THE GAME
The Tarleton State Texans (6-2, 5-1 LSC) return home to host the Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs (5-4, 5-4 GAC) in non-conference action this Saturday, Nov. 9, at Tarleton Memorial Stadium in Stephenville. Kickoff between the two teams is set for 2 p.m.
 
COVERING THE GAME
Saturday's contest will be broadcast live on KSTV (93.1 FM) with Casey Hogan calling play-by-play and Mike Young joining him for color commentary. Joanna Hensley will provide reports from the sideline for the broadcast team. The game can also be found online at www.kstvfm.com and clicking the "Listen Live" link.
 
A live video feed will be available as well by logging onto TarletonSports.com and clicking the "Live Video" link at the top of the page. Live Stats will be provided as well and can also be found online at TarletonSports.com.
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEKEND
The Tarleton Athletics Department, along with the Texan Football team will recognize all current and former military members this Saturday in recognition of Veteran's Day this coming Monday, Nov. 11.
 
Current and former military personnel attending Saturday's game will receive free admission into and will be recognized during the halftime performance. The football team will be wearing its military game-day jerseys on Saturday as well.
 
TEXANS CLINCH SHARE OF LSC TITLE
With its 45-20 Lone Star Conference victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville this past Saturday, the Texans clinched at least a share of the LSC title for the first time since 2009 and the third time in school history.
 
Tarleton completed its LSC slate of games this past Saturday against the Javelinas, rounding out the season with a 5-1 mark in LSC play.
 
The Texans have an outside chance at clinching the title outright following West Texas A&M's 39-38 loss to Eastern New Mexico last weekend, but will need help over the final two weeks of the season.
 
Both ENMU and Midwestern State enter the weekend with just one conference loss, but will face each other this Saturday. Should the winner between the Greyhounds and Mustangs lose in the season's final game, the Texans would claim the outright LSC title.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Southwestern Oklahoma head coach Dan Cocannauer is just 12-31 overall in his fifth season with the Bulldogs, but he brings his team in Saturday's contest with a winning record at 5-4 on the season.
 
Saturday's contest marks the first non-conference game for the Bulldogs.
 
SWOSU is coming off a 42-14 win over Southern Nazarene this past Saturday, in a game that the Bulldogs accumulated 609 yards of total offense. SWOSU tallied 356 yards through the air and 253 yards on the ground in the game, while the defense limited SNU to just 243 total yards and just 71 yards rushing.
 
Quarterback Dustin Stenta completed 22-of-29 passes for a season-best 336 yards and four touchdowns in the lopsided victory. The yardage mark is fifth-best single-game total in school history and the four touchdowns ties a career high and is the second-best single-game mark in SWOSU history.
 
Stenta has already passed for 2,291 yards on the season and is just 579 yards shy of breaking his own single-season school record for passing yardage. He averaged 254.6 yards per game on the season, which ranks fifth among quarterbacks in the Great American Conference.
 
Running back D.C. Walker leads the team with 627 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, while averaging 69.7 yards per game on the ground. Ryan Corbin leads the wide receiving corps with 57 catches for 705 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging just over 78 receiving yards per game.
 
Statistically the Bulldogs rank in the middle of the pack among GAC teams. SWOSU is averaging 26.4 points per game (8th in GAC) and are giving up 24.2 points per game (5th) on defense. The Bulldog offense is averaging 420.7 yards per game (7th), while the defense is limiting opposing teams to 383.1 yards per game (5th).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Tarleton leads the all-time series with a record of 14-10 and have won six consecutive games between the two teams heading into Saturday's contest.