-WEEK 11-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s the final week of the American Southwest Conference football regular season. Four more conference games remain, with Howard Payne the only league team to have competed its 2011 slate. Nationally-ranked and unbeaten Mary Hardin-Baylor has already clinched at least a share of the conference title and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship. The Cru is going for the outright ASC crown and its second straight perfect regular season as it hits the road to face Texas Lutheran, a 5-4 team playing for a winning season. Nationally-ranked McMurry, riding a six-game winning streak, will need a win at home over Mississippi College and some help from TLU to get a piece of the conference title. Louisiana College travels to face Hardin-Simmons, while East Texas Baptist hits the road to take on Sul Ross State to round out the ASC regular season schedule. Make sure to follow ASC_sports on Twitter to be notified of all the final scores on Saturday and what the NCAA playoff bracket looks like on Sunday!
SATURDAY, NOV. 12
Louisiana College (7-2, 5-2 ASC) at Hardin-Simmons (5-4, 3-4 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Shelton Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: LC | HSU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 8-2
Last Year’s Score: LC 44, HSU 42 – Pineville, LA
Quick Hits: HSU is coming off its bye week. . . . LC leads the conference with 31 sacks, while HSU is tied for tops in the league by allowing only 13 this season. . . . Hardin-Simmons owns the ASC’s top red zone offense (35-for-38), while LC has the league’s top red zone defense (20-for-34). . . . . HSU RB Steven Rockwell leads the ASC with 14 rushing TDs. . . . LC QB Jamie Bunting is second in the league with 21 TD tosses.
East Texas Baptist (4-5, 3-4 ASC) at Sul Ross State (2-7, 1-6 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Alpine, TX – Jackson Field (natural grass)
Game Notes: ETBU | SRSU
All-Time Series: East Texas Baptist leads, 8-2
Last Year’s Score: ETBU 47, SRSU 28 – Marshall, TX
Quick Hits: ETBU can finish .500 on the season with a win. . . . SRSU is looking for its second straight home win after topping Mississippi College 49-42 in overtime two weeks ago. . . . SRSU leads the league in time of possession (33:36 pg). . . . ETBU QB Sed Harris is averaging 111.5 rushing and 168.6 passing yards per game. . . . SRSU’s Lee Carothers leads all WRs in the ASC with 113.2 ypg.
No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-0, 7-0 ASC) at Texas Lutheran (5-4, 4-3 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Seguin, TX – Matador Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: UMHB | TLU
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 12-1
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 81, TLU 3 – Belton, TX
Quick Hits: UMHB, which has locked up the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs, can claim the outright conference title with a win and have its second straight perfect regular season. . . . TLU’s only win over UMHB came in the 1999 season, 34-24 at home. . . . Matchup features ASC’s top two teams in turnover margin (TLU at +7, UMHB at +5). . . . UMHB has the league’s top tackler in LB Javicz Jones (10.7 pg), while TLU has DBs Kyle McNally (8.0) and Bradley Snowden (7.9) both in the top-5.
Mississippi College (3-6, 2-5 ASC) at No. 20/24 McMurry (7-2, 6-1 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Wilford Moore Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: MC | McM
All-Time Series: Tied, 7-7
Last Year’s Score: McM 28, MC 17 – Clinton, MS
Quick Hits: McMurry needs a victory coupled with a Texas Lutheran win over Mary Hardin-Baylor to claim a share of the ASC title. However, the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs has already been awarded to UMHB due to tie-breaker. . . . MC is 0-4 on the road this season. . . . MC is 2-for-2 on on-side kicks. . . .McMurry QB Jake Mullin has thrown for 3,021 yards and 25 TDs – both ASC highs. . . . MC LB Blake Rowell has registered a league-high 23 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles.
Idle: Howard Payne (1-9, 1-7 ASC)
-WEEK 10-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s Week 10 of the American Southwest Conference football season. Just one more regular season Saturday remains after this one. This week, Mary Hardin-Baylor has a chance to claim at least a share of the conference crown and wrap up the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship with a victory. The nationally-ranked and unbeaten Cru welcomes Sul Ross State to Belton, Texas. Over in Pineville, La., a highly-anticipated matchup will take place between Louisiana College and McMurry. Both teams are tied for second place in the ASC and have lost only one conference game – to UMHB. Texas Lutheran travels to Mississippi College, while East Texas Baptist plays host to Howard Payne to round out the conference slate. Only Hardin-Simmons is idle. Make sure to follow ASC_sports on Twitter to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, NOV. 5
Sul Ross State (1-5, 2-6 ASC) at No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-0, 6-0), 1 p.m
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field (artificial turf)
Game Notes: SRSU | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 13-0
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 76, SRSU 12 – Alpine, TX
Quick Hits: With a win, UMHB can clinch at least a share of the conference title and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. . . . UMHB leads the league in scoring at 40.5 ppg. . . SRSU has allowed only nine sacks, a league best. . . . UMHB RB Darius Wilson is the league’s top rusher at 122.6 ypg. . . . SRSU’s Lee Carothers is the ASC’s top receiver at 6.6 catches and 112.9 ypg.
