KINGSVILLE ? Though it wasn't pretty, the No. 14 Tarleton Texans walked away with their first-ever victory in Kingsville on their 11th try, courtesy of a 31-21 win on the road.
The Texans (6-0) endured 100 yards on 11 penalties, as well as two turnovers to take the win. However, the Texan defense forced three interceptions as well.
“Kingsville came out and got after us,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. “It wasn't as much things we weren't doing, but things they were doing to disrupt us. Coach Bo Atterberry is doing a fine job with his team. He had them ready to go and played guts out. It feels good to get out of here with a victory.”
A Blake Bueltel interception with 1:36 remaining in the contest sealed the Lone Star Conference South Division victory for Tarleton as the Texans formed the victory formation three times to close the game.
For just the second time this season, the Texans had less yards than their opponents, gaining 303 yards total, including 124 passing and 179 rushing. The Javelinas racked up 377 total yards, including 256 through the air and 121 on the ground.
The Texans scored first when Scott Grantham ran a bootleg around the right end to punch the ball in from one yard away. The touchdown run ended an eight-play, 31-yard drive that took 4:10 on the opening drive. Garrett Lindholm hit the extra point to make it 7-0 in favor of the visitors.
With 6:11 left in the first quarter, A&M-Kingsville's Dante Higgins caught a 22-yard pass from David Garza to cap a nine-play, 63-yard drive that took 4:39 off the clock. Scot Schlebach's kick tied the game at seven points each.
Tarleton then scored 17 unanswered points. The Texans' Michael Sampson ran the ball in from one yard away before Lindholm's kick put Tarleton back on top by seven, 14-7. The touchdown was the fourth play of a 30-yard drive that took just over a minute and a half.
Lindholm hit a 23-yard field goal with 8:16 left in the second quarter to end a nine-play, 67-yard drive that took 3:37. Tarleton led 17-7.
Grantham then connected with Devin Guinn on a 34-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the drive with 3:44 left in the first half. Lindholm's kick put Tarleton on top, 24-7.
The Javelinas' Adrian Brooks punched the ball in to cut the score to 10 with a five-yard run that capped a six-play, 69-yard drive that took just 1:52.
Grantham then threw an interception to TAMUK's Arlen Childress who returned the ball 28 yards to the Tarleton 23-yardline. On the next play, Rony Perard caught a 23-yard pass from Garza before Schlebach's kick cut the lead to three, 24-21.
On the first drive of the second half, Tarleton's Ben Dambold intercepted a Garza pass, but the Texans failed to score after Lindholm missed a 46-yard field goal attempt.
Then with 5:45 left in the third quarter, Roderick Smith broke for a 40-yard touchdown run to end a five-play, 80-yard drive that took 2:24 off the clock. Lindholm hit the extra point attempt to put the Texans up by 10, 31-21.
With 12:42 left on the clock, Schlebach set up for a 47-yard field goal, but it was short and wide left, and the Texans held on to a 31-21 lead.
With 5:19 on the clock, the Javelinas set up for a 25-yard field goal, but a bad snap caused the kick to be missed, and the Texans took control of the ball once again.
Sampson had 24 carries for 141 yards and a touchdown for Tarleton for his first game of the season with 100-plus yards gained. Sampson also led the team with three catches for 22 yards.
“It felt good to get the win,” Sampson said. “The offensive line was opening up holes, and I was just running hard. We knew they would come out to play, especially with being at home. It just feels good to get the first win in Tarleton history here in Kingsville.”
Grantham was eight of 19 for 124 yards and a score, but he threw two interceptions.
Devin Guinn had two catches for 40 yards and the touchdown.
The Texans' defense was led by Ranardrick Phillips with seven solo and eight assisted tackles for 15 total stops. He had one tackle for a loss of minus-four yards and one pass breakup.
“We had a great scheme coming in and we had been working hard in practice,” Phillips said. “We just needed to come out and execute, but we had a couple of kinks. We stepped up in key situations in the second half. It feels great to get the win and be 6-0, but we hope to keep rolling.”
Garza led the team in rushing with 10 carries for 55 yards while Ray Morris Miller had 17 touches for 45 yards.
Garza threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns while going 16 of 34 with three interceptions.
Derrick Carter led the Javelinas with four catches for 49 yards while Miller had three for 68 and George Reyes had three for 60.
The Texans won their 12th game in the last 13 attempts while A&M-Kingsville fell to 1-5 on the season.
Tarleton will return to action at home Saturday, Oct. 13 when the Texans host Midwestern State at 7 p.m. for the Hall of Fame Game.
