Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, Richard Bartel)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Kyle Crews, Keltin Wiens)
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Tarleton's "Pink Out" game to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer patients and families will have even more intrigue this coming Saturday with the contest on hand. The Texans will play host to the No. 1 FCS team in the nation, the Sam Houston Bearkats, who won the national championship last season. The Texans will aim to play spoiler on Sam Houston's unbeaten mark thus far.
The game, set for 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with John Liddle and Richard Bartel on the call. The game can be heard on Tarleton Sports Network at 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas, with Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Kyle Crews and Keltin Wiens leading the broadcast.
GAME DAY FESTIVITIES
The Tarleton Texans have partnered with Pink Warrior Angels to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer patients and their families. There will be 1,000 free "Pink Out" T-Shirts at the game, courtesy of Student Affairs.
In order to help take down the No. 1, fans can buy a $1 ticket to the game using coupon code "MAKEITROWDY" during checkout. The offer is only available online, tickets are for East Side General Admission or End Zone.
Texan Alley Tailgate will open at 9 a.m. in Lot A. For maps of the area and complete tailgating policies, visit TarletonSports.com/TexanAlley. Non-tailgating lots will open at 2 p.m., while the stadium gates will open at 4 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. at Texan Alley, the Tarleton Game Day Radio Show will begin live from onsite.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
- Tarleton is taking on the No. 1 ranked FCS team in the nation, the defending national champion Sam Houston Bearkats
- This is the first FCS-ranked team TSU will face since joining the FCS.
- The last time Tarleton has faced a No. 1 ranked opponent of any kind was Dec. 1, 2018, against Minnesota State-Mankato. Tarleton's best win in terms of rankings was the Texans' 28-24 win over No. 3 Chadron State on Nov. 17, 2001. Todd Whitten was the coach for TSU that year.
- This is the first meeting between Tarleton and Sam Houston since 2004, and just the fourth meeting between the two since 1975.
QUICK HITS
- This is TSU's "Pink Out Game." The team has partnered with Pink Warrior Angels to raise awareness/funds for breast cancer patients/families. There will be 1,000 free "Pink Out" T-Shirts at the game, courtesy of Student Affairs.
- TSU has won consecutive games for the first time this season, the first time since March 6-27, 2021 (four straight wins).
- The Texans are 3-0 at Memorial Stadium this season, outscoring teams 111-42 (23.0 average margin of victory).
- Devin Hafford was just named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance against Midwestern State. Across all of NCAA Division I football, Hafford has the most takeaways (eight), the most interceptions (six) and the most multi-takeaway games (three).
- In the last game, the Texans set a school record for attendance by hosting 16,216 fans at Memorial Stadium.
- In the last game, Ronnell Wilson (342 tackles) surpassed Robert Ivey (339 tackles, 1985-88) for second on Tarleton's all-time tackles leaderboard. Tally Neal (1975-78) is first in Tarleton history at 613.
- Tight end Max Maxfield scored both touchdowns for the Texans in the last game. He's the first Tarleton tight end with a TD this season, and the first TSU TE with multiple TDs in a game in at least the last 15 years. In fact, he's just the third TSU TE with multiple TDs in a season in the last 15 years (Brant Bailey '19, Tanner Maher '08).
TAKING DOWN GOLIATH
There's no beating around the bush, the Texans are going to need to bring their "A" game in order to take down the No. 1 FCS team in the nation and the defending national champion Sam Houston Bearkats. Their fellow WAC foe brings an unblemished 6-0 record into Stephenville, along with a 17-game winning streak, which includes their 10-0 title-winning run last year. The Bearkats have had two relatively close calls this season, a 45-35 win at Central Arkansas and a 21-20 win over Stephen F. Austin at a neutral site. Those are the only two games the Bearkats have failed to rush for 200 yards. On the flip side, the Texans have only allowed 200+ rushing yards in a game twice this year, going 1-1 in such games. It may prove more effective for the Texans to get it done through the air, as Sam Houston allows the second most passing yards per game in the conference (221.2 per).
This is the first time the Texans are playing an FCS-ranked opponent since joining NCAA Division I. The last time they played a top ranked team was their matchup against No. 1 Minnesota State-Mankato in the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals. The last time the Texans beat a top-5 ranked team was on Oct. 12, 2013, when they knocked off No. 4 West Texas A&M 31-27 on Oct. 12, 2013, at home. The Texans last played a defending champion in 2018, facing Texas A&M-Commerce twice coming off of their 2017 championship. The Texans won both games, including a 47-21 romping on the road. Overall, Tarleton has played the reigning champions of their league four times. Before 2018, their last such contest was in 1974 against Abilene Christian, who won the NAIA championship in 1973. Tarleton also faced Sam Houston State in 1965 coming off of their 1964 co-championship with Concordia (MN).