Texas Lutheran (4-4, 3-3 ASC) at Mississippi College (3-5, 2-4 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Clinton, MS – Robinson Hale Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: TLU | MC
All-Time Series: Mississippi College leads, 8-5
Last Year’s Score: TLU 42, MC 23 – Seguin, TX
Quick Hits: MC is 3-1 at home this season. . . . TLU has lost three straight after winning three straight. . . . MC has the league-leader in sacks (Jarynn Bingham, six), tackles for loss (Blake Rowell, 21) and passes defended (Jarrad Craine, 16). . . . TLU’s Kyle McNally and Bradley Snowden each rank in the ASC’s top-5 in tackles per game with 8.2 each.
McMurry (6-2, 5-1 ASC) at No. 22/20 Louisiana College (7-1, 5-1 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Pineville, LA – Wildcat Field (artificial turf)
Game Notes: McM | LC
All-Time Series: Louisiana College leads, 9-4
Last Year’s Score: LC 35, McM 32 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: Each team tied for second place in the ASC, with the only conference losses coming on the road to Mary Hardin-Baylor. . . . Matchup features top two total offense in league (LC at 495.1 ypg, McM at 453.2 ypg) and top two passing offenses (McM at 362.5, LC at 282.8). . . . LC leads league with 27 sacks, eight more than anyone else. . . . QBs Jake Mullin of McM and Jamie Bunting of LC have combined for 30 TD passes. . . . McM’s defense had returned three interceptions for TDs.
Howard Payne (1-8, 1-6 ASC) at East Texas Baptist (3-5, 2-4 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Marshall, TX – Ornelas Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: HPU | ETBU
All-Time Series: East Texas Baptist leads, 6-5
Last Year’s Score: ETBU 24, HPU 0 – Brownwood, TX
Quick Hits: ETBU is coming off a bye. . . . ETBU is 3-1 at home this season. . . . HPU has lost six straight. . . . HPU freshman DL J.D. King is in the league’s top-3 for sacks (six) and tackles for loss (15). . . . ETBU QB is averaging over 100 yards passing (159.0) and rushing (107.2) per game.
Idle: Hardin-Simmons (5-4, 3-4 ASC)
-WEEK 9-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s Week 9 of the American Southwest Conference football season. Only two Saturdays remain in the regular season after this one. Four conference games appear on this week’s slate, with only East Texas Baptist idle. Hardin-Simmons and McMurry meet up for their annual cross-town showdown in Abilene, Texas. This year, McMurry plays host. Mississippi College makes the long trip to face Sul Ross State, Howard Payne looks to try and slow nationally-ranked and unbeaten Mary Hardin-Baylor in Brownwood, Texas, and red-hot nationally-ranked Louisiana College travels to Seguin, Texas, to take on Texas Lutheran. Be sure to follow ASC_sports on Twitter to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, OCT. 29
Mississippi College (3-4, 2-3 ASC) at Sul Ross State (1-6, 0-5 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Alpine, TX – Jackson Field (natural grass)
Game Notes: MC | SRSU
All-Time Series: Mississippi College leads, 14-1
Last Year’s Score: MC 38, SRSU 21 – Clinton, MS
Quick Hits: Longest distance of travel between two ASC opponents (896 miles one way). . . . SRSU has lost five straight. . . . SRSU LB Robert Pyssen is making 9.9 tackles per game. . . . MC LB Blake Rowell leads league in tackles for loss (18) and forced fumbles (five).
Hardin-Simmons (5-3, 3-3 ASC) at McMurry (5-2, 4-1 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Wilford Moore Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: HSU | MCM
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 24-3
Last Year’s Score: HSU 34, McM 13 – Abilene, TX (HSU)
Quick Hits: HSU has won 23 straight meetings in the cross-town rivalry, dating back to 1963. . . . McM is coming off a bye. . . . After losing three straight games, HSU has rebounded to win three straight. . . . Matchup features ASC’s top passing offense (McMurry at 379.7 ypg) against top passing defense (HSU at 121.1 ypg).
