Lone Star Conference Football Weekly Release (10/30/17)

1. Angelo State | Cameron | Eastern New Mexico | Midwestern State | Tarleton State | Texas A&M-Commerce
Texas A&M-Kingsville | Texas Woman’s | UT Permian Basin | West Texas A&M | Western New Mexico
www.lonestarconference.org | 1221 W. Campbell Rd. Suite 171, Richardson, Texas 75080 | Phone: 972-234-0033 | Fax: 972-234-4110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 30, 2017
Contact: Melanie Robotham, (972) 234-0033 Ext. 103
LONE STAR CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE
October 30, 2017
LSC FOOTBALL
Midwestern State tops the Lone Star Conference standings as the only unbeaten team at 6-0 in league play and is 7-0
overall for the third time in program history.
This week’s schedule includes four Lone Star Conference games with Tarleton State at Midwestern State, UT
Permian Basin at Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M at Angelo State, and Texas A&M-Kingsville at Western New
Mexico. On Thursday, Eastern New Mexico is at West Liberty for a non-conference contest.
LSC football teams are 41-35 overall this season. The squads are 5-3 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 Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville on October 21 was featured as
part of the 2017 NCAA Division II Football Showcase schedule. The Texans prevailed 41-34 over the Javelinas.
The first 18 games of the football showcase are predetermined matchups. Four additional flex games — highlighting
crucial matchups — will be finalized later in the football season and played in November.
ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multiscreen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events
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subscription from an affiliated service provider.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Kamal Cass, Eastern New Mexico University, SR, RB, Clovis, N.M., Clovis HS
Cass rushed for a season-high 187 yards in the Greyhounds victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville. His 88-yard sprint on the
first of his four touchdowns was a career-long. His four touchdowns also matched a career high. For the game, Cass had
five third-down carries, which resulted in five first downs. With one reception and a 20-yard punt return, Cass concluded
the night with 224 all-purpose yards.
DEFENSIVE
Brucks Saathoff, Texas A&M University-Commerce, JR, LB, San Antonio, Texas, Reagan HS

2. Saathoff led the No. 9 Lions on defense with 12 stops as they took down West Texas A&M 35-16. The Lions limited the
Buffs to 244 yards of offense and Saathoff forced a fumble. He also contributed on a sack. He ranks in the top 15 in the
LSC in tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Buck Wilson, Texas A&M University-Commerce, SR, PR/KR, Commerce, Texas, Commerce HS
Wilson had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the No. 9 Lions' 35-16 win at West Texas A&M. It was the Lions'
first recorded full-field kickoff return touchdown since 1958. He is the 25th player in LSC history with a 100-yard kickoff
return. He is the seventh player in Division II this season with a 100-yard kickoff return. He averaged 37.5 yard per return
in the game on the Buffs, who previously had the top kickoff return defense in the LSC.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
S-4 D'Angelo Bowie, Western New Mexico
S-11 Jordan Thomas, Texas A&M-Kingsville
S-18 Luiz Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-25 Xavier Turner, Tarleton State
O-2 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State
O-9 Layton Rabb, Midwestern State (2)
O-16 Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce (2)
O-23 Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce (3)
O-30 Kamal Cass, Eastern New Mexico
Defensive
S-4 Chris Smith, Texas A&M-Commerce
S-11 Daelin Young, West Texas A&M
S-18 EJ Speed, Tarleton State
S-25 Yusef Sterling-Lowe, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-2 Brad Hardin, Eastern New Mexico
O-9 Dominic Barry, Western New Mexico
O-16 Kevin Hayes, Midwestern State
O-23 Drew Bolin, Midwestern State
O-30 Brucks Saathoff, Texas A&M-Commerce
Special Teams
S-4 Bailey Hale, Eastern New Mexico
S-11 Alex Schrag, West Texas A&M
S-18 Sergio Sroka, Tarleton State
S-25 Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-2 Ron Reid, Tarleton State
O-9 Collin Grady, Western New Mexico
O-16 Connor Flanigan, Angelo State
O-23 Collin Grady, Western New Mexico (2)
O-30 Buck Wilson, Texas A&M University-Commerce

3. OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Jake Faber, Angelo State University, led the Rams offensively throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns. The
senior went 27-for-40 including a 45 yard touchdown to Tyrese Nathan. He also added 19 yard rushing with a long of 10.
The Rams racked up 587 yards of total offense with Faber at the helm.
