No. 2 Abilene Christian won at least a share of the Lone Star
Conference championship for the first time since 1977 with a win
over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Wildcats look to clinch
the title and finish the regular season undefeated at home against
Midwestern State this week.
In the South Division, No. 20 Tarleton State
edged by upset-minded Angelo State on national television Thursday
night, while No. 10 West Texas A&M and MSU also picked up
victories.
Central Oklahoma improved to 4-0 in the North
and clinched at least a share of the divisional title with a win
over East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma topped Texas
A&M-Commerce to stay right behind the Bronchos.
Southwestern Oklahoma earned a non-conference triumph.
The regular season will wrap up this Saturday
with six divisional games and one non-conference contest.
On Sunday, November 9, the selection of teams
for the NCAA championship will be announced with first-round games
on Nov. 15.
Players of the Week
Co-North Offensive
Baylen Laury, Southeastern Oklahoma, R-Fr., RB, Forney, Texas,
Forney
Laury helped Southeastern to a 28-24 win over Texas
A&M-Commerce. Laury rushed for 138 yards on 13 carries,
averaging 10.6 yard per carry. He reeled off a long of 67
yards and had a pair of runs longer than 30 yards. He also
hauled in a 17 yard touchdown catch that would be the gamewinner
with 5:30 to play.
Brandon Noohi, Central Oklahoma, Jr., Quarterback, Oklahoma
City, Okla./Mount St. Mary
Noohi led UCO to its sixth straight win with another masterful
performance as he accumulated 344 yards total offense -- the
eighth-best game in school history -- in a 30-17 win over East
Central. The junior completed 24-of-49 passes with no
interceptions for 281 yards and a touchdown while also running for
63 yards and a score. He had 217 yards passing in the first
half as the Bronchos built a 24-6 lead and accounted for all 25
yards in UCO's lone second-half TD drive with two runs for 18 yards
and a seven-yard TD pass.
Co-North Defensive
Matt Gates, Central Oklahoma, Sr., Cornerback, Spencer, Okla./Star
Spencer
Gates played a key role in UCO's 30-17 win over East
Central that clinched at least a share of the LSC North title for
the Bronchos. He tied for the team lead in tackles with 11
while also forcing a fumble and intercepting a pass. The
senior cornerback did most of his damage in the second half as the
TIgers tried to rally from a 24-6 deficit. First he picked
off an ECU pass at the UCO 44 after the Tigers had trimmed the lead
to 24-14 in the third quarter and then he forced a fumble that the
Bronchos recovered on their own 23 with less than five minutes to
go.
Ricky Hope, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., Defensive Line,
Poulan, Ga./Reedley JC
Became the school's single-season record holder in sacks with his
ninth sack against Southeastern Oklahoma. He had his second
multi-sack game of the season and forced three fumbles in the loss
to the Savage Storm. One of the forced fumbles was picked up by
Chad Washington, who subsequently fumbled again before teammate
A.J. Johnson picked it up and ran it into the end zone for a Lions'
touchdown. Three of his four tackles were for minus yardage.
North Special Teams
Brandon Noohi, Central Oklahoma, Jr., Quarterback, Oklahoma City,
Okla./Mount St. Mary
Noohi had another fantastic punting outing for the
Bronchos, averaging 44.0 yards on five kicks. UCO didn't punt
in the first half in building a 24-6 lead over East Central, but
Noohi helped bail out the Bronchos in the second half with his
kicks that including two downed inside the 20 (10 and 14) and a
52-yarder from the UCO 10.
Co-South Offensive
Zack Eskridge, Midwestern State, So., Quarterback, Rockwall,
Texas/Rockwall
Eskridge set a school record and tied a LSC standard by
passing for six touchdowns to lead Midwestern State to a 59-16 win
over Eastern New Mexico. The sophomore from Rockwall completed
22-of-29 passes for 295 yards which included touchdown strikes to
six different players. The Mustangs set season highs in points (59)
and total yards (542). Eskridge, who posted a season-best pass
efficiency rating of 229.59, has passed for at least three
touchdowns in each of the last three weeks for a total of 13.
Zach Stewart, Abilene Christian, R-Fr., Quarterback,
Abilene, Texas/Abilene Cooper
The redshirt freshman made his second straight start at quarterback
(and first road start) in place of all-America quarterback Billy
Malone and he led the Wildcats to a 42-17 win at Texas
A&M-Kingsville that helped the Wildcats clinch at least a share
of their first LSC championship since 1977. Stewart completed
24 of 34 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns and no
interceptions to lead ACU to its fifth straight win over the
Javelinas and third straight in Kingsville. ACU trailed 10-7
midway through the second quarter, but Stewart then led ACU on a
64-yard touchdown drive that gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead.
One possession later, Stewart led ACU on its longest drive of the
season, an 11-play, 95-yard drive that was capped by a 31-yard
scoring strike from Stewart to Johnny Knox. Stewart's third
TD pass of the night was a 10-yarder to Knox late in the third
quarter that pushed the Wildcat lead to 35-10, capping a run of 28
straight ACU points.
South Defensive
Quinton Butler, Angelo State, Sr., Cornerback, San Antonio,
Texas/Roosevelt
Butler's 37-yard interception return for a touchdown early
in the quarter nearly boosted the Rams an upset of No. 20 Tarleton
State Thursday night, falling 31-24 in Stephenville. Butler's score
cut the Texan lead to seven points, 24-17, after TSU had jumped out
to 24-3 lead. Butler also had an interception in the third quarter
in the end zone.
South Special Teams
Nick Williams, Angelo State, Fr., Returner/Cornerback, Moore,
Okla./Edmond Memorial
Williams had two kickoff returns, averaging better than
53 yards per return, as the Rams nearly upended No. 20 Tarleton
State Thursday night. Williams' 76-yard return late in the fourth
quarter set up ASU's final touchdown with two minutes left to cut
the Texan lead back to seven points for the second time in the
period. The Rams would follow that score with a successful on-side
kick, however, had the game end with an interception in the end
zone. Williams has seven kickoff returns this season with a 44.1
yard per return average and three returns of more than 60 yards.