BRING ON THE CROWDS
This past Saturday, the Texans achieved their 15K Initiative, the goal of hosting a school record 15,000 fans for their homecoming game against Midwestern State. They saw 16,216 fans through the turnstiles at Memorial Stadium, the most fans an FCS WAC team has hosted in a home stadium (Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston played in front of 25,007 fans at a neutral site). In fact, Tarleton has hosted the two largest crowds by a WAC team in its home stadium this season. The home-opening crowd of 12,078 fans who watched the Texans beat Fort Lewis on Sept. 11 was the second largest showing.
FRIENDLY FOES
Head coach Todd Whitten is in his 17th year as the head coach of a college football team, with all 17 seasons spread between two teams -- Tarleton and Sam Houston. Whitten was the head coach of Sam Houston for five seasons from 2005 to 2009. He has yet to face the Bearkats as a head coach since rejoining Tarleton in 2016, as Tarleton hasn't even played Sam Houston since 2004.
BEST OF THE BEST
It's been quite the season for Devin Hafford, who Coach Todd Whitten labeled a future Tarleton Hall of Famer after Saturday's game. Through seven games this season, the senior has six interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 13 passes defended and 27 total tackles (18 solo). His six interceptions match his career total he had entering 2021, which was five seasons and 45 games worth.
Across all of NCAA Division I football, so counting both the FBS and the FCS, Hafford has the most takeaways (eight), the most interceptions (six), and the most multi-takeaway games (three). In takeaways, the next closest players to Hafford have six (Illinois' Kerby Joseph, Western Illinois' Michael Lawson, Austin Peay's Johnathon Edwards). Hafford has had three games with two turnovers in each; two fumble recoveries at Stephen F. Austin, two interceptions against Southern Utah, and two interceptions vs. Midwestern State.
In Tarleton football history, Hafford's 12 career interceptions are the tied-third most in school history. he's tied with Dashaun Phillips (2010-13), only trailing Michael Dube (1989-92) and Lance Trinque (1979-82), who both had 14 interceptions in their Texan careers. His six interceptions this season are the tied-sixth most in a single-season in Tarleton football history, just two short of matching the most in one season in the program's total run. Craig Wright had eight in 1982, as did Walter Moeglin in 1966.
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
Several Tarleton individuals have been recognized for their great performances this season. Just this week, Devin Hafford was named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, and Marsean Fisher was named to the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award watch list. Here's everyone who has earned an individual award or some notice this season...
In Week 2, linebacker D.J. Harris was named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his dominant performance against Fort Lewis. Harris had 13 tackles (six solo), a forced safety, 1.5 sacks, 3.0 tackles for a loss and three quarterback hurries.
In Week 4, defensive back Greg Eggleston Jr. was named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception game against New Mexico Highlands. He's the first Tarleton freshman (true or redshirt) to have two interceptions in a single game since Dee Collins had two picks against Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2008 as a redshirt freshman.
In Week 7, wide receiver J.F. Thomas and kicker Adrian Guzman were named the TicketSmarter WAC Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week from their nights at Dixie State. Thomas pulled in six catches for 169 yards and a touchdown, with four of his receptions surpassing 30+ yards. It's his first 100+ yard game in over two years. Guzman made two field goals and all five of his extra point attempts. His two field goal makes tied a season-high for makes in a game, and both were 37-yard attempts, new season-longs for the freshman.
In Week 8, defensive back Devin Hafford was named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception game against Midwestern State. He also tallied two pass breakups and seven tackles. After the game, he led all of NCAA Division I in takeaways (eight), interceptions (six) and multi-takeaway games (three).
In the middle of Week 9, defensive back Marsean Fisher was one of 22 FCS players named to the Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award watch list. The award is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. At the time of the announcement, he was tied-third in the WAC in pass breakups (six).
BEST OF THE WAC
Tarleton is prominently featured across the top of the Western Athletic Conference stat leaderboards this year...
