owens, with Owens looking the better of the two, especially since Owens also leads in rushing yards. Luke Mathews is the top receiver with 78 yards on 6 catches. Linebacker Benjamin Einess leads with 11 tackles, with linebacker Carter Edwards and defensive lineman Jacob Stockard having 10 tackles each. Defensive lineman Jordan Pigram leads with 3 sacks and 3 tackles for loss.
The main issue I have with Kingsville is that because they played Lincoln last week, there are still many questions about the Javelinas that are only going to be answered by playing a program that well, isn’t Lincoln. Questions like “how good are they really?” Javelinas quarterback Jack Turner had a strong first half against Lincoln but he (and the entire team, really) will be tested for real this week. The Bearcats aren’t the titans that they were most recently under Adam Dorrel, but they are probably a slight bit better right now with two games under their belts against better opposition. I’m not saying TAMUK doesn’t have the ability to go into NWMSU and win, it’s just that the Javelinas are still a question mark to me and I need them to show me more of what they truly are this week. Northwest Missouri State by 7 to 10 points.
West Texas A&M at Western New Mexico, 7:00 PM
Series History: West Texas A&M leads 10-4
Last meeting: 2024 (West Texas A&M won 42-17)
The first LSC conference game of the season.
I need to know what the over/under will be on combined passes between these two teams. Last week, the WT and WNMU quarterbacks combined for 67 of 104 passes for 803 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. So maybe…85-90 passes? More? It’s no secret anymore that WT wants to go up and down the field as quickly as possible and WNMU has been pass-happy for several years. WT has also gotten out slowly on defense, although there were signs of improvement in the second half last week. However, WT’s also had defensive issues, but more against the run, which WNMU isn’t known for. However, the WT defense has at least shown signs of a pulse, which….well, sorry WNMU, giving up 69 points to New Mexico Highlands doesn’t qualify your defense as exactly having a pulse.
This one might very well be a shootout, but WT has given up fewer points to tougher opponents and RJ Martinez shouldn’t have to do so much. The Buffaloes should be able to stay ahead at arm's length for most of the game. West Texas A&M by 14 points.
Sul Ross State at Stephen F. Austin (Division 1 FCS – Southland Conference, 0-2)
Series History: First meeting
Sul Ross State heads back to their tour of the Southland Conference by visiting Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks have gotten off to an 0-2 start with losses to FBS member Houston and a close loss to FCS #16 Abilene Christian. They were picked to finish second in the Southland behind favored Incarnate Word. On offense, the Lumberjacks are led by quarterback Sam Vidlak, who has thrown for 300 yards and 2 interceptions. Jerrell Wimberly is the top rusher with 42 yards on 11 carries. Kylan Harris leads in catches with 13 and receiving yards with 125. Linebackers Jaydon Southard and Malachi Williams lead in tackles with 27 and 24.
Like their Week 0 game, this is game 2 of a very difficult start for a still-new Division 2 team against an FCS team which looks to be quite a bit better than their current record. Also, like the Lobos’ first game, I just hope they get out of the game with few (if any) injuries and some lessons to take back with them to help them improve as the season goes on, along with a big check. Stephen F. Austin by at least 30 points.
#8 Angelo State at Eastern New Mexico, 7:00 PM
Series History: Angelo State leads 29-19-1
Last meeting: 2024 (Angelo State won 26-20)
Angelo State enters conference play in a much different position compared to last season, when they started the season 0-2. Eastern New Mexico has started the season 0-2 and have looked as bad as an ENMU team can look, not only getting outgained on the ground in both games but getting outgained by a total of 152 rushing yards in those games. And now they’re going to try to right things against Angelo State? Good luck with that. The Greyhounds went to San Angelo last year and were a defensive stop away from possibly getting chance to tie the game at the end, but that was a much different ENMU team. Even with Braeden Fuller’s status in question with what is being said to be a calf strain (FYI-I had one of those a little over a month ago and it took me 3 weeks to recover, but that’s where the already minimal similarities between mine and his injuries end), Kaeden Smith showed he could run the ASU offense well enough to win against a tough Emporia State team, and I don’t expect any different from him against ENMU if his number is called this week. ENMU is in real danger of having this season get away from them early, and Angelo State isn’t messing around. Angelo State by 20 points.
Western Oregon at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (Division 1 FCS – Big Sky Conference, 1-1) 7:00 PM
Series History: Cal Poly leads 2-0
Last meeting: 2024 (Cal Poly won 31-14)
Western Oregon continues their non-conference tour of non-Division 2 schools with a visit to Cal Poly for the second straight season. It must be for another check, since noted Cal Poly alum "Weird Al" Yankovic is on tour in Ohio that day and won't be around to see his the game (here I am talking like I know if he likes football). Last year, the Wolves were competitive despite losing 31-14 to the Mustangs, who were picked to finish eleventh in the 12-team Big Sky Conference preseason poll. Cal Poly won their first game of the 2025 season over FCS non-scholarship San Diego (who was favored to with the Pioneer Football League) but lost big last week at FBS member Utah, so tit's possible they project to be a bit better than they were last season.
For Western Oregon, quarterback Kainoa Jones’ status is unknown after suffering an arm injury in last week’s win over Southern Oregon. Jordan McCarty kept things in the right direction for the Wolves, and it is possible he may have to answer the bell in this one if Jones isn’t ready. Jermaine Land will need to come up big again to keep the pressure off of whoever the Wolves will have passing the ball.
For Cal Poly, Pitt transfer Ty Dieffenbach leads the offense, throwing for 345 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. He is also the Mustangs’ top rusher with 62 yards and a touchdown. Michael Briscoe (10 catches for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns) is back as their top receiver, and the Wolves will remember him from the 51-yard touchdown that gave Cal Poly the lead for good in last year’s game. Cal Poly still runs a pass-heavy offense, but Dieffenbach’s legs will also be a concern for the WOU defense.
Western Oregon’s defense will be tested in the same way as last year, and Land will need to shoulder much of the load like Dominique Loggins did last year. WOU keeps it close for a half but then will have difficulty staying in it. Cal Poly by 10 points.
#21 Central Washington, Midwestern State, and #10 Texas-Permian Basin have the week off, making my job a bit easier this week.
Next week, we go all-in on conference play!