Layton Rabb, Midwestern State University, needed just 2 1/2 quarters to account for a career-high five touchdown
passes going 16-of-23 for 280 yards in No. 5 Midwestern State's 66-8 blowout of UT Permian Basin. It was MSU's fourth
biggest margin of victory and second largest margin in a road game as the Mustangs improved 7-0 for the third in school
history. The Llano High product connected with DeAndre Black for a 94-yard scoring hookup in the first quarter for the
second longest completion in program history. It was one of his two TD connections to Black while he also connected for
two scores to Tyrique Edwards and another to Tyler Milliken. Rabb, who has thrown for at least 230 yards over the last
six games going for 17 touchdowns and two interceptions, is 11th in NCAA Division II with a 172.5 pass efficiency rating.
Jordan Thomas, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, finished the game against No. 21 Eastern New Mexico with 11
receptions and 212 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown. Thomas's stat line sets a new career-high for the senior and
his 212 yards specifically tied Gary Lusk for most receiving yards in a single game in school history. Lusk tallied 212 yards
in 2002 against A&M-Commerce.
Darrion Landry, Texas A&M University-Commerce, led the No. 9 Lions in receiving on the way to a 35-16 win at
West Texas A&M. His 70-yard reception on the game's second play set up the Lions' first touchdown. He gave the Lions
the lead for good with a 6-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. He has gone over 100 yards receiving in two
straight games and now has eight receiving touchdowns to tie for the LSC lead in that category.
Xavier Turner, Tarleton State University, was the focal point of the Tarleton offense Saturday night as the junior
running back touched the ball 28 times for 90 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to lead the Texans to its first
winning season since 2013. Turner led the ground game with 64 yards on 19 carries and three rushing touchdowns while
also leading the team with nine receptions out of the backfield for 26 yards. Turner and the Texans defeated in-region
rival Western Oregon 28-6.
Devin Hafford, Tarleton State University, was the definition of a 'lockdown corner' Saturday night as the sophomore
defender led the Texans in tackles for the first time in his young career with 13, including 12 solo stops out on Hafford
Island. The sophomore boasted a forced fumble and a team-high five pass breakups while helping hold QB Nick
Duckworth and the Wolves' offense to a mere 235 passing yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Hafford-
led Tarleton defense held Western Oregon to 81.9 yards and 27.2 points below their season average. The six points
allowed by Tarleton was its lowest of the season and the lowest in the last 17 games, since Tarleton held Angelo State to
five points on Sept. 17, 2016. Hafford and the Texans held Western Oregon below 300 total yards of offense for the
game (299), marking the first time a Texan defensive unit has kept an opposing time under 300 yards of total offense
since the Angelo State game on Sept. 17, 2016 (222).
Dominic Barry, Western New Mexico, paced the defense with 13 tackles, three coming solo, along with 2.5 tackles
for a loss of four yards and a sack for a loss of two yards. In addition, he added a quarterback hurry. He has gone for 10
or more tackles in five games and now has 95 tackles this year.
Jacob Sherrill, Midwestern State University, recorded a career-high 10 tackles helping No. 5 Midwestern State to a
66-8 win over UT Permian Basin Saturday night at Grande Communications Field in Midland. The Burleson native
accounted for 1.5 tackles making a stop behind the line of scrimmage for the third straight week. The MSU forced four
turnovers and held the Falcons to 4.3 yards on 86 plays.
Justin Jackson, Angelo State University, led a Ram defense that limited Western New Mexico to 241 yards of total
offense. The junior recorded a team high 10 total tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss. ASU forced three turnovers and limited
one of the top passing offenses to just 173 through the air.

4. Braedon Robinson, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, had nine tackles against No. 21 Eastern New Mexico, leading
the team with three tackles for a loss for minus five yards. The senior linebacker also forced one of the three
Greyhounds fumbles in the game.
Dante Urrea, Eastern New Mexico University, led a strong defensive showing from the Greyhounds which limited
Texas A&M-Kingsville to just a pair of third-down conversions in 13 chances. The redshirt freshman finished with eight
tackles and had a 36-yard interception return. In the first half, Urrea and the ENMU defense held the Javelina to 25 yards
of offense and 0-for-8 on third down.
Jaron Imbriani, Midwestern State University, was perfect 9-on-9 on extra points and connected on a 29-yard field
goal to help 5th-ranked to a 66-8 rout of UT Permian Saturday night Grande Stadium in Midland. The sophomore from
San Bernardino accounted for the sixth most kicking points in a single game in MSU history finishing with 12 points. His
nine PATs were tied for the third most in a single game behind Kristian Foster (2006) and Tanner Graeber (2016).
Imbriani also averaged 51.9 yards on seven kickoffs.
Connor Flanigan, Angelo State University, recorded three field goals in the second half to put WNMU. The
sophomore connected on kicks from 33, 32 and 25 while averaging 60.5 per kickoff with one touch back. The sophomore
has made 11 field goals on the season.
