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Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce were chosen to represent the Lone Star Conference in the 2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship. The Texans earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region Four, while the Lions are the sixth seed.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, Tarleton will host No. 7 Azusa Pacific in Stephenville, Texas, while A&M-C plays at No. 3 Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minnesota. Both games will kick off at 1 p.m. CT.
LSC FOOTBALL
Tarleton State claimed its second LSC Championship with a perfect 8-0 league record.
LSC football teams are 50-46 overall this season. The squads are 7-4 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
OFFENSIVE
Ovie Urevbu, Texas A&M University-Commerce, SR, Masters in Health, Kinesiology and Sports Studies, RB, Plano, Texas, Legacy Chr. Acad.
Urevbu notched his third straight 100-yard rushing game to power the Lions to a 41-13 victory over Angelo State in the regular season finale and clinch a spot in the NCAA playoffs. He had touchdown carries of 35 and 15 yards. He ranks third in the LSC in rushing in conference games.
DEFENSIVE
Paul Manus, Midwestern State University, SR, Business/Marketing, S, Claremont, California, Claremont HS/College of the Seqouias
Manus delivered a clutch performance making two interceptions then stopped West Texas A&M's two-point try in overtime to preserve Midwestern State's 24-23 win in the season finale Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Manus picked off Justin Houghtaling in the second quarter to set up an MSU Texas scoring drive before halting WT's potential game winning drive intercepting Mitch Hood with 1:56 to play in regulation. Manus then sacked Hood on the Buffs' two-point conversion attempt to clinch the win for the Mustangs. Manus finished the season with a team-high five interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Prince Robinson, Tarleton State University, JR, Kinesiology, PR/KR, Houston, Texas, North Forest HS
Robinson had a day in the special team’s game in Tarleton’s league-championship clinching win over Western New Mexico Saturday afternoon. The junior corner ran back the opening kickoff of the second half for a 92-yard touchdown and then followed up after WNMU’s next offensive series when Robinson took the Mustang punt back 82 yards to the house to quickly turn Tarleton’s 28-0 lead into a 42-0 lead. The punt return touchdown was the first for Tarleton since 2009.
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)
N-5 Payne Sullins, Angelo State
N-12 Ovie Urevbu, Texas A&M-Commerce
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
N-5 Markus Jones, Angelo State
N-12 Paul Manus, Midwestern State (2)
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)
N-5 Julio De La Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville
N-12 Prince Robinson, Tarleton State