LSC Week Eight Preview

October 23rd, 2025 7:00am

Week 7 Recap

Coming out of this week, we have Central Washington on top of the LSC standings followed by…Western Oregon and West Texas A&M?  Well, that’s what happens when the teams that started the season at the top of the LSC get picked off in unexpected ways.  Last week, it was Angelo State losing to Kingsville and this week, it was UTPB losing to Western Oregon.  As it gets closer and closer to playoff time, the playoff hopes of these two former top-10 teams are now somewhat tenuous.  We also saw West Texas A&M keep the Wagon Wheel, Western New Mexico taking back the Golden Tumbleweed, and Central Washington grinding out another win.   

Now, about last week:

Western Oregon wins at home over #11 Texas-Permian Basin 31-28

UTPB now has something in common with both New Mexico schools, and it isn’t good – they’re 0 for 2 against the LSC’s Pacific Northwest schools.  That’s really bad news for a UTPB team that is now looking up at both of those schools (and West Texas A&M) in the LSC standings.  Honestly, if not for Kanon Gibson, the Falcons may not have been in this one at all.  After falling behind 17-0, Gibson engineered two quick-strike drives with both his arm and his legs to get UTPB back in it at 17-14 early in the third quarter.  Gibson then went back to work after WOU scored on a 23-yard Keyvaun Eady touchdown catch with 13 minutes left in the game to make the score 24-14, leading touchdown drives the next two times UTPB had the ball to give the Falcons their first lead at 28-24.  But WOU went on their best drive of the game, and 11-play, 65-yard drive that ended on a 10-yard touchdown run by Jordan McCarty with 1:55 left. 

Was it too much time for Gibson?  Almost.  He drove the Falcons from the UTPB 35-yard line to the WOU 18-yard line with 25 seconds left when he found Traylen Suel at the 6-yard line for a first down and possibly the lead.  But Suel had the ball poked out by Malcolm Liufau and Tamaaulelei Ma’alona recovered it for WOU, who took to the victory formation and got out with their second straight high-wire act of a win over UTPB. 

Gibson, as previously mentioned, was everything UTPB could have hoped for, throwing for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushing for 84 yards and 2 more touchdowns.  For WOU, Jordan McCarty didn’t have as impressive statistics as Gibson, but he had his best game in nearly a month, completing 19 of 28 passes for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushing for 74 yards and the game-winning touchdown.  WOU was able to show the offensive balance that they haven’t had in a while, and their defense was able to hold the UTPB running game to 106 yards, with Gibson getting most of those. 

Western Oregon improves to 5-2 and Texas-Permian Basin falls to 5-2.

#23 Angelo State wins at home over Midwestern State 48-24

When Midwestern State and Angelo State traded touchdowns to start the game, there was certainly the possibility that this one could be a shootout.  Well, it turned out Angelo State would do most of the shootout, scoring 35 of the game’s next 38 points to go up 42-10, and that was pretty much it. 

Angelo State had their best effort of the season running the ball, gaining 281 yards to MSU’s 53.  Cameron Dischler also had his best game of the season, carrying the ball 10 times for 154 yards.  Braeden Fuller only completed 9 of 15 passes for 80 yards, but he did have 3 touchdown passes.  Kaeden Smith also saw action and threw for 85 yards and a touchdown. 

For MSU, two quarterbacks threw for a combined 353 yards on 31 of 58 passes, but much of that came after ASU was up by a significant margin.  Demonte Greene caught 6 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown and Case Peacock caught 3 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. 

Angelo State improves to 5-2 and Midwestern State falls to 2-5. 

West Texas A&M wins at home over Eastern New Mexico 43-14

For the second straight year, West Texas A&M holds onto the Wagon Wheel with a dominant win over ENMU.  From minute one, the Buffaloes’ offense was on point with RJ Martinez finding Drew Zamar for a 66-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage.  That was the start of a Buffalo stampede that didn’t let up for the rest of the game.  WT scored the game’s first 21 points before ENMU got their first touchdown, and then WT answered with two more touchdowns of their own to go up 36-7.  It didn’t matter that the Greyhounds held the ball for over 40 minutes of the game, it was WT who did the best with their drives by quite a wide margin. 

Once again, Martinez was the dominant force for WT, completing 26 of 43 passes for 424 yards, 5 touchdowns, and an interception.  Unlike previous weeks, he only carried the ball once for a loss of one yard; it was Gene Sledge who led the way on the ground for WT with 79 rushing yards on 9 carries and a touchdown.  Demarion Finch had a solid game for ENMU, scoring both Greyhound touchdowns and rushing for 129 yards on 29 carries.   

West Texas A&M improves to 4-3 and Eastern New Mexico falls to 1-6. 

