FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Ralph Turner · September 08, 2024, 11:29:30 PM

Thanks for the update, Ron.
McMurry looked too inexperienced. Nice drive at the end but just came up short.

TLU seems to be the best team in the conference.

TLU02SA · September 09, 2024, 05:52:19 PM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on September 08, 2024, 02:59:00 PMWell, it was a surprising night in the SCAC.

Texas Lutheran 35, Trinity 20 - the second-place pick in the conference fared much better, dominating the formerly nationally ranked Tigers in San Antonio. Bulldog QB Caden Bozanko was especially strong in the first half of this one, completing 16 of 18 as TLU built a 21-7 lead. The new look Tigers, lacking most of last year's skill players on both sides of the ball, repeatedly self-destructed with penalties and turnovers despite a strong running game that the team couldn't fully take advantage of trailing the entire game.

This game was a surprise, even for me. TLU played well on all sides of the ball. Especially, on defense. Trinity certainly helped out with penalties and turnovers but I thought TLU, at least on Saturday night, was the better team. I hope the Bulldogs can build on this. If so, this could be a really good season for them.

Riley Zayas · September 13, 2024, 07:39:25 PM

I had the chance to talk with Coach LaHue earlier this week on the big win over Trinity for the D3 Texas Newsletter. He had some good insight and as you can imagine, for as much as he enjoyed the win, his focus had already shifted to Centenary by Monday. Seems like this could be a really big year for TLU with so many returners back, especially offensively. With the Trinity win, I think there's a decent chance TLU could take a Pool C bid in the case that they go 9-1 or 10-0. The Trinity win should help their NPI a fair amount, especially since I have a lot of confidence that Coach Urban will get his team back on track pretty quickly (which obviously helps TLU because it makes the Trinity win that much more valuable).

https://d3texas.substack.com/p/were-in-the-game-men-a-look-at-how

TLU02SA · September 15, 2024, 12:55:10 PM

TLU's 31-8 win over Centenary is a little misleading. TLU had the ball inside Centenary's red-zone with about 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter and already leading 17-0. It looked like TLU would end the quarter up 24-0 and the route would be on.

But...two TLU penalties later, the Bulldogs would settle for a 45 yard field go try that was poorly kicked/blocked. From that point until the end of the 3d quarter, I thought Centenary played better than TLU. Centenary moved the ball but was unable to score and TLU's offense was stuck in neutral. TLU eventually put the game away in the fourth quarter but were fortunate this was not a much closer game.

Overall, Centenary is not bad but they have a lot of weaknesses. Their special teams are bad. They turned the ball over too much yesterday. Between being unable to kick field goals, establish any sort of field position with their punting game and turning the ball over, they just couldn't put themselves in a position to succeed.

The first 11+ minutes of the game, TLU looked fantastic (offense, defense and special teams) and it looked like TLU would put up 50+ points on the board. The rest of the game, they looked ok and a lot like they have the past few years. Thus, the 31-8 ending score line.

Next week's game in Abilene against McMurry should be a close game and I am looking forward to watching.

TLU02SA · September 16, 2024, 05:51:46 PM

Quote from: Riley Zayas on September 13, 2024, 07:39:25 PMI had the chance to talk with Coach LaHue earlier this week on the big win over Trinity for the D3 Texas Newsletter. He had some good insight and as you can imagine, for as much as he enjoyed the win, his focus had already shifted to Centenary by Monday. Seems like this could be a really big year for TLU with so many returners back, especially offensively. With the Trinity win, I think there's a decent chance TLU could take a Pool C bid in the case that they go 9-1 or 10-0. The Trinity win should help their NPI a fair amount, especially since I have a lot of confidence that Coach Urban will get his team back on track pretty quickly (which obviously helps TLU because it makes the Trinity win that much more valuable).

https://d3texas.substack.com/p/were-in-the-game-men-a-look-at-how

Great article.

