Game Stats

KINGSVILLE – When fans look at the score from Saturday's football game between the No. 11 Tarleton Texans and the No. 9 Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas, they won't see how close the game truly was – but they will see that six turnovers by the purple and white crippled an upset as the Javelinas capitalized on the miscues for a 34-20 victory in Kingsville.

The Javelinas, who improved to 6-0 on the season, took the last three Texan turnovers in for the score, but perhaps none was as important as the fumble on the Javelina 49-yardline with the score tied at 20. TAMUK would take the 14-point lead on its next offensive series, and that was too big of a hole for the Texans to escape as Tarleton fell to 5-1 on the season.

“We didn't take care of the ball and gave them too many opportunities,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. “When you come down here, you have to be ready to play, but too many turnovers cost us the ballgame.”

The Javelinas scored the first touchdown on a 21-yard run by Ryan Lincoln that capped a six-play, 70-yard drive. Christian Brom added the extra point to give the home team a 7-0 lead with 11:07 left in the second quarter.

Sherman Batiste then caught a five-yard pass from quarterback Billy Garza with 5:48 on the clock to close an eight-play, 68-yard drive. Brom's kick put the Javelinas up 14-0.

The final score of the opening half came when Garrett Lindholm made a 25-yard field goal with 2:40 on the clock to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive to make it 14-3 at the half.

Tarleton took the ball on their first drive of the second half and scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Scott Grantham to Devin Guinn with 11:30 left in the third period. Lindholm's kick pulled the Texans within four after the eight-play, 56-yard drive.

On the next Tarleton possession after the defense had forced a punt, Grantham threw an interception and TAMUK used just a six-yard run by Fred Winborn to make it 20-10 Javelinas. The extra point was blocked by Dre Jones.

The Texans then took the ball down the field on six plays and scored when Grantham punched it in from one yard away on a quarterback keeper. Lindholm's kick made it 20-17.

The Texans then tied the game at 20 with a 40-yard field goal by Lindholm. The kick ended a 13-play, 60-yard drive for Tarleton with 9:16 left in the contest.

The Texan defense then forced a turnover on downs, but Grantham was blindsided on the ensuing drive, sacked and fumbled. Three plays later, E.J. LeBlanc caught a seven-yard pass from Garza to make it 27-20.

The Texans then got the ball on the Tarleton 22. Three plays later the ball went off the hands of the Texan receiver and landed in the Javelinas' Jeff Edwards hands. On the first play from the line of scrimmage, Winborn rushed 42 yards for the score. After Brom kicked the extra point, the Javelinas led 34-20.

After two penalties on the Javelinas following the touchdown, the Texans got the ball on their own-46 yard line. Tarleton was driving when Grantham found Shaun Ragon for a 26-yard pass. As the Texan was reaching for the endzone, TAMUK's Eric John forced a fumble and Mardrick Johnson fell on the ball at the one. The Javelinas then ran out the clock and claimed the victory.

The Texans gained 368 yards on Saturday, including 112 yards on the ground and 256 yards passing. TAMUK had 228 yards rushing and 151 yards through the air for a total of 379. 

Evan Robertson had 15 carries for 96 yards while Grantham was 20-of-37 for 256 yards and. He threw one touchdown and three interceptions – though two could be labeled as off the receiver's hands. 

Guinn had nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown to lead the receiving corps.

Tarleton's defense was led by Matt Knicky with nine total tackles and an interception. The Texans recorded no sacks and had four tackles for loss for a total of four for minus-eight yards.

Garza was 12-for-26 for 151 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. 

Winborn rushed 17 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns while Ryan Lincoln had five catches for 64 yards.

The Texans will return to action at home on Saturday, Oct. 10 against Midwestern State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. for the Hall of Fame game.