Western New Mexico wins at home over Sul Ross State 45-42

The Battle of the Golden Tumbleweed started off like pretty much every Sul Ross State game this season – with the Lobos falling behind big early.  After a 39-yard punt return touchdown by the Lobos’ Justin Moon to tie the game at 7, WNMU scored the next 17 points.  But, the Mustangs lost that momentum when Justin Moon made another big play for Sul Ross, stripping Connor Ackerley of the football, which Tim Galloway recovered and set the Lobos up at the WNMU 5-yard line, where it took them one play to draw back to within 24-14 at halftime. 

The second half started out with Sul Ross wanting no part of another blowout, scoring on their first two second-half drives to take a 28-24 lead.  The Lobos put up 21 points to take a 35-31 lead going into the fourth quarter.  The lead would change three times in both the third and fourth quarters, with WNMU taking the lead for good with 1:53 left on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Ackerley to Anthony Flores.  Sul Ross State’s Kye Callicoatte tried to get the Lobos a last-minute win when he drove them to the WNMU 38-yard line with just over a minute left in the game when he was intercepted by WNMU’s Amare Thomas while trying to make a play under heavy pressure. 

WNMU won despite not having top receiver Deuce Zimmerman for the game.  The Mustangs had their best rushing game of the season, gaining 212 yards on 44 carries, led by Zay Savoie’s 122 yards.  Ackerley still had a solid game, completing 21 of 28 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Davey Morales led WNMU with 72 receiving yards on 7 catches and a touchdown.  For Sul Ross, Callicoatte threw for 209 yards, a touchdown, and an interception and also ran for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Sul Ross’ Taribbean Ramirez led all receivers with 8 catches for 119 yards. 

Western New Mexico improves to 2-5 and Sul Ross State falls to 0-7.

#7 Central Washington wins at home over Texas A&M-Kingsville 24-21

After the first drive of the game ended in a 3-and-out for TAMUK, the teams alternated touchdowns and then came the punts. 

So.  Many.  Punts.  

Seven straight possessions ended in punts until Kingsville decided to make things interesting and get picked off on the final possession of the first half with the score ending 7-7.  The second half started with a full-on scoring binge as the first three drives went back and forth: CWU field goal to go up 3, a TAMUK touchdown to put the Javelinas up 4, and a CWU touchdown to put the Wildcats up for good.  Following a TAMUK punt (the only punt of the second half!), CWU and TAMUK traded touchdowns going into the fourth quarter. 

Then comes the story of the second half – CWU playing keep away.  CWU had second-half drives that went 1:37, 7:31, 5:34, 6:46, and 1:39 and held the ball for a total of 41:53 of the game.  Even with David Weber missing a chip-shot field goal from 23 yards with 2:20 left in the game, CWU had the fresher defense at the end of the game and made the plays when TAMUK took the ball at their 20-yard line following the missed field goal and could only manage 14 yards before turning the ball to CWU on downs, effectively ending the game.  

For CWU, it’s another week, another win for the CWU system – Run the ball, play enough defense, and play keep away.  Kennedy McGill led CWU with 107 rushing yards, anchoring the CWU rushing game, which gained 274 yards and held Kingsville to just 50 yards, although Jack Turner kept the Javelinas in the game with his arm.  Turner threw for 300 yards, and King Phillips led all receivers with 9 catches for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Central Washington improves to 6-1 and Texas A&M-Kingsville falls to 3-4.

LSC Standings

Week 8 Preview

How do you like your chile, green or purple?  The Chile Bowl is this week in Portales with both teams looking to break their tie in the LSC standings.  Western Oregon survived the first week of their tough second half of the season schedule, can they survive another week on the road at Kingsville?  UTPB looks to break their losing streak and hope they aren’t stunned by the WT aerial assault.  Central Washington heads to Wichita Falls hoping to grind their way to another win, and Angelo State heads to Sul Ross State trying to keep from falling into any possible trap. 

All games are on Saturday, October 25.  All game times are in the Central time zone.

Western New Mexico at Eastern New Mexico, 4:00 PM 

Series History: Eastern New Mexico leads 41-16-1

Last meeting: 2024 (Eastern New Mexico won 41-34)

Chile Bowl 54.

As of a couple years ago, this game was called the “Green Chile Bowl”.  Did they stop calling it that because green is ENMU’s color?  Whatever the reason, Western New Mexico looks to return to victory in the Chile Bowl after dropping a close one to ENMU last year.  They’re also looking to have a winning streak for the first time this season.  Eastern New Mexico – they just need a win, period. 

Will ENMU run the ball or will WNMU be able to throw on the Greyhounds?  Can ENMU take advantage of an WNMU defense that gives up an average of 54 points per game?   Looking at this matchup, I am looking at both these defenses and all I can think is “this is a 45-40 game”.  WNMU comes in with the better offense, and ENMU comes in with the better (relatively speaking) defense.  Also, there is the question of whether Deuce Zimmerman will suit up for WNMU – if he does, that could give WNMU the edge.  I think this has a chance to be the closest game of the week and maybe the highest-scoring game of the week, but I’m going with the Greyhounds because I just can’t trust WNMU’s defense.  Eastern New Mexico by a field goal. 

