LSC FOOTBALL
Texas A&M-Commerce claimed its third straight and 23rd overall Lone Star Conference championship with an 8-1 league record.
LSC football teams are 55-53 overall this season. The squads are 3-4 combined versus the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, which are also in NCAA Super Regional Four.
A&M-C, MSU CHOSEN FOR NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD
Texas A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State were chosen to represent the Lone Star Conference in the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship. The Lions earned the No. 4 seed in Super Region Four, while the Mustangs are the seventh seed.
A&M-C earned its second consecutive berth to the NCAA championship field, and will host postseason action in Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1991.
The Lions earned the fourth seed in Super Region Four, and will host fifth seeded Colorado Mesa on Saturday, November 19, at 2 p.m.
MSU earned its seventh NCAA Division II playoff appearance Sunday afternoon as the No. 7 seed in Super Region Four.
The Mustangs head to Big Rapids, Mich. to take on Ferris State Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at Top Taggart Field.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Kamal Cass, Eastern New Mexico University, JR, RB, Clovis, N.M., Clovis HS
Cass rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns in Eastern’s 30-28 win at 12th-ranked Midwestern State. The junior running back topped the 100-yard mark in less than one full quarter of play, and helped the Hounds charge to a 17-0 lead. Cass reached the 1,000-yard mark for the second season, and leads the Lone Star Conference with 1,125 rushing yards.
DEFENSIVE
De’Aundre Sanders, Eastern New Mexico University, SR, CB, Long Beach, Calif., Glendale CC/Westview HS
Sanders played a major role in Eastern’s victory at 12th-ranked Midwestern State. He made two key interceptions during Mustang drives deep in ENMU territory. His interception at the Greyhound 20-yard line in the first quarter set up ENMU’s first touchdown drive of the day. Sanders also made a fourth-quarter interception at the ENMU five-yard line in the fourth quarter, to thwart another Mustang drive.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Shawn Hooks, Texas A&M University - Commerce, JR, PR/KR, Daingerfield, Texas, Daingerfield HS
Hooks sealed the Lions’ 30-10 win over Tarleton with a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The return is his third punt return for a touchdown this season, which leads Division II and is tied for the lead across all four NCAA Divisions.