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Texas A&M-Commerce, Midwestern State, Tarleton State, and Angelo State remain unbeaten in Lone Star Conference games.
League play continues with four games this week: Angelo State at Midwestern State, UT Permian Basin at Tarleton State, Eastern New Mexico at Texas A&M-Kingsville, and West Texas A&M at Western New Mexico. A&M-Commerce host CSU-Pueblo in non-conference action.
LSC football teams are 12-13 overall this season. The squads are 2-2 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 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
Vincent Johnson, Midwestern State University, SR, Mechanical Engineering, RB, Lubbock, Texas, Monterey HS
Johnson rushed for a career-high 195 yards on 19 carries to lead No. 7 Midwestern State to a 43-21 win over UT Permian Basin Saturday night at Ratliff Stadium. The rushing output was the ninth most in program history which included an 82-yard scoring burst as part of a 22-point MSU Texas scoring explosion in the third quarter to put the game away. Johnson leads the Lone Star Conference averaging 114.7 rushing yards per game while recording his seventh career 100-yard performance and second of the season. Johnson's two rushing scores gives him 44 career touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE
Prince Robinson, Tarleton State University, JR, Kinesiology, CB, Houston, TX, North Forest HS
Robinson anchored the Tarleton defensive unit that enjoyed one of its best performances in recent years Saturday night. The junior defensive back from Houston made two interceptions and a tackle while locking down the WT receivers. His first pick of night bailed Tarleton out of bad field position, as WT was 19 yards away from the end zone in a 16-0 ballgame. Robinson made a diving interception in the end zone to give the ball back to the Tarleton offense and keep WT off the board. He followed up in the third quarter by picking off WT’s first pass of the second half. That interception set up a 21-yard touchdown run by the Texans on the ensuing drive. His two interceptions give him three on the season, which tie him for the LSC lead in total interceptions and the outright league lead in interceptions per game. Robinson helped anchor the Tarleton defense that held WT to just 92 passing yards for the contest, the lowest allowed by a Tarleton defense since Sept. 17, 2016, and 123 yards of total offense, which is the first time a Tarleton defense has held a team under 200 yards since Oct. 13, 2012 against Texas A&M-Commerce. Robinson also had three punt returns for 16 yards. The 44-7 win by Tarleton against WT is the largest victory for the Texans over the Buffs since 2001 when Tarleton won 62-3 in Canyon.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Daniel McCants, Tarleton State University, JR, Kinesiology, PR/KR, Killeen, TX, Killeen HS
McCants had arguably the most pivotal play for Tarleton Saturday night as his effort in the return game put points on the board and halted a momentum swing just before halftime. With Tarleton clinging to a 16-0 lead, West Texas A&M put together its lone offensive spark and found the end zone to cut the deficit to 16-7 with just 10 seconds left in the opening half. McCants had an answer, however, as the junior running back and return specialist broke loose for a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as time expired to swing the momentum back towards Tarleton at the break. It was the only return opportunity for McCants in the game and he made the most of it with his third kickoff return for a touchdown in the last 14 games.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
S-3 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State
S-10 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State (2)
S-17 Vincent Johnson, Midwestern State
Defensive
S-3 Hunter Kyle, Angelo State
S-10 Paul Manus, Midwestern State
S-17 Prince Robinson, Tarleton State
Special Teams
S-3 Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-10 Larry Johnson, Angelo State
S-17 Daniel McCants, Tarleton State