FB: American Southwest Conference

[umhbalum]

Anyone think the CRU gets a vote or two for first place in the d3 top 25 rankings?

[golden_dome]

Just got in, crazy 4th quarter at Louisiana College. MC dominated the game early and had a commanding 35-6 lead after three quarters in which MC outgained the Wildcats 313-117 in total offense and held LC quarterback Ben McLaughlin to 88 yards passing.

The Choctaws looked like they were about to take a 42-6 lead but fumbled the snap at the 15-yard-line with 14:46 left. Over the next 7:36, the Wildcats scored three unanswered touchdowns, including a blocked punt for TD, to make the score 35-27 with 7:10 remaining in the game.

MC added an insurance touchdown run from Chris Blanton with just under two minutes remaining but still needed an interception to seal the win.

MC's Blanton tied an ASC record with five rushing touchdowns and about 170 yards rushing. Ben McLaughlin finished with 321 yards after entering the 4th quarter with just 88 yards.

LC ran back a kickoff for touchdown in the first half and recovered an onside kick to make it interesting in the final seconds.

[Ralph Turner]

Anyone think the CRU gets a vote or two for first place in the d3 top 25 rankings?

Only after they throttle UW-Whitewater in 3 weeks.

Otherwise, what have the two-time defending champion Purple Raiders done not too warrant your first place vote?

[Kelly Boggs]

How 'bout the Purple CRUsh! UMHB needs to take care of business the next two weeks and roll into Whitewater undefeated. And then we will see where the really CRU stands.

[Kelly Boggs]

UMHB vs HSU game reports

Temple Daily Telegram
http://www.temple-telegram.com/story/2007/10/7/44084

Killeen Daily Herald
http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=19331

Abilene Reporter News
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2007/oct/07/hsu-stymied-by-rival-in-47-14-rout/

[drinkxs.com]

I agree with Yessir, the atmosphere on the Cowboy side was not very fired up as normal.

With HSU having 3 losses on their record, even if they run the table with wins, do you feel they have eliminated themselves from the playoffs? I believe they are still a Top 20 team, just loosing to 3 better teams. Has choosing to schedule UWLAC and Linfield as their non-conference opponents, now causing HSU to stay home even though they can easily beat most of teams ranked above them?

Just looking for some thought process?

[Ralph Turner]

drinkxs,

As the season progresses, we can see what the impact of 2 in-region non-conference losses has been on HSU.

I believe that beating a Linfield team that was/is a ranked regional team would have helped the case dramatically.

The size of the UMHB victory margin is consistent with every other opponent, or greater.

The options for non-conference games are very specific when considering playoff implications.

First of all, playing NAIA and/or D2 schools has no benefit for playoff consideration.

Secondly, you can play a team from the North Region (and not in the state of  Illinois and the game does not count towards playoff consideration.

I think that Coach Keeling "rolled the dice" with the scheduling.  If you win both UW-La Crosse and Linfield, then you are a high seed.  If you go 10-0, you may be the #1 seed in the South Region (3 playoff games).  If you don't win the conference, then don't count on  Pool C bid.

[used2b]

Does anyone notice that the south seems really week this year? The ODAC is a zoo, North Carolina Wesleyan has two losses and could be a challenge to get to the Quarters, if they beat a poundable CNU team. (USA South_ Wesley almost lost to NCWC, and the Trinity and Millsaps conference is known to be sick since 2002. The cru might rout the south this year, unless they throw an at large team in from Ohio or Wisconsin. My sleeper will be North Carolina Wesleyan. They have serious athletes.

[Josh Bowerman]

Photos from both games in Abilene yesterday are now available for viewing.  I hope all the fans of ETBU, McMurry, HSU and UMHB will check them out.

Please support this site and its programming by purchasing prints of your favorite player(s) or plays!

[drinkxs.com]

josh, i visited the site, but did not see the link for mhb/hsu? did see the link for mcm/etbu

thanks

[Josh Bowerman]

Click on the 'Photo Galleries' link on the front page.  They're there--the first two galleries on the menu, currently.