Ralph Turner · September 21, 2024, 09:15:49 PM

Did not expect this...
McMurry 31, TLU 3 14:41 4Q

Ralph Turner · September 21, 2024, 09:49:18 PM

McM 31 TLU 10. Final

Cowboy2 · September 21, 2024, 10:05:59 PM

jekelish · September 21, 2024, 10:30:31 PM

What a weird game in Sherman tonight with Centenary coming out on top 36-17. It was 3-3 at halftime, and then the Gents had not one, not two, but THREE fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns (including a 60 yarder and a 90 yarder), and that ended up being the difference. Two came on back-to-back possessions in the third, and the third came early in the fourth.

TLU02SA · September 23, 2024, 02:26:11 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on September 21, 2024, 09:49:18 PMMcM 31 TLU 10. Final

McMurry was dominate. Most important part of the game was the last 2:15 of the first half. McMurry was up 10-3 and had just missed a field goal. TLU had the ball at approximately their own 25 but proceeded to go 3 and out with only 17 seconds coming off the clock. After a good punt, McMurry marched down the field in 4 or 5 plays to score a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, McMurry had a short kick and TLU dropped it. McMurry recovered and capitalized on the turnover to score another touchdown before the half. 24 - 3 at halftime.

McMurry was able to convert two TLU turnovers (the one mentioned above plus an interception in TLU's territory on the first drive of the game) into touchdowns. Extremely difficult to overcome those types of mistakes.

Ralph Turner · September 23, 2024, 10:15:11 PM

Thanks to Pat Coleman and to Greg Thomas for the shoutout on the D3 podcast this week on the McM-TLU game. They also mentioned the Centenary win over AC.

Nice for the SCAC to get some notice on the national level.

TLU05SA · September 25, 2024, 01:22:15 PM

While the handle is new, I am not new to the boards. I previously used TLU02SA but: (1) I have a new computer that was requiring me to login to D3Boards again; (2) I could not remember the password; and (3) the email address associate with the TLU02SA account is long gone and inaccessible...So the slightly new Username for me. I look forward to continuing to see the comments about D3 sports here.

TLU05SA · October 07, 2024, 04:35:38 PM

Another strange one from TLU. My initial impression after the game was that TLU played well and controlled the game but a few days later, I have a different impression. The offense was good, no turnovers and 458 total offensive yards. 36 points by the offense with 7 additional points off a 102 yard kickoff return. The best game I have seen TLU play on offense this season (I have not watched the Lyon game where TLU scored 49 points).

The defense was a different story. AC scored 14 points off of two very similar long touchdown passes. The first was a 66-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring in the 1st quarter and the second was a 90-yard touchdown pass in the second half. In both instances, AC ran a misdirection play that TLU's defense completely bit on, leaving receivers wide open for easy long touchdowns. AC's final touchdown was as time expired in the fourth quarter. AC had more total yards than TLU and scored 20 points in the 4th quarter. Before Saturday, AC had not scored more than 20 points in a game.

TLU has a bye week and then travels to Sherman to face AC again. Hopefully, TLU's defense plays significantly better. If not, that is going to be a very difficult game for TLU.

jekelish · October 08, 2024, 12:55:23 PM

I only saw a bit of the TLU/AC game, but I do think it's clear that AC is improving pretty steadily as the year goes on. Which makes sense, given how young they are at so many key positions, particularly on offense. Their QB is also finally getting healthy after suffering an ankle injury in week one, and it's showing as his numbers are getting back to what was expected after he was one of the ASC Newcomers of the Year last season. Their top two RBs are both freshmen, and their top receivers are pretty much all frosh and sophomores. They have a chance to be a really high octane offense in a couple seasons, potentially.

Ralph Turner · October 08, 2024, 08:02:21 PM

Quote from: jekelish on October 08, 2024, 12:55:23 PMI only saw a bit of the TLU/AC game, but I do think it's clear that AC is improving pretty steadily as the year goes on. Which makes sense, given how young they are at so many key positions, particularly on offense. Their QB is also finally getting healthy after suffering an ankle injury in week one, and it's showing as his numbers are getting back to what was expected after he was one of the ASC Newcomers of the Year last season. Their top two RBs are both freshmen, and their top receivers are pretty much all frosh and sophomores. They have a chance to be a really high octane offense in a couple seasons, potentially.

.. and to have some success in a peer-equivalent athletic conference (which for me is what D3 is mostly about.)