No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (7-0, 5-0 ASC) at Howard Payne (1-7, 1-5 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Brownwood, TX – Gordon Wood Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: UMHB | HPU
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 11-2
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 45, HPU 3 – Belton, TX
Quick Hits: UMHB has won 16 straight conference games. . . . HPU has not scored more than 21 points in a game this season. . . . UMHB has the top rusher in the league in RB Darius Wilson (132.0 ypg). . . . HPU DB Maurice Young leads the league with five interceptions.
No. 25/21 Louisiana College (6-1, 4-1 ASC) at Texas Lutheran (4-3, 3-2 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Seguin, TX – Matador Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: LC | TLU
All-Time Series: Louisiana College leads, 12-6
Last Year’s Score: LC 38, TLU 21 – Pineville, LA
Quick Hits: LC has won three straight games. . . . TLU has lost two straight after reeling off three straight wins. . . .LC leads the league in scoring at 39.9 ppg. . . . TLU is +4 in turnover margin. . . . LC K Adan Olivares (34-for-34) and TLU K Allen Cain (26-for-26) are perfect on extra-point attempts.
Idle: East Texas Baptist (3-5, 2-4 ASC)
-WEEK 8-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s Week 8 of the American Southwest Conference football season. Only four more Saturdays remain in the regular season. This week’s slate features four conference games, with only McMurry having a bye. Nationally-ranked and ASC leader Mary Hardin-Baylor host East Texas Baptist, a team that took the Cru to overtime during last year’s perfect regular season run. Louisiana College, ranked in both national polls for the first time in program history, welcomes Sul Ross State. Texas Lutheran tries to bounce back from a loss as it hits the road to face Hardin-Simmons. Howard Payne and Mississippi College square off in Clinton, Miss. Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
Texas Lutheran (4-2, 3-1 ASC) at Hardin-Simmons (4-3, 2-3 ASC), 1:30 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Shelton Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: TLU | HSU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 12-1
Last Year’s Score: HSU 63, TLU 17 – Seguin, TX
Quick Hits: Matchup features top two teams in turnover margin (TLU at +5, HSU at +4). . . .HSU, led by RB Steven Rockwell (13 TDs), has the top red zone offense in the league (90.6 percent). . . . TLU DB Jordan Vines is tied for the league-lead with three fumble recoveries.
East Texas Baptist (3-4, 2-3 ASC) at No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (6-0, 4-0 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field (artificial turf)
Game Notes: ETBU | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 10-1
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 34, ETBU 28 (OT) – Marshall, TX
Quick Hits: Both teams coming off a win. . . . UMHB went 10-0 in the regular season last year and ETBU was the only team to force overtime. . . . Matchup features league’s top two rushers (UMHB’s Darius Wilson at 124.7 ypg and ETBU’s Jair Stover at 98.1 ypg) and top two rushing defenses (UMHB at 89.3 ypg and ETBU at 111.7 ypg).
Howard Payne (1-6, 1-4 ASC) at Mississippi College (2-4, 1-3 ASC), 3 p.m.
Location: Clinton, MS – Robinson-Hale Stadium (artificial turf
Game Notes: HPU | MC
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 10-4
Last Year’s Score: MC 42, HPU 27 – Brownwood, TX
Quick Hits: Both teams coming off a loss and have not scored more than 21 points in their last three games. . . . HPU DL J.D. King is tied for the league lead with 5.5 sacks. . . . MC LB Blake Rowell leads the conference with 15 tackles for loss.
Sul Ross State (1-5, 0-4 ASC) at No. 25/21 Louisiana College (5-1, 3-1 ASC), 4:30 p.m.
Location: Pineville, LA – Wildcat Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: SRSU | LC
All-Time Series: Louisiana College leads, 10-1
Last Year’s Score: LC 56, SRSU 46 – Alpine, TX
Quick Hits: Matchup features ASC team with the most sacks (LC, 22) against team that has allowed the fewest (SRSU, 5). . . . LC is 4-0 at home. . . . LC leads the league in total offense (483.3 ypg) and total defense (296 ypg). . . . SRSU WR Lee Carothers leads the conference with 106.8 ypg.
Idle: McMurry (5-2, 4-1 ASC)
-WEEK 7-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s Week 7 of the American Southwest Conference football season. For the first time since Week 3, all nine league teams are in action. Nationally-ranked and unbeaten Mary Hardin-Baylor hosts NAIA Southern Oregon in non-conference action. On the conference slate, McMurry travels to Texas Lutheran for a showdown between two teams that have each won three straight games. Hardin-Simmons makes the trip to Sul Ross State, Howard Payne hosts Louisiana College and East Texas Baptist welcomes Mississippi College. For the first time this season, no game on the schedule starts later than 3 p.m. Here’s to a great afternoon of ASC football! Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
Hardin-Simmons (3-3, 1-3 ASC) at Sul Ross State (1-4, 0-3 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Alpine, TX – Jackson Field (natural grass)
Game Notes: HSU | SRSU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 29-2
Last Year’s Score: HSU 73, SRSU 7 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: HSU has won 13 straight in the series. . . . SRSU has lost three straight games, while HSU snapped a three-game skid last week with a 33-14 win over Howard Payne. . . . Game features only two receivers in ASC averaging better than 100 ypg: SRSU’s Lee Carothers (117.0) and HSU’s Travis Tatsch (104.8).