[Ron Boerger]

ASC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(Games of October 6)

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Chris Blanton, RB, So., Mississippi College
Mississippi College sophomore running back Chris Blanton (Covington, GA / Newton HS) tied an American Southwest Conference record with five rushing touchdowns in a 42-34 road win over Louisiana College. Blanton, who ran 27 times for 168 yards, has scoring dashes of 3, 32, 15, 25 and 11 yards. His final TD gave the Choctaws a two-possession lead with 1:32 remaining. Blanton ties the league record set by East Texas Baptist freshman Corey George earlier this season.
Jason Lavvorn, QB, Jr., Howard Payne
Howard Payne junior quarterback Jason Lavvorn (Dallas, TX / First Baptist Academy) was 19-for-33 passing for 500 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions. Lavvorn, who also rushed for 21 yards and a score, connected with four different receivers despite the Yelow Jackets falling 55-48 on the road to Texas Lutheran. Lavvorn's passing yardage total is the most by an ASC QB this season and just 33 yards shy of the conference record.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eric Henri, LB, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor junior linebacker Eric Henri (Lake Dallas, TX / LDHS) posted a team-high 11 tackles - three solo, two for a loss ? and recorded a safety on a sack during the Cru?s 47-14 road win over Hardin-Simmons. Henri led a unit that shut out the Cowboys in the second half, surrendering just 22 yards of total offense in the process.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jesse Gremminger, PR, Jr., Texas Lutheran
Texas Lutheran junior Jesse Gremminger (Richmond, TX / Fort Bend Austin) returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to help lead the Bulldogs to their first win of the season - a 55-48 decision over Howard Payne. Gremmiger, who gained14 yards on another return, took a punt all the way back for the second straight season against HPU. It was just the third punt return for a TD this season in the ASC.

[Rick Akins]

I was at the HSU/UMHB game yesterday, and I also noted the late arriving, early leaving, not particularly vocal crowd(HSU crowd of course I am talking about).

I thought Coach Keeling's comments in the Temple Telegram said it all. UMHB is just very powerful this year--he said the best UMHB team he has seen.

On at at least one brighter note, Josh and other HSU folks, I was very impressed with Feaster.  He was VERY mobile and had that "escapability" you just can't teach. He can play.  Against a lesser defense (and he will face plenty of those in the ASC this year) he should be plenty powerful. Also, at times, especially in the first half before I think UMHB just wore them down, the HSU defense was not as bad as I expected looking at the stats from prior games. UMHB played its 2nd O line a lot even in the first half and it was really hot yesterday.

Good luck to HSU the rest of the way. You are really in a different position than I can ever remember. Even with the losses being to outstanding teams, I just don't see any way you get a Poll C unless some really strange things happen( or get a Pool A if even stranger things happen to UMHB.)

[yessir]

Holding the HSU offense to just 22 yards in the second half is very very impressive. I knew that the CRU defense dominated the second half but I did not realize it was that bad.  Feaster was definately a great scrambler, he was running for his life all day, but he made some good plays on the run. Looks like he will be a threat for HSU in the years to come. I seen that HSU is out of the top 25. When was the last time that they were not in the Top 25, does anyone know. I'm sure it has been a while. I feel for HSU, they are definately "Pursuing Unchartered Grounds" this year. I hope they can win out and take something positive from this year. Their 3 losses are to 3 very good teams. All are playoff caliber teams. I just hope they don't "coast" through someone else this year and end up 6-4. Keep rolling CRU!!! One week at a time. GO CRU!!!

[thrwdp]

Was at Shelton Stadium Saturday and if you know anything about the HSU offense you noticed that the entire scheme changed in the second half. I am assuming the OC was attempting to adjust to something but it didnt work. Please do not read that I am taking anything away from a very good mhb defensive group. It appeared they were playing too conservative. They are young. With the exception of Carrillo the entire receiving core were sophomore's and Feaster also. Things could be very bright in the future for them I hope they respond well and finish strong. It will show what type of character they have. Is there any scenerio that gets them in the playoffs? I mean a legitimate one.