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Tarleton State remains atop the Lone Star Conference standings at 7-0 in league games and improved to 9-0 overall. The Texans have secured a share of the LSC title with one game left in the regular season.
Action continues with four LSC games this week: Western New Mexico at Tarleton State, Angelo State at Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M at Midwestern State, and UT Permian Basin at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Western Oregon is at Eastern New Mexico in non-conference play.
LSC football teams are 45-42 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 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
Payne Sullins, Angelo State University, JR, Business Administration, QB, Gatesville, Texas, Reicher Catholic HS
Sullins had almost 400 yards of total offense as ASU topped Eastern New Mexico 34-17 in their home finale. The Gatesville native completed 19 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He also set a career high in rushing yards, gaining 92 yards on the ground as ASU's leading rusher in the game and scoring one TD on his own.
DEFENSIVE
Markus Jones, Angelo State University, SR, Exercise Science, DE, Fort Worth, Texas, Crowley HS
Jones had another record-setting day, getting the one sack he needed to match the ASU single-season record with 15. The senior had 10 total tackles in the 34-17 victory over Eastern New Mexico, including five for loss, which leads all of Division II and the conference by 20. Jones helped the Rams limit ENMU to 275 total yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Julio De La Garza, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, SR, Criminal Justice, K, Brownsville, Texas, Lopez HS
De La Garza was a perfect 3-for-3 in his field goal attempts on Saturday in TAMUK's 35-31 loss to West Texas A&M. The senior booted kicks from 20 and 41 yards in the first half before adding a 27-yard field goal in the second for his first three-field goal game of 2018. It is the third time in his storied career for the Blue and Gold where he connected for three field goals in a game, doing so twice his sophomore year. De La Garza was also perfect on PATs, going 2-for-2, added seven kickoffs, one touchback, for a 53.0 average, and had five punts, two inside the 20, for a 37.8 punting average.
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
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
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