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Tarleton State defeated Midwestern State 35-34 in overtime to secure a share of the Lone Star Conference title. The Texans are 8-0 overall and 7-0 in league games.
Action continues with four LSC games this week: Texas A&M-Commerce at UT Permian Basin, Midwestern State at Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico at Angelo State, and Texas A&M-Kingsville at West Texas A&M. Lincoln (Mo.) at Tarleton State in non-conference play.
LSC football teams are 40-38 overall this season. The squads are 6-4 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 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
OFFENSIVE
Xavier Turner, Tarleton State University, SR, Kinesiology, RB, North Richland Hills, Texas, Birdville HS
Turner enjoyed a career rushing performance as the senior running back led No. 8 Tarleton to a guaranteed share of the Lone Star Conference Championship Saturday night with a 35-34 overtime win against No. 10 MSU Texas in Wichita Falls. Turner carried the ball 36 times for 214 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Mustangs. He is the first Texan to rush for over 200 yards in a game since Roderick Smith against East Central on September 12, 2009. It was the 11th 200-yard rushing performance in program history and the fifth-highest rushing total by a Texan runner. It marks the fourth straight games with at least 100 yards for Turner and the fifth straight game with a touchdown, including seven over the last three games. Turner also had a three-yard reception in the game to give him 217 all-purpose yards.
DEFENSIVE
Jai Edwards, Tarleton State University, JR, Kinesiology, S, Atascocita, Texas, Atascocita HS
Edwards flew around the field and was vital in helping No. 8 Tarleton defeat No. 10 MSU Texas in Wichita Falls and guarantee Tarleton a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship. The junior safety had 13 tackles, including 11 solo, and a diving interception in the fourth quarter to give the ball back to the Tarleton offense, which they used to score the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion for a 28-21 lead. Edwards’ 13 tackles were a season high. The Edwards’ led defense held MSU to its second lowest output of the season in rushing yards, passing yards, and total yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M University-Commerce, SR, Master's of Education in Secondary Education, K, Edinburg, Texas, Edinburg HS
Martinez became the LSC's all-time leading field goal kicker in the No. 18 Lions' 41-16 Homecoming win over West Texas. His 25-yarder in the first quarter was his 63rd career field goal. He added a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter to run his career total to 64, which is tied for fourth in Division II history. He finished the game with 11 kicking points, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 5-for-5 on PATs. He now has 405 career points, becoming only the third player in conference history to go over 400 points. He also had 2 rushes for 2 yards, picking up a first down on a fake field goal."
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
O-22 Xavier Turner, Tarleton State (2)
O-29 Xavier Turner, Tarleton State (3)
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
O-22 Noah Sweitzer, Eastern New Mexico
O-29 Jai Edwards, 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
O-22 Connor Flanigan, Angelo State
O-29 Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce (3)