September 18th, 2019 12:00am
LSC week 3 preview: Conference season is here
The Very competitive Lone Star Conference opens up its league schedule Saturday.
Through the first two weeks of the 2019 season the conference has flexed its muscle with a combined 15-3 overall record, two wins over FCS Division I schools, and three teams ranked in the D2football.com poll.
Here are the predictions for a busy weekend in the LSC.
The game: Eastern New Mexico (2-0, 0-0) at No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce (2-0, 0-0).
When: 6 p.m. Saturday.
Where:Memorial Stadium, Commerce.
The series: Texas A&M-Commerce leads the all-time series 17-15.
The matchup: This is the game of the week in the Lone Star Conference with two of the top contenders going head-to-head.
ENMU is looking for its first win against the Lions since 2013. There’s nothing new to the Greyhounds. They’ll play physical defense and run the ball behind quarterback Wyatt Strand and a host of backs led by Paul Terry — who leads the LSC with 367 yards in two games.
TAMC quarterback Miklo Smalls has been efficient in two wins, going a combined 23 of 31 for 235 yards. But it’s the Lions defense that will need to be on its toes against the option offense.
Prediction:Commerce 30, ENMU 27.
The game: West Texas A&M (2-0, 0-0) at No. 5 Tarleton State (2-0, 0-0)
When:6 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Lonn Reisman Athletic Center at Memorial Stadium, Stephenville.
The series: WT leads the all-time series 15-13.
The matchup: Can anyone stop No. 4 Tarleton? That’s been the question since the summer.
The Buffs are the first LSC team to get a crack at the defending conference champions.
WT is off to its first 2-0 start since 2013, but the Buffs haven’t won in Stephenville since the 2011 season.
WT will also have to avoid a slow start like it did against Azusa Pacific and William Jewell. The offense needs to find early success and the defense will be counted on to make key stops against a potent Tarleton offense.
The Texans have put up over 600 yards of offense in wins against Stephen F. Austin State and Doane.
The Texans balance is scary and it all starts through QB Ben Holmes. Holmes has already thrown for 587 yards with five touchdowns.
Prediction: Tarleton 47, W. Texas A&M 22.
The game: UT Permian Basin (2-0, 0-0) at No. 16 MSU-Texas (2-0, 0-0).
When:7 p.m. Saturday.
The series: MSU-Texas leads the all-time series 3-0.
Where: Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls.
The matchup: If UTPB wants to take the next step as a program it will need a good showing at No. 16 MSU-Texas. Since joining the LSC the Falcons have struggled with a woeful 2-25 record through the first three years. The Mustangs are expected to be a top contender in the league, built off a steady offense and a stingy defense. Through the first two games MSU-Texas is allowing 17 points a contest.
Prediction: MSU-Texas 38, UTPB 14.
The game: Angelo State (2-0, 0-0) at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1-1, 0-0).
When: 7 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Javelina Stadium, Kingsville.
The series: TAMK leads the all-time series 33-19.
The matchup: Angelo State has owned this series of late winning the last six games in the series including a 30-14 victory last year.
The Rams offense has been on fire during the first two games, putting up 56.5 points a contest. Defensively, coach Jeff Girsch’s team has been equally impressive allowing 13.5 ppg.
The Javelinas had trouble with turnovers in their opener but bounced back with a beating of Sul Ross State. TAMK must make plays on special teams and force turnovers in this game to start the LSC season off right.
Predicitons: Angelo State 34, Texas A&M-Kingsville 24.
The game: Central Washington (0-2) at Western New Mexico (0-2).
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Ben Altamirano Field, Silver City, N.M.
The matchup: The Wildcats 0-2 record is deceiving. CWU played Division I Idaho to within 10 points, then fell to No. 2-ranked Ferris State. The Wildcats have averaged 424 yards a game, but their defense is giving up a 550 yard average in both losses.
Western New Mexico has struggled out of the gate under first-year coach Frank Tristan. The Mustangs dropped a heartbreaker to Ottawa, Az., and were handled by Northern Arizona. To win this game, WNM’s defense has to step up and stop allowing 46 ppg.
Prediction: Central Washington 43, W. New Mexico 17.
LSC leaders through week two
Passing
Ben Holmes, Tarleton, 36-55-1-587
Rushing
Paul Terry, ENMU, 63-373
Receiving
JF Thomas, Tarleton, 11-245
Tackles
Rigoberto Carrillo, 23
LSC Standings
Team LSC Overall
Tarleton 0-0 2-0
MSU-Texas 0-0 2-0
E. New Mexico 0-0 2-0
A&M-Commerce 0-0 2-0
West Texas A&M 0-0 2-0
Angelo State 0-0 2-0
UT Permian Basin 0-0 2-0
A&M-Kingsville 0-0 1-1
W. New Mexico 0-0 0-2
Week 3 games
Saturday
Central Washington at W. New Mexico, 1 p.m.
E. New Mexico at A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m.
W. Texas A&M at Tarleton, 6 p.m.
UT Permian Basin at MSU-Texas, 7 p.m.
Angelo State at A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.