McMurry (4-2, 3-1 ASC) at Texas Lutheran (4-1, 3-0 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Seguin, TX – Matador Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: McM | TLU
All-Time Series: Texas Lutheran leads, 16-11
Last Year’s Score: McM 63, TLU 14 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: TLU is coming off a bye. . . . Both teams have scored at least 40 points in their last three games, all wins. . . . McM QB Jake Mullin has thrown a league-high 16 TDs and also averaged an ASC-best 48.0 yards per punt. . . . TLU leads the league with a +6 turnovermargin.
No. -/21 Louisiana College (4-1, 2-1 ASC) at Howard Payne (1-5, 1-3 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Brownwood, TX – Gordon Wood Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: LC | HPU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 7-4
Last Year’s Score: LC 62, HPU 28 – Pineville, LA
Quick Hits: Just the second road game for LC this season, the other was a loss a 36-10 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor. . . . HPU has lost three straight. . . . LC leads the conference in total offense (478 ypg). . . . LC has not allowed a red zone passing TD this season. . . .HPU LB Demetrius Cody has made an ASC-high 60 tackles.
Mississippi College (2-3, 1-2 ASC) at East Texas Baptist (2-4, 1-3 ASC), 3 p.m.
Location: Marshall, TX – Ornelas Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: MC | ETBU
All-Time Series: East Texas Baptist leads, 9-3
Last Year’s Score: ETBU 28, MC 20 – Clinton, MS
Quick Hits: MC is 0-2 on the road this season. . . . ETBU DE Matt Tarver leads the conference with 4.5 sacks. . . . MC DB Jarrad Craine leads the ASC with 11 passes defended. . . . Both teams coming off a loss.
Southern Oregon (3-3) at No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (5-0, 4-0 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field (artificial turf)
Game Notes: SOU | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 2-1
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 31, SOU 10 – Ashland, OR
Quick Hits: SOU is an NAIA program. . . . After losing three straight to open the season, including a 31-9 decision to NCAA Division III Willamette, the Raiders have won three straight, including upsets of nationally-ranked Menlo (31-17) and Eastern Oregon (46-34). . . . UMHB’s defense, led by LB Javicz Jones (ASC-high 11.8 tackles per game), has not allowed a TD in six of its last seven quarters.
Idle: None
-WEEK 6-
FIRST AND TEN
It’s Week 6 of the American Southwest Conference football season. Only two teams remain unbeaten in league play – nationally-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor and Texas Lutheran. UMHB makes the trip to Mississippi College this week, while Texas Lutheran is idle. The last time UMHB and MC met up in Clinton, Miss., the Choctaws prevailed 17-14 and the two squads ended up sharing the conference title. Howard Payne travels to Hardin-Simmons, while Sul Ross State also makes the trip to Abilene, Texas, only to face McMurry. Both of those series go back more than 50 years. East Texas Baptist, fresh off its first win over HSU in program history, hits the road to take on Louisiana College, who looks to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season last week against UMHB. Here’s to another exciting week! Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports on Saturday to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
Howard Payne (1-4, 1-2 ASC) at Hardin-Simmons (2-3, 0-3 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Shelton Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: HPU | HSU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 34-25
Last Year’s Score: HSU 56, HPU 0 – Brownwood, TX
Quick Hits: Both teams coming off a loss. . . . HPU has not scored more than 17 points in a game this season. . . . HSU K Scott Newberry is 7-for-7 on field goals.
Sul Ross State (1-3, 0-2 ASC) at McMurry (3-2, 2-1 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Wilford Moore Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: SRSU | MCM
All-Time Series: McMurry leads, 44-35-2
Last Year’s Score: McM 35, SRSU 12 – Alpine, TX
Quick Hits: Eight of last 10 meetings have been decided by seven points or less. . . . SRSU’s offensive line has allowed only four sacks. . . . McM has scored 113 points over the last two weeks – both conference wins.
No. 3/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (4-0, 3-0 ASC) at Mississippi College (2-2, 1-1 ASC), 6 p.m.