Bailey Hale, Eastern New Mexico University, had another strong finishing with nine points and had a perfect on-side
kick late in the first half. Two of his kickoffs went for touchbacks.
John Cummings, West Texas A&M University, continued to add to his league-leading punting this season with six
punts for a 47.7 average on 286 yards with one inside the 20 against No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday. For the
season, he has 45 punts for 1910 yards and a 42.6 average, with a long of 66, 14 inside the 20 and 14 over 50 yards.
Julio De la Garza, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, had a strong kicking game for the Javelinas against No. 21
Eastern New Mexico. The senior gathered six points with field goals from 29 and 26 yards out, averaged 40.8 yards on
eight punts where he pinned the Greyhound offense inside the 20 yard line six times, including a 51-yard punt, and
averaged 46 yards in three kickoffs with one touchback.
Collin Grady, Western New Mexico, had a strong punting game against the Rams as he averaged 39.9 yards on 10
attempts with three landing inside the 20 and two going for over 50 yards. He added a long boot of 69 yards. He also
recovered his own on-side kick and made an extra point.
Ron Reid, Tarleton State University, continued his dominant run in the punting game as the junior from Burleson
maintained his control of the field position game with seven punts on an average of 34.6 yards, including a long boot of
57 yards. Reid pinned two inside the 20-yard line, including one on the one-yard line. He has now pinned at least one
punt inside the 20 in 15 straight games dating back to Oct. 8, 2016.
LSC NOTES (Submitted by LSC SID’s)
Angelo State
* Angelo State 44, Western New Mexico 7
Eastern New Mexico
After an off week, the 21st-ranked Eastern New Mexico football team returned to action against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The first half was a defensive struggle, which saw ENMU limit the Javelinas to 25 yards of offense and receive long
touchdown runs from Tayshaun Gary and Kamal Cass. After an onside-kick and field goal from Bailey Hale, Eastern held a
17-3 lead. Eastern dominated the third quarter and seized a 37-6 lead, but TAMUK closed within 10 points twice in the
fourth quarter, before the Hounds pulled away. This week, ENMU will visit West Liberty on Thursday.
Midwestern State

5. Midwestern State used a 66-8 rout of UT Permian Basin to improve to 7-0 for the third time in program history... MSU
started 7-0 in 2015 before falling 27-14 at Texas A&M-Commerce then rolled to a perfect 10-0 regular season mark in
2011 before falling 38-31 in overtime to Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the NCAA D2 Playoffs...
Midwestern State's 58-point win matched the fourth biggest victory margin since the start of the 1988 season. It was
second-best margin of victory in a road game since MSU pounded Western New Mexico 82-6 on Oct. 13, 2001... It's the
third time since Midwestern brought back football in 1988 that an MSU team posted three wins by 40-or-more points in
the same season. The 2011 Mustangs accomplished the task four times, while the 2009 squad won by 40 on three
occasions... Three quarterbacks combined for a school single-game record seven touchdown passes for MSU...
Quarterbacks Layton Rabb, Javin Kilgo and Hagen Hutchinson combined for 424 passing yards -- the second most in a
single game in program history and most since MSU put up 446 against West Texas A&M on Oct. 12, 2002... MSU's 667
yards of total yards of offense were ninth most in a single game in program history. It's the second time the Mustangs
have amassed 600 yards this season... Senior wideout DeAndre Black caught seven passes for 177 yards and two
touchdowns -- all in the first half... Black's 177 receiving yards are the sixth most in a single game in MSU history and the
most since David Little had 181 receiving yards against Incarnate Word on Oct. 2, 2010... Black's 94-yard touchdown
reception in the first quarter against UT Permian Basin was the second longest reception in school history and the
longest since Jake Glover connected with Vernon Johnson for 99 yards in a 70-28 win over No. 9 Abilene Christian on
Oct. 22, 2011... Freshman Tyler Milliken caught five passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns -- all in the second half...
Milliken became just the sixth MSU receiver to catch three touchdowns in a single game and the first since Edgard
Thelier had three TDs against Abilene Christian on Oct. 22, 2011... Junior Layton Rabb completed 16-of-23 passes for 280
yards and five touchdowns in 2 1/2 quarters in Saturday's 66-8 win over UT Permian Basin... Rabb is the third
quarterback in school history to complete five touchdown passes in a single game joining Zack Eskridge, who had six
against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 1, 2008 and Phillip Boggs, who had five at Northeastern State on Sept. 28, 2002...
