KINGSVILLE – The Tarleton football team looked to get their second straight win as they faced the Javelinas in Kingsville Saturday night.  The Texans did just that as they ruined Kingsville's homecoming weekend with a 41-34 defeat of the Javelinas.

“I knew how important it was for the program,” said head coach Cary Fowler.  “I knew it was going to be tough to be here on their homecoming night.  To come down here and win is unbelievable.  To see the kids crying because they are so happy, that's what coaching is all about.”

The Texans got off to a fast start and went 90 yards on 15 plays and 4:43 to punch it in with a Courtney Vaughn six-yard pass from Nick Stephens.  Jose Serrano's field goal gave Tarleton a 7-0 lead.

Towards the end of the first, Cordell Valentine caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to add to the Texans lead.  That drive took two plays and 46 seconds as Tarleton continued to cruise offensively.  Again Serrano's kick was good and put the Texans ahead by two scores.

In the second quarter, the tables would turn as it would be A&M-Kingsville's turn to put some points on the board.  The Javelinas scored on a 24-yard catch by Jake Willingham and followed that up with a 24-yard pass from Ramirez to Johnathon Woodson.  That tied the game at 14-14 with 5:46 remaining in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, reigning special teams player of the week Cordell Valentine was hit immediately upon receiving the pooch kick and fumbled the ball at the Tarleton 24-yard line.  The Javelinas recovered the fumble and took over in good field position.

The Texan defense stepped up though and held TAMUK to a 33-yard field goal by Matt Stoll.

Tarleton countered with a field goal of their own, a 38-yard conversion by Serrano, tying the game back up at 17-17 with 2:21 remaining.

Despite no time outs and time being a factor, the Javelinas were not going to settle for a tie at the half.  Woodson led a seven play, 60-yard drive that took 1:36 and ended with a two-yard touchdown run by the LSC's leading back.

After 30 minutes of play, Tarleton trailed by seven and had a number of issues to deal with.  The most prominent factor that led to the Texans' deficit was eight penalties for 65 yards.

Tarleton had 214 yards on 42 plays, 116 yards of which came through the air.

Vaughn led the Texans with 107 yards on 16 carries in just two quarters of play.

Gaston Benson and Logan Johnson both had five tackles to lead the defense.

In the second half, Kingsville added to their lead on the first drive with a Robert Armstrong one-yard rushing making it 31-17 in the Javelinas' favor.

Tarleton was able to respond though by putting together an 11 play 72 yard drive that ended on a Clifton Rhodes' 11-yard touchdown catch.

Both teams battled for the next 12 minutes of play, as a chess match began between the Tarleton defense and the Kingsville offense.

The Texans managed three turnovers with a couple of fumbles and an interception by Benson.

Serrano pulled Tarleton back within four at the 12:56 mark in the fourth with a 22-yard field goal.

After trailing since the end of the second quarter, the Texans continued to hang with the Javelinas.

Kingsville seemingly scored a touchdown on a Baptiste reception, but a holding penalty negated the play.  Instead, Tarleton held the Javelinas to just a field goal, making it 34-27 with 7:45 remaining in the game.

As the Texans took over, it was a crucial time for Tarleton who were desperate for a touchdown to gain back the momentum.  They were able to get just that as Nick Stephens hooked up with Jamal Mays for an over-the-top 49-yard touchdown pass, tying the game back up at 34-34 with 7:08 left in the fourth.

With time ticking under three minutes of play, Kingsville had the ball and the game in their hands.  The Texan defense stepped up in a big way once again though and blocked the go-ahead field goal attempt by the Javelinas.  Desmond Jackson recovered the loose ball and put the game in Tarleton's hands now.

Vaughn, who carried the Texan offense, was called upon with the game on the line and came through with a touchdown run up the middle, giving Tarleton a 41-34 lead with less than a minute remaining in the contest.

Kingsville marched down the field with the little time they had and put themselves in a manageable situation at the 27-yard line.  Sounding like a broken record though, Tarleton's defense stepped up and defensive end Logan Johnson sacked Ramirez to end the game and the Javelinas' home winning streak.

The Texans upset Kingsville on the Javelinas' homecoming night 41-34.

Tarleton improves to 3-5 on the season and 3-3 in the LSC.  Kingsville falls to 4-4 and 2-3 in the conference.

“Having Tarleton all-time great Tally Neal talk to the guys before the game about what it means to be a Texan, it really inspired our guys,” said Fowler.  “This win raises the bar of expectations.”

The Texans finished the game with 428 yards of total offense, 134 yards on the ground and 294 yards through the air.

Nick Stephens went 26-for-45 with 294 yards, four touchdowns and not a single turnover or a sack.  Clifton Rhodes was his No. 1 receiver with eight catches, 83 yards and score, while Roddy Green added 82 yards and a big fourth quarter catch that kept the Texans in the ball game.

Vaughn was the workhorse for Tarleton, carrying the ball 25 times for 152 yards and a score.  He also caught a touchdown pass.

Marquis Wadley had a team-high 11 tackles, but it was Logan Johnson who had eight tackles, a blocked field goal and the final sack to end the game that led the way.

Tarleton returns home to host Incarnate Word for the Texans' homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at Tarleton Memorial Stadium.

For more information regarding the 2011 Tarleton football season, check out TarletonSports.com.