Location: Clinton, MS – Robinson-Hale Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: UMHB | MC
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 11-2
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 41, MC 31 – Belton, TX
Quick Hits: MC coming off a bye week. . . . Game features top two running backs in the league: UMHB’s Darius Wilson (135.5 ypg) and MC’s Steven Knight (102.5 ypg). . . . UMHB has allowed only one rushing TD. . . . MC has a +6 turnover margin.
East Texas Baptist (2-3, 1-2 ASC) at No. -/24 Louisiana College (3-1, 1-1 ASC), 6 p.m.
Location: Pineville, LA – Wildcat Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: ETBU | LC
All-Time Series: East Texas Baptist leads, 6-5
Last Year’s Score: LC 49, ETBU 21 – Marshall, TX
Quick Hits: LC leads the league with 37.5 points and 487.2 yards gained per game. . . . ETBU DE Matt Tarver leads the league with 4.5 sacks and is tied atop the leaderboard with 10 tackles for loss.
Idle: Texas Lutheran (4-1, 3-0 ASC)
-WEEK 5-
FIRST AND TEN
It is Week 5 of American Southwest Conference football! Only three teams remain with an unbeaten league record and two of them will be squaring off on Saturday in Belton, Texas. Mary Hardin-Baylor hosts Louisiana College in a top-25 matchup that features two teams that have won a combined 20 straight conference games. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Texas Lutheran is the other team without a loss in league play and the Bulldogs will travel to Apline, Texas, to take on Sul Ross State, which is fresh off a bye week. McMurry takes its high-powered aerial attack to Brownwood, Texas, to take on Howard Payne. East Texas Baptist and Hardin-Simmons battle in Marshall, Texas, trying to snap two-game skids. Mississippi College is the only team idle this week as it gets an extra week to prepare for UMHB on Oct. 8. Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports on Saturday to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, OCT. 1
No. -/19 Louisiana College (3-0, 1-0 ASC) at No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-0, 2-0 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field (artificial turf)
Game Notes: LC | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 11-0
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 42, LC 38 – Pineville, LA
Quick Hits: LC has won seven straight conference games, while UMHB has prevailed in 13 straight. . . . UMHB has never lost to LC. . . . Matchup of the only two teams left in the ASC without a loss this season. . . . ASC’s top two running backs will be featured: UMHB’s Darius Wilson (123.7 ypg) and LC’s Ryan Montague (122.7 ypg).
McMurry (2-2, 1-1 ASC) at Howard Payne (1-3, 1-1 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Brownwood, TX – Gordon Wood Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: McM | HPU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 45-26-2
Last Year’s Score: McM 51, HPU 19 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: Teams have met 73 times. . . . McM has the ASC’s top passing offense at 346.2 ypg, led by QB Jake Mullin (1,187 ypg and eight TDs). . . . HPU’s defense – led by LB Demetrius Cody (9.2 tackles per game) – has allowed only three passing TDs.
Hardin-Simmons (2-2, 0-2 ASC) at East Texas Baptist (1-3, 0-2 ASC), 6 p.m.
Location: Marshall, TX – Ornelas Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: HSU | ETBU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 11-0
Last Year’s Score: HSU 49, ETBU 17 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: HSU has never lost to ETBU. . . . Both teams have lost two straight games. . . . Hsu has scored 12 of the 13 times it has been in the red zone (eight TDs). . . . ETBU DE Matt Tarver is tied for ASC lead with 3.5 sacks.
Texas Lutheran (3-1, 2-0 ASC) at Sul Ross State (1-2, 0-1 ASC), 6 p.m.
Location: Alpine, TX – Jackson Field (natural grass)
Game Notes: TLU | SRSU
All-Time Series: Sul Ross State leads, 16-12
Last Year’s Score: TLU 28, SRSU 11 – Seguin, TX
Quick Hits: Four of the last six meetings have been decided by one possession or in overtime. . . . SRSU is coming off a bye week. . . . TLU LB Marcus Ferree is tied for ASC lead with 3.5 sacks. . . . SRSU WR/KR/PR Lee Carothers leads ASC with 151 all-purpose yards per game.
