Midwestern State is the only unbeaten Lone Star Conference team at 3-0 after three weeks of action.
This week’s schedule includes three league contests and two non-conference games.
LSC football teams are 14-10 overall this season. The squads are 5-2 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 TO HOST 2021 DIVISION II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
After hosting two successful title games, the NCAA Division II Football Committee has chosen McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas, as the host site of the 2021-25 Division II football national championship games.
The 2021 title game is set for Saturday, Dec. 18.
The Lone Star Conference in conjunction with McKinney ISD hosted the 2018 and 2019 championship games. McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center, a 12,000-seat facility built primarily for football, will host the Division II Football Championship games on Dec. 18, 2021; December 17, 2022; December 16, 2023; December 21, 2024; and December 20, 2025.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Dillon Sterling-Cole, Midwestern State, SR, Masters of Sports Administration, QB, Orange, Texas, Westfield HS (Arizona State)
Sterling-Cole competed 20-of-33 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns to lead No. 20 Midwestern State to a 35-17 win at No. 17 Angelo State Saturday night at Legrand Stadium. The senior transfer from Arizona State connected with five different receivers for scores including a 76-yard strike to JaJuan Mason, a 40-yard completion to Kylan Harrison and a 28-yarder to Kandin Robertson. The 391 passing yards are the sixth for a single game in program history. Sterling-Cole becomes the fifth quarterback in program history to account for five touchdown passes in a single game.
DEFENSIVE
Jacob Clarkson, Texas A&M-Kingsville, SR, Accounting, DE, Houston, Texas, Jersey Village HS
Clarkson compiled six total tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Javelinas' win over Eastern New Mexico to open LSC play. He record his solo sack early in the third quarter that led to a fumble which was recovered by the Hogs and eventually turned into seven points on the ensuing possession. Clarkson was part of a Javelina defensive effort that held the Greyhounds to 124 total yards, 66 through the air and 58 on the ground, for the third straight game to start the season where the Hogs held their opponents to fewer that 100 yards on the ground and fifth straight dating back to the start of Mike Salinas' tenure. It was also the third consecutive game the Javelina defense forced multiple turnovers as the Hogs recorded a safety early in the second half as the defensive unit is allowing only 11 points through three games, 20th in the nation and tops in the LSC.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fernando Piedra, Midwestern State, SO, Psychology & Spanish, P, Jacksboro, Texas, Jacksboro HS
Piedra provided the special teams edge in No. 20-ranked Midwestern State's 35-17 win at No. 17 Angelo State Saturday night at Legrand Stadium. The sophomore from Jacksboro averaged 43.5 yards on eight punts placing four inside the 20-yard line including a career-best 70-yard punt downed at the 1. The Lone Star Conference punting leader upped his season punting average to 39.7 yards per punt and also leads the league by placing eight inside the 20. Piedra also notched touchbacks on five of his six kickoffs. The other was muffed out of bounds giving the Rams starting field position at their own 2-yard line.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
S-6 CJ Odom, Angelo State
S-13 Clayton Roberts, UT Permian Basin
S-20 Dillon Sterling-Cole, Midwestern State
Defensive
S-6 Xavier Morris, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-13 Dylon Davis, Midwestern State
S-20 Jacob Clarkson, Texas A&M-Kingsville
Special Teams
S-6 Jake Viquez, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-13 Ritse Vaes, Midwestern State
S-20 Fernando Piedra, Midwestern State
SELECTED NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Nathaniel Omayebu III, Angelo State, led the Rams in rushing with 161 yards in the 35-17 loss to Midwestern State. Finished with an average of 9.5 yards per carry.
Christian Anderson, Texas A&M-Kingsville, picked up his second consecutive game with a rushing touchdown in the Javelinas' 36-10 victory over Eastern New Mexico to open LSC play. He connected on a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter after the Hogs got possession back following a strip-sack to push the lead to 22-10. On the year, Anderson has two rushing touchdowns and 188 yards on the ground through three games as TAMUK opened LSC play with a win for the first time since the 2012 season when the program defeated No. 9 Abilene Christian 16-13.
E.J. Thompson, Texas A&M-Commerce, rushed for 43 yards and scored a touchdown, which gave A&M-Commerce the lead against No. 1 West Florida. He also totaled 13 receiving yards in the 35-17 defeat.
Nick Gerber, West Texas A&M, led the Buffs to a 42-14 Lone Star Conference victory over Western New Mexico on Saturday night as WT moves to 2-1 on the season. The Levelland, Texas native finished the night going 14-of-23 thru the air with 355 yards and three touchdowns to become the first Buff to surpass the 300-yard mark since October of 2016. He also set a new career mark for longest touchdown with an 82-yard strike to Noah Bogardus in the first half.
Kader Kohou, Texas A&M-Commerce, made five solo tackles, including one for a loss of four yards against No. 1 West Florida. He also had two pass breakups in the 35-17 defeat.
Dominique Ramsey, Texas A&M-Commerce, logged 126 total return yards in four returns against the top-ranked West Florida Argonauts. His longest punt return was for 45 yards and the longest kickoff return was for 35 yards. Both of his longest returns came in the fourth quarter. He was also the team’s leading tackler with eight total tackles in the 35-17 defeat.
Gilbert Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, booted a pair of 40-yard field goals in the Javelinas' 36-10 win over Eastern New Mexico to open the LSC schedule. He sent across a season-long 46-yard kick early in the first quarter for the first score of the game and added a 40-yard look later in the quarter to cut the lead to 7-6. He was also a perfect 4-for-4 on PATs as he pushed his season total to 4-for-4 on field goals.