STEPHENVILLE - The Texans will head down to San Marcos to face the Bobcats of Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.  This will be the third game of the season for both schools, who are entering the game with 0-2 records.

LAST WEEK

                Tarleton traveled all the way to Livingston, Ala. for its first ever match-up against the Tigers of West Alabama.  The Texans were defeated on the final drive of the game, 42-35, which marked the second straight week Tarleton came up short on the final play.

OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT

                The Tarleton offense has been very productive despite the two losses.  The Texans are averaging 29.5 points per game, 71.0 yards rushing per game and 347.0 yards passing per game.  As a team, Tarleton has passed for three scores and rushed for five.

                Though most of their scores have come on the ground, the Texans have attempted 96 passing attempts for an average of 11.8 yards per catch.  On the ground, Tarleton has rushed 59 times in two games, with an average of 2.4 yards per carry.

DEFENSIVE STAND

                The Texans are allowing 34.5 points to opponents, a number they will look to lower this week in San Marcos.  Opponents are averaging 165 yards per game on the ground and 276 yards per game in the air.  They are recently coming off the loss to West Alabama, who ran the option offense, and the Tigers racked up 229 yards on the ground.

PENALTIES

                Penalties have been disastrous through the first two weeks of the season for the Texans.  Tarleton has racked up 17 penalties for 233 yards.  They have drawn more turnovers (23) from opponents, but have gained less yardage (168).

PUTTING THE SPECIAL IN SPECIAL TEAMS

                The kick-off and punt return games for Tarleton have been vital to the Texans so far this campaign.  LeThaddeus Hill has handled punt returns and is averaging 11.6 yards per return.  Brandon Lowery has done the majority of the work on kickoffs, and has amassed 213 yards on seven attempts, averaging a productive 30.4 yards per return.  His long of 61 yards came last week against West Alabama.

TRICK-or-TREAT

                The Texans and offensive coordinator Lee Hays have been in the process of implementing the “air-raid” attack, but that has not limited their creativity.  Last Saturday, Tarleton pulled off a bit of trickery when they dialed up the double-pass play.  Quarterback Nick Stephens gave a quick screen pass to receiver Roddy Green.  Green, who was an all-American junior college quarterback at Navarro JC, immediately looked down field and hit fellow receiver Clifton Rhodes down the sideline for a 45-yard gain.  The play set up touchdown just a few plays later.

RHODES SCHOLAR

                Clifton Rhodes, a freshman receiver out of Southwest High School in Fort Worth, recorded his second straight 100-yard receiving game of the year and of his career against the Tigers of West Alabama.  Last Saturday, Rhodes hauled in nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.  On the year, he has totaled 254 yards and 14 receptions, both Tarleton highs.

LEAVE IT TO LOWERY

                Brandon Lowery has been the triple-threat force for the Texans that head coach Cary Fowler knew he could be.  The Sasche native has been so productive, that he has taken over the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.  Through two games, Lowery has four rushing touchdowns and 80 yards in 16 attempts.  He also has a receiving touchdown and 213 kick-return yards.  The sophomore back is averaging 165.5 all-purpose yards per game, which is easily a team-high.

EVEN STEPHENS

                Tarleton senior quarterback Nick Stephens had arguably his best performance in the purple and white against the Tigers last Saturday.  The Flower Mound native was 32-of-51 for 310 yards, two scores and no interceptions.  Stephens was quite successful at moving the ball against a taught West Alabama defense.

TEXAS STATE

LAST WEEK

                The Bobcats were trampled by the Cowboys of Wyoming 45-10 last Saturday in Laramie, Wyo.  Texas State had early turnovers and defensive gaps that allowed Wyoming to knock the Bobcats down to 0-2 on the season.

THE BOBCAT OFFENSE

                The Texas State offense is averaging just 10 points per game, after scoring that total in their first two contests.  The Bobcats are averaging the majority of their offense on the ground, with 166.5 rushing yards per game, while the passing attack has supplemented the backfield with 93.5 yards through the air per game.  They have also been hampered by penalties, committing 16 for 146 yards compared to their opponents' seven for 76 yards.  One factor of the game that Texas State has controlled is time of possession, where they average 6:14 more than opponents.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL

                For the Bobcats defensively, the team has faced two very good offenses in Texas Tech and Wyoming this year, so their statistics are on the disadvantageous side.  Texas State is allowing 561.5 total yards per game, with 292.0 coming through the air and 269.5 coming on the ground.

                This season, the Bobcats have been led by Xavier Daniels, who has 14 tackles and an interception, and Aaron Matthews, who has 12.5 tackles, and a pick.  Overall, Texas State has forced three turnovers, while giving up seven.

TWO-QUARTERBACK SYSTEM

                Texas State utilizes a two-quarterback rotation, with Shaun Rutherford and Tyler Arndt sharing duties.  Rutherford is 10-of-21 on the year passing, with 96 rushing yards.  Arndt on the other hand is 12-of-23 on the year for 91 yards.  Tarleton can expect to see both behind center on Saturday.

 Live stats are available here and you can follow along with the live radio feed courtesy KSTV 93.1 FM.

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