Idle: Mississippi College (2-2, 1-1 ASC)
-WEEK 4-
FIRST AND TEN
A weekend of league play in the American Southwest Conference is already in the books. Howard Payne, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Mississippi College and Texas Lutheran all started out with wins in the conference column. After rolling Millsaps 56-0 in non-conference play last week, Louisiana College gets its first crack at league action this weekend by hosting newly nationally-ranked MC. Speaking of the national polls, you will find five of the nine ASC teams mentioned in the D3Football.com Top 25: Mary Hardin-Baylor (No. 5), Hardin-Simmons (21), Mississippi College (23), Louisiana College (receiving votes) and McMurry (receiving votes). UMHB (4) and HSU (25), who meet up this weekend in Abilene, Texas, for their annual rivalry clash, are also ranked in the new American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. Howard Payne visits Texas Lutheran in a battle of teams 1-0 in league play. McMurry hosts East Texas Baptist as both squads are looking for that first ASC win. Only Sul Ross State is idle. Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
Howard Payne (1-2, 1-0 ASC) at Texas Lutheran (2-1, 1-0 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Seguin, TX – Matador Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: HPU | TLU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 21-14-1
Last Year’s Score: HPU 39, TLU 17 – Brownwood, TX
Quick Hits: Howard Payne looking for its first back-to-back wins since the first two games of the 2009 season. . . . Texas Lutheran has a +5 turnover margin (only thrown one interception and lost just two fumbles).
No. 4/4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (2-0, 1-0 ASC) at No. 25/21 Hardin-Simmons (2-1, 0-1 ASC), 1 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Shelton Stadium (natural grass)
Game Notes: UMHB | HSU
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 11-5
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 42, HSU 28 – Belton, TX
Quick Hits: First game of the season between two nationally-ranked ASC teams. . . . Winner of this game has gone on to win at least a share of the conference title every year since 1998. . . . Mary Hardin-Baylor has won nine straight in the series, including three playoff games.
East Texas Baptist (1-2, 0-1 ASC) at McMurry (1-2, 0-1 ASC), 2 p.m.
Location: Abilene, TX – Wilford Moore Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: ETBU | McM
All-Time Series: East Texas Baptist leads, 10-1
Last Year’s Score: ETBU 23, McM 21 – Marshall, TX
Quick Hits: East Texas Baptist QB Sed Harris leads the league in total offense at 297 yards per game (651 passing, 240 rushing). . . . First home game as well as first non-Division I or nationally-ranked Division III opponent for McMurry.
No. -/23 Mississippi College (2-1, 1-0 ASC) at Louisiana College (2-0, 0-0 ASC), 6 p.m.
Location: Pineville, LA – Wildcat Stadium (artificial turf)
Game Notes: MC | LC
All-Time Series: Mississippi College leads, 26-9
Last Year’s Score: LC 45, MC 42 – Clinton, MS
Quick Hits: Mississippi College is 10-for-10 this season in the red zone with eight touchdowns. . . . Third straight home game for Louisiana College, which has the top offense in the league at 514.5 yards per game.
Idle: Sul Ross State (1-2, 0-1 ASC)
-WEEK 3-
FIRST AND TEN
League play in the American Southwest Conference football season is here! This week features four conference games and all nine league teams will be in action – which happens only twice during the entire season – as Louisiana College takes on Millsaps in a non-conference tilt. McMurry and Mary Hardin-Baylor lock up in Belton, Texas for a matchup of the preseason poll’s top two teams. No. 3-ranked UMHB is the defending ASC champion and the league favorite to repeat. McMurry is coming off a win over NCAA Division I Texas-San Antonio and the league’s pick to be the runner up. You can vote for who you think will win on the “Fan Poll” on the conference website, www.ASCsports.org. Sul Ross State goes to Howard Payne, East Texas Baptist hosts Texas Lutheran and No. 8 Hardin-Simmons travels out of state to take on Mississippi College. Be sure to follow twitter.com/ASC_sports to be notified of all the final scores!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
Sul Ross State (1-1) at Howard Payne (0-2), 1 p.m.
Location: Brownwood, TX – Gordon Wood Stadium
Game Notes: SRSU | HPU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 44-16
Last Year’s Score: SRSU 37, HPU 30 – Alpine, TX
Quick Hits: Conference opener for both teams. . . . SRSU WR Lee Carothers is averaging nine catches and 130 yards per game. . . . HPU has scored only two offensive touchdowns this season.
Millsaps (1-1) at Louisiana College (1-0), 5 p.m.
Location: Pineville, LA – Wildcats Stadium
Game Notes: MILL | LC
All-Time Series: Tied, 1-1
Quick Hits: Millsaps’ defense allowed only 186 yards overall and pitched a shutout in the second half of last week’s 24-7 win over La Grange. . . . LC was idle last week after a season-opening overtime win against Belhaven.
Texas Lutheran (1-1) at East Texas Baptist (1-1), 6 p.m.
Location: Marshall, TX – Ornelas Stadium
Game Notes: TLU | ETBU
All-Time Series: Tied, 5-5
Last Year’s Score: TLU 17, ETBU 14 – Seguin, TX
Quick Hits: Conference opener for both teams. . . .This game last season was the first win for TLU first-year head coach Danny Padron and snapped the program’s 14-game losing streak. . . . After scoring 10 points in a Week 1 loss, ETBU exploded for a program home-record of 54 points last week.