Steven Duncan:
- 1st in total completions (119)
- 2nd in completion percentage (.650)
- 2nd in total passing yards (1,429)
- 3rd in total passing touchdowns (11)
- 3rd in passing yards per game (204.1)
Daniel Wright Jr.:
- 3rd in total rushing yards (443)
- 3rd in rushing yards per game (63.3)
- 3rd in average yards per carry (6.0)
- 3rd in total all-purpose yards (615)
Jayy McDonald:
- 2nd in rushing yards per game (70.3)
- 2nd in average yards per carry (6.3)
- T-2nd in total rushing touchdowns (three)
- 4th in total rushing yards (422)
Tariq Bitson:
- 2nd in total receiving yards (482)
- 2nd in receiving yards per game (68.9)
- 3rd in average yards per catch (17.2)
- T-3rd in total receiving touchdowns (four)
- T-3rd in receptions per game (4.0)
- 4th in total receptions (28)
J.F. Thomas:
- 1st in average yards per catch (19.0)
- 5th in total receiving yards (285)
D.J. Harris:
- 3rd in total tackles (59)
- 4th in tackles per game (8.7)
- T-4th in total tackles for a loss (6.0)
Devin Hafford:
- 1st in interceptions (six)
- T-1st in fumble recoveries (two)
- 2nd in total pass breakups (seven)
Ronnell Wilson:
- 4th in total tackles (52)
- T-4th in total tackles for loss (6.5)
- 5th in tackles per game (7.4)
Marsean Fisher:
- T-3rd in total pass breakups (six)
Benjie Franklin:
- T-3rd in total pass breakups (six)
Tre Johnson:
- T-3rd in total pass breakups (six)
Adrian Guzman:
- 2nd in scoring (48 points)
- 2nd in field goal makes (eight)
- T-2nd in extra-point makes (24)
Jake Walrath:
- 1st in punts inside the 20 (11)
- 2nd in average yards per punt (43.4)
TACKLING TEAMMATES
Starting linebackers D.J. Harris and Ronnell Wilson are great friends off the field and constant competitors on the field. In fact, they host a competition between themselves on who can tally the most tackles in a season. Harris is winning the battle in 2021 so far with his team-leading 59 tackles (30 solo), although Wilson is not far behind. The senior is second on the team with 52 total tackles (31 solo). The top two Tarleton tacklers are third and fourth on the WAC's total tackles leaderboard. They're fourth and fifth, respectively, on the WAC's tackles per game board (8.7 per for Harris, 7.4 per for Wilson).
In the last game, Wilson racked up 11 tackles. On his ninth in the second quarter, he surpassed Robert Ivey (339, 1985-88) for second on Tarleton's all-time tackles leaderboard. At 342 career tackles, Wilson only trails Tally Neal in Texan history (613 tackles, 1975-78).
THE BEST IN TEXAS
Since the start of the 2018 season, there has not been a better scholarship football program in the entire state of Texas than Tarleton State University. The Texans enter Saturday's game with 32 wins since the start of 2018, tied for the most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program. The list of the top scholarship programs in Texas over that span are as follows:
| # | School | League | Wins |
| 1. | Tarleton | WAC | 32 |
| Texas A&M | SEC | 32 | |
| 3. | Texas | Big XII | 29 |
| SMU | AAC | 29 | |
| Sam Houston | WAC | 29 | |
| 6. | Baylor | Big XII | 26 |
| A&M-Commerce | LSC | 26 | |
| 8. | UTSA | C-USA | 22 |
| Angelo State | LSC | 22 | |
| 10. | TCU | Big XII | 21 |
| West Texas A&M | LSC | 21 |
MILESTONE WATCH
2: At 12 interceptions in his career, Devin Hafford is two short of tying Michael Dube (14, 1989-92) and Lance Trinque (14, 1979-82) for the most career interceptions by a Texan.
2: At six interceptions on the year, Devin Hafford is two short of tying Craig Wright (1982) and Walter Moeglin (1966) for the most interceptions in a single -season by a Texan.
LOOKING TO GO OVER .500
With a win on Saturday, TSU would bring its senior college era record over .500 for the first time since 1961. In 1961 under head Johnny Dunn, Tarleton won its first-ever game as a senior college. Tarleton lost its next three and had a chance to bring its all-time record to .500 again in the season finale, but lost to East Central and had not reached the .500 mark as a four-year program again until defeating Northeastern State in their second to last game of 2020. East Central spoiled it again. The Texans are currently at 313-313-3 in their senior college history.
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will play their last installment of a three-game homestand against Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. It will be the Texans' second of three straight games against a conference opponent. Lamar is 2-5 on the season and is riding an active four-game losing streak.
"with" - Google News
October 29, 2021 at 03:36AM
https://ift.tt/3jMpa57
Texans Look to Rename Stephenville 'Upset City' on Saturday with Opportunity Against Top Ranked Sam Houston - Tarleton State University Athletics - Tarleton State University Athletics
"with" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d5QSDO
https://ift.tt/2ycZSIP
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Texans Look to Rename Stephenville 'Upset City' on Saturday with Opportunity Against Top Ranked Sam Houston - Tarleton State University Athletics - Tarleton State University Athletics"
Post a Comment