Junior running back Vincent Johnson burst 62 yards for his 14th rushing touchdown of the season and 39th of his
career... Sophomore Tyrique Edwards has accounted for TD receptions in each of the last four games... Sophomore
kicker Jaron Imbriani was a perfect 9-for-9 on PATs which was one shy of the most in a single game of 10 held by Kristian
Foster at Northeastern State in 2006 and Tanner Graeber last season against UT Permian Basin... Imbriani's 12 kicking
points -- nine extra points and a 29-yard field goal -- are tied for the sixth most in a single game in program history and
most since Greg Saladino had 14 at Angelo State on Oct. 15, 2011... DaMarcus Wilson, Jaydon Cunigan and Drew Bolin
recorded interceptions for the Maroon & Gold. It was the first time the MSU defense notched three interceptions since
beating Oklahoma Panhandle State 42-24 on Sept. 24, 2016...
Tarleton State
Tarleton defeated Western Oregon 28-6 on homecoming to secure its first winning season since 2013. The Texans will
head to Midwestern State next weekend.
Texas A&M-Commerce
The No. 9 Lions took a 35-16 win at West Texas A&M as quarterback Luis Perez became the program's all-time leading
passer and the nation's current leading passer. A&M-Commerce outgained West Texas by a 514-244 margin, averaging
6.9 yards per play and limiting the Buffaloes to 4.1 yards per play. Quarterback Luis Perez became the Lions' all-time
leading passer in terms of yardage after completing 30-of-46 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. He has now
passed for 5,974 yards on 461-of-690 passing with 61 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his two years in a Lion
uniform. He leads the nation in passing at 331.0 yards per game. Receiver Darrion Landry led 11 Lions who caught passes
with six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. D'Arthur Cowan had six catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
Carandal Hale had 112 all-purpose yards with 44 rushing yards and 68 receiving yards. Buck Wilson returned a kickoff
100 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Tristan Perry averaged 41.8 yards on four punts with a long of 48

6. yards and two landing inside the WT 20-yardline. Brucks Saathoff led the Lions with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. The
Lions had six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Kieston Carter had three tackles for loss. Reggie Kincade had an interception
and forced a fumble. The Lions host their final home game of the season on November 4, as they welcome UT Permian
Basin for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The senior class will be honored prior to the game. The dedication ceremonies for Ernest
Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium will happen just prior to kickoff.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Despite an entertaining comeback where the team scored 28 points in the fourth quarter, the Javelinas fell to the
nationally ranked Greyhounds 51-34. Beau Reilly went off for 339 yards and two touchdowns but did throw two
interceptions. Jordan Thomas set career-highs with 11 receptions for 212 yards and caught a 59-yard touchdown pass.
Although Jeff Carr led the backfield with 58 yards, Nick Pelrean and Keith Whitely both scored on the ground.
Defensively, Brandon Jones, Justiin Guillory, and Braedon Robinson all had nine tackles. Robinson led the team with
three tackles for a loss and forced one fumble. Texas A&M-Kingsville will have their final conference game on November
4 at Western New Mexico.
UT Permian Basin
* Midwestern State 66, UT Permian Basin 8
West Texas A&M
The Buffs fought hard, but fell 35-16 to #9 Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday falling to 3-6 on the year and 1-5 in LSC
play...The Buffs have lost five-straight conference games and have their first losing season since 2004 (minus vacated
wins in 2014 for NCAA violation)...WT hung tough with the Lions, but allowed three touchdowns in the first quarter and
a 100-yard kickoff return TD, following the Buffs cutting the deficit to 14-10 late in the first frame...WT had 244 yards of
offense in the game, while TAMUC racked up 514 with 448 through the air and 66 on the ground...Warren Witherspoon
had 88 yards on the ground as WT tallied 86 rushing yards, while throwing for 158 yards on 10 of 20 with one
interception and one touchdown from quarterback Justin Houghtaling...Freshman kicker Alex Schrag went 3-3 in field
goals in the game for the second time this season (CSU-Pueblo)...The Buffs play their final road game of the season at
Angelo Stat this week, before returning home to host Western New Mexico at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11 in the season finale.
Western New Mexico
Despite scoring the first points of the game, it was a tough matchup for the Mustangs against Angelo State as they fell to
the Rams 44-7. Dominic Barry and Ian Davis combined for 25 tackles, while Collin Grady was again strong in the punting
department, while also recovering an on-side kick. Barry paced the defense with 13 tackles, three coming solo, along
with 2.5 tackles for a loss of four yards and a sack for a loss of two yards. In addition, he added a quarterback hurry. He
has gone for 10 or more tackles in five games and now has 95 tackles this year. Grady had a strong punting game
against the Rams as he averaged 39.9 yards on 10 attempts with three landing inside the 20 and two going for over 50
yards. He added a long boot of 69 yards. He also recovered his own on-side kick and made an extra point.
# LSC #