McMurry (1-1) at No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (1-0), 6 p.m.
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field
Game Notes: McM | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 10-2
Last Year’s Score: UMHB 43, McM 31 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: Conference opener for both teams. . . .Third straight road game for McMurry, which opened with Division I opponents Stephen F. Austin and Texas-San Antonio. . . . In last year’s meeting, UMHB’s special teams accounted for: a touchdown on a kickoff fumble, a kickoff return for a score, a safety, two blocked field goals and a block on an extra-point attempt.
No. 8 Hardin-Simmons (2-0) at Mississippi College (1-1), 6 p.m.
Location: Clinton, MS – Robinson-Hale Stadium
Game Notes: HSU | MC
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 13-2
Last Year’s Score: HSU 45, MC 10 – Abilene, TX
Quick Hits: Conference opener for both teams. . . .Both offenses have scored at least 30 points in the first two weeks. . . . Have each won a conference title since 2004 (HSU in 2004, MC in 2009).
Idle: None
-WEEK 2-
FIRST AND TEN
The 2011 American Southwest Conference football season is officially underway. Hardin-Simmons, Louisiana College, Mississippi College and Texas Lutheran all started their campaigns with a win last week. With Mary Hardin-Baylor playing this week, all nine league teams will have a game under their belt. Only LC is idle on Saturday. Four conference teams’ names appear in this week’s D3Football.com Top 25 poll. UMHB is No. 5, HSU is No. 9 and both LC and MC are receiving votes. All eight games this week are of the non-conference variety, as league play begins next weekend. McMurry's game on the road against Texas-San Antonio will be broadcast live on Longhorn Network. Here’s to another exciting week in the ASC. Be sure to follow the conference on twitter.com/ASC_sports to be notified of these weekly previews, final scores, weekly recaps, players of the week and all other ASC football news!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
McMurry (0-1) at Texas-San Antonio (1-0), 1 p.m.
Location: San Antonio, TX – Alamo Dome
Game Notes: McM | UTSA
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Quick Hits: Game will be aired live on Longhorn Network. . . . First-year program UTSA – coached by former Miami boss Larry Coker – won its inaugural game last week, 31-3 over Northeastern State in front of 56,743 fans. . . Second straight NCAA Division I opponent on the road for McMurry.
No. 9 Hardin-Simmons (1-0) at Willamette (0-1), 3:30 p.m.
Location: McMinnville, OR – McCulloch Stadium
Game Notes: HSU | WU
All-Time Series: Hardin-Simmons leads, 1-0
Quick Hits: Willamette didn’t score a touchdown last week until 27 seconds remaining, falling 8-6 to Wisconsin-Stevens Point. . . . All eyes will be on HSU’s wide receiver Travis Tasch, who had 265 yards last week.
Bacone (0-2) vs. Sul Ross State (0-1), 5 p.m.
Location: Sweetwater, TX – Mustang Bowl
Game Notes: BC | SRSU
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Quick Hits: Although not in Alpine, Texas, SRSU will be the home team. . . . Bacone was shutout in its first game against Northeastern State, then blanked in the second half last week in a loss to Southwest Baptist.
Texas Lutheran (1-0) at Trinity (1-0), 6 p.m.
Location: San Antonio, TX – E.M. Stevens Stadium
Game Notes: TLU | TU
All-Time Series: Trinity leads, 14-9
Quick Hits: Second straight ASC opponent for Trinity, which topped Howard Payne last week. . . . TLU looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2006.
Howard Payne (0-1) at Southwestern Assemblies of God (0-1), 6 p.m.
Location: Midlothian, TX – Midlothian Stadium
Game Notes: HPU | SAGU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 2-0
Quick Hits: Location of game moved earlier this week to Midlothian, Texas, due to construction at the football venue in Waxahachie, Texas. . . . HPU looking for first road win since 2009 season.
Wisconsin-LaCrosse (0-1) at No. 5 Mary Hardin-Baylor (0-0), 6 p.m.
Location: Belton, TX – Tiger Field
Game Notes: UWL | UMHB
All-Time Series: Mary Hardin-Baylor leads, 1-0
Quick Hits: Second straight top 5 team for UW-L, who fell to No. 1 UW-Whitewater last week. . . . Season opener for UMHB, which had to erase a 19-point deficit to defeat UW-L last year.
Austin College (0-1) at East Texas Baptist (0-1), 7 p.m.
Location: Marshall, TX – Ornelas Stadium
Game Notes: AC | ETBU
All-Time Series: Tied, 3-3
Quick Hits: Both teams looking for first win of the season. . . . Home opener for ETBU. . . . First meeting between the two since 2005 season, when Austin College was still a member of ASC.