West Texas A&M at #18 Texas-Permian Basin (Game at Midland, TX), 6:00 PM

Series History: West Texas A&M leads 5-3

Last meeting: 2024 (Texas-Permian Basin won 21-7)

Hmmm…Who is tied for second place in the LSC standings?  I guess it’s time to ask if WW is ready for prime time and a real threat to the top of the LSC and maybe the playoffs.  WT does have a path to win the LSC if they win out and CWU slips up, but the winning out part….that’s a wee bit difficult, and a trip to a UTPB team in desperate need of a win after two straight losses (and is a bit banged up) is just the start of it.  But at least the Kingsville and ASU games are in Canyon, right?

For Permian to have the advantage, it is important for the offensive line to give Kory Harris better opportunities to run the ball.  Kanon Gibson was heroic in defeat last week and the passing game was quite effective, but UTPB is at its best when it can control time of possession.  To be able to control time of possession, they need someone other than Gibson to dominate both the run and the pass, and WT gives up 175 yards a game on the ground.  For WT to keep it close, they need to get enough stops on defense so their offense can get opportunities to get into their rhythm because the Buffaloes are at their best when RJ Martinez is finding his receivers and the WT running game is doing just enough to keep the UTPB defense honest.    

Games between these teams have typically been close, especially that 41-40 overtime game a couple years back.  Which team gets more comfortable offensively should be the team that comes out on top, and I think Kanon Gibson and UTPB is more likely to do that.  Texas-Permian Basin by a touchdown. 

Western Oregon at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7:00 PM

Series History: Western Oregon leads 5-4

Last meeting: 2024 (Texas A&M-Kingsville won 21-14)

It was this very time last year when I asked “Is Western Oregon for real?” as Kingsville visited a WOU team that was 5-0 in the LSC after an upset win over UTPB.  What happened then was the first loss of a rough end-of-season stretch for the Wolves which saw them lose 3 of their last 4 games.  This year, the Wolves are alongside WT when I ask if they are ready to be a threat to the top of the LSC and maybe even the playoffs.  So, what is it, Western Oregon?  You’re staring at the exact same end-of-season schedule as last year (with the home sites flipped) and have the tiebreaker with WT for second place in the LSC, will the results be any different?  Well, that’s the problem for WOU, that schedule – it’s going to be really tough again, and Kingsville has been in every game they lost in the second half.  I am thinking WOU needs to take some notes from CWU and play keep away and wear out the TAMUK defense since they are susceptible to giving up significant pass yardage (they give up 281 yards per game, although they have 13 interceptions).  I’m not sure WOU has that type of game in them and I think they lose a close one late.  Texas A&M-Kingsville by a touchdown. 

#7 Central Washington at Midwestern State, 7:00 PM

Series History: Central Washington leads 4-0

Last meeting: 2024 (Central Washington won 42-21)

Central Washington heads to Wichita Falls having avoided one pre-Angelo State trap against Kingsville and hoping to not fall into another at Midwestern State.  MSU looks to have better luck at home than they did on their trip to San Angelo, where Angelo State blew open a game that started out promising for the Mustangs. 

MSU has had success with the pass, averaging 290 yards a game in the air, and CWU has given up 256 yards per game in the air, although they do have 12 interceptions.  MSU hasn’t been great against either the run or the pass, giving up 223 yards on the ground and 241 in the air.  I think both of these things could make for a close game early, but MSU’s issues with defending the run will play into the Wildcats’ hands when it comes to controlling the game’s tempo and time of possession.  Central Washington by 17 points. 

#20 Angelo State at Sul Ross State, 7:00 PM 

Series History: Angelo State leads 9-6

Last meeting: 2024 (Angelo State won 57-10)

While we’re still on the topic of trap games, Angelo State is still very much in the LSC race with a road game at Central Washington next week.  While Sul Ross is 0-7 and has had much difficulty being competitive in games this season, they have shown improvement the last couple of weeks and had a real shot at winning last week (OK, OK, it was against WNMU, but still, they had a chance to win).  That being said, I am standing by my (very broad) use of the term “trap game” here even with Asu beating Sul Ross last year in dominant fashion. 

Sul Ross had their best success against a WNMU team that isn’t as physically imposing and as talented as a team like Angelo State.   I suspect the Lobos will be able to move the ball a little bit given they’ve gained some confidence over the past couple weeks, but their defense did give up 45 points to WNMU and still gives up 60 points a game.  I know it’s basically a broken record by this point of the season, but I think it’s going to be another rough week for Sul Ross.  I’m wondering if Braeden Fuller even suits up for Angelo State this week or is looking at some more rehab.  Angelo State by 21 points.