Click here for the complete release (PDF)
Tarleton State jumped to the top of the Lone Star Conference standings and is the lone unbeaten team at 6-0 overall and 5-0 in league games.
LSC action continues with four games this week: Texas A&M-Kingsville at Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce at Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico at West Texas A&M, and Angelo State at UT Permian Basin.
LSC football teams are 31-30 overall this season. The squads are 5-4 combined versus the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams, which are also in NCAA Super Regional Four.
LSC schedule and results available here: http://www.lonestarconference.org/calendar.aspx?path=football
LSC SELECTED TO HOST 2018 DII FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The NCAA Division II Football Committee has selected the city of McKinney, Texas, and the Lone Star Conference as the host of 2018 Division II football national championship game.
The committee’s recommendation for the game at McKinney Independent School District Stadium and Community Event Center on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, was approved by the NCAA Division II Championships Committee on Thursday (Oct. 4). The new location for the Division II national championship game opened earlier this year and is a 12,000-seat facility built specifically for football. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT.
LSC FOOTBALL ON ESPN3
The Lone Star Conference game between Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday, August 30 was featured as part of the Division II Football Showcase schedule.
The first 19 games of the football showcase are predetermined games, 17 of which are conference matchups. An additional three flex games — intended to highlight crucial matchups — will be finalized later in the season and played in November.
ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multiscreen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers via ESPN.com/watch and on smartphones, tablets and streaming devices through the ESPN app. The network currently is available nationwide at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It also is available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CO-OFFENSIVE
Juwan Johnson, Midwestern State University, SO, Mass Communication, WR, Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest HS (Mesa CC)
The top receiver in the Lone Star Conference delivered the league's best receiving game making nine catches for 202 yards and four touchdowns in Midwestern State's 69-14 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The sophomore from Springfield, Mo. had touchdown receptions of 12, 58 and 11 yards in the first half before tacking on a 61-yard score in the second half. Johnson's four touchdowns matched a school record, while the 203 receiving yards were the most in the LSC this fall, the second most in MSU Texas program history and the 13th most in NCAA Division II this season. The dynamic wideout has 100 receiving yards in six straight games -- another school record -- and ranks third in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (902) and receiving yards per game (128.9).
Xavier Turner, Tarleton State University, SR, Kinesiology, RB, North Richland Hills, Texas, Birdville HS
Turner was the key piece in the Tarleton offense that enjoyed one of the biggest victories in program history Saturday night over No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce 47-21. Turner gashed the Lion defense to the tune of 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading the Texans with an average of 6.4 yards per carry. Each of Turner’s trips to the end zone proved pivotal in the game as his first score from 12 yards out gave Tarleton a 10-point lead to begin the second quarter. His second touchdown loomed large in the final decision as his 19-yard touchdown in the opening minute of the fourth quarter separated Tarleton from the Lions by two scores and was the first of three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the Texans. For Tarleton, it was the first game and first win in the program’s NCAA history against the national champion from the previous season. It also propelled Tarleton to its third-largest win streak to begin a season in program history at 6-0. It was also Tarleton’s first win over Texas A&M-Commerce since 2012.
DEFENSIVE
E.J. Speed, Tarleton State University, SR, Kinesiology, LB, Fort Worth, Texas, North Crowley HS
Speed picked one of the biggest games in program’s history to have a career performance. The senior linebacker set a career high with 14.0 tackles to lead the Texans past No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce 47-21 Saturday night. His first big stop of the game came on A&M-C’s first drive after pulling within three at 17-14 in the second quarter. Speed came up big with a sack on third-and-six to force a Lion punt. In the third quarter, A&M-C came out of the half and pulled within a field goal. While the Lions were driving with intentions to take a third-quarter lead, Speed came up big with 3.5 tackles on the Lions’ second drive of the quarter including a two third down stops. Led by Speed’s career performance, Tarleton handed A&M-C its largest loss since Dec. 13, 2013 and held the Lions to 363 total yards including 131 on the ground. Of A&M-C’s 21 total points for the game, Tarleton’s defense only surrendered 14. For Tarleton, it was the first game and first win in the program’s NCAA history against the national champion from the previous season. It also propelled Tarleton to its third-largest win streak to begin a season in program history at 6-0. It was also Tarleton’s first win over Texas A&M-Commerce since 2012.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS
Larry Johnson, Angelo State University, JR, Finance, PR/KR, Fort Worth, Texas, Arlington Heights HS
Johnson returned his second kickoff of the year for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to West Texas A&M. Johnson went 94 yards to the house without even being touched by a WT defender. He returned one other kick for 22 yards as well.
Reggie Kincade, Texas A&M University-Commerce, SR, General Studies, PR/KR, Everman, Texas, Everman HS
Kincade had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter of Saturday's loss against Tarleton. He totaled 208 return yards on five return opportunities, averaging over 41 yards per return. It is the second career kickoff return for a touchdown for Kincade, who also had a 99-yarder in the 2017 National Championship Game. It is the fifth 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in school history and the fourth in Division II this season.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
S-3 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State
S-10 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State (2)
S-17 Vincent Johnson, Midwestern State
S-24 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State (3)
O-1 Duke Carter IV, West Texas A&M
O-8 E.J. Thompson, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-15 Juwan Johnson, Midwestern State
Xavier Turner, Tarleton State
Defensive
S-3 Hunter Kyle, Angelo State
S-10 Paul Manus, Midwestern State
S-17 Prince Robinson, Tarleton State
S-24 Dante Urrea, Eastern New Mexico
O-1 Chris Hoad, UT Permian Basin
O-8 Brucks Saathoff, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-15 E.J. Speed, Tarleton State
Special Teams
S-3 Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-10 Larry Johnson, Angelo State
S-17 Daniel McCants, Tarleton State
S-24 Dominique Ramsey, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-1 Tyler Vargas, Eastern New Mexico
O-8 Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce (2)
O-15 Larry Johnson, Angelo State (2)
Reggie Kincade, Texas A&M-Commerce