Mississippi College (1-0) at Belhaven (1-1), 7 p.m.
Location: Jackson, MS – H.T. Newell Field
Game Notes: MC | BU
All-Time Series: Mississippi College leads, 3-0
Quick Hits: Second straight game against ASC opponent for Belhaven, who lost a triple-overtime game with Louisiana College last week. . . . MC QB Tommy Reyer accounted for all three TDs last year in a 21-14 win over Belhaven.
Idle: Louisiana College (1-0)
-WEEK 1-
FIRST AND TEN
The 2011 American Southwest Conference football season is here! All but one of the league's nine teams -- defending conference champion Mary Hardin-Baylor -- will be in action. McMurry kicks things off on Thursday by making the trip to Nacogdoches, Texas, to face NCAA Division I Stephen F. Austin. The action continues on Saturday with seven games. Hardin-Simmons hosts Coe in a top 25 matchup in Abilene, Texas. Also hosting openers will be Texas Lutheran (vs. Austin College), Howard Payne (vs. Trinity), Louisiana College (vs. Belhaven) and Mississippi College (vs. Millsaps). Hitting the road will be Sul Ross State and East Texas Baptist. SRSU will travel to Silver City, New Mexico to face Western New Mexico, while ETBU travels to Dover, Del., to take on perinial power Wesley. Be sure to also follow the ASC on twitter.com/ASC_sports this season to be notified of these weekly previews, final scores, weekly recaps and players of the week. Here is to another exciting football season in the ASC!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
McMurry (0-0) at Stephen F. Austin (0-0), 6 p.m.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas - Homer Bryce Stadium
Game Notes: McM | SFA
All-Time Series: McMurry leads, 6-3-2
Quick Hits: McMurry's first NCAA Division I opponent in 40 years. . . . SFA ranked No. 14 in FCS national poll.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 3
Sul Ross State (0-0) at Western New Mexico (0-0), Noon
Location: Silver City, New Mexico - Ben Altamirano Memorial Stadium
Game Notes: SRSU | WNMU
All-Time Series: Western New Mexico leads, 12-8
Quick Hits: SRSU trying to break seven-game losing streak. . . . WNMU is NCAA Division II program.
East Texas Baptist (0-0) at No. 3 Wesley (0-0), 1 p.m.
Location: Dover, Deleware - Scott D. Miller Stadium
Game Notes: ETBU | WC
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Quick Hits: ETBU's Sed Harris, the reigning ASC rushing leader, will make his third opening day start under center. . . . Wesley is the highest ranked team the Tigers have ever faced. . . . This game is up for NCAA Division III national game of the week. Vote here!
No. 10 Coe (0-0) at No. 16 Hardin-Simmons (0-0), 1 p.m.
Location: Abilene, Texas - Shelton Stadium
Game Notes: COE | HSU
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Quick Hits: Coe has made two straight trips to the NCAA playoffs. . . Debut of HSU head coach Jesse Burleson. . . . This game is up for NCAA Division III national game of the week. Vote here!
Austin College (0-0) at Texas Lutheran (0-0), 6 p.m.
Location: Seguin, Texas - Matador Stadium
Game Notes: AC | TLU
All-Time Series: Texas Lutheran leads, 13-12
Quick Hits: AC is a former member of the American Southwest Conference. . . TLU went 4-1 at home last season.
Trinity (0-0) at Howard Payne (0-0), 6 p.m.
Location: Brownwood, Texas - Gordon Wood Stadium
Game Notes: TU | HPU
All-Time Series: Howard Payne leads, 17-6-4
Quick Hits: Last season went to double overtime, with Trinity prevailing 40-34. . . . HPU is trying to snap a six-game skid.
Belhaven (1-0) at Louisiana College (0-0), 7 p.m.
Location: Pineville, Louisiana - Wildcat Stadium
Game Notes: BEL | LC
All-Time Series: Belhaven leads, 2-1
Quick Hits: LC's first game without graduated Gagliardi Trophy finalist QB Ben McLaughlin. . . Belhaven beat Texas College 47-3 last week.
Millsaps (0-0) at Mississippi College (0-0), 7 p.m.
Location: Clinton, Mississippi - Robinson-Hale Stadium
Game Notes: MILL | MC
All-Time Series: Mississippi College leads, 30-13-6
Quick Hits: Matchup dubbed "Backyard Brawl" as campuses are just 14 miles apart. . . . MC running back Steven Knight returns after missing the final eight games last season due to injury.
Idle: No. 6 Mary Hardin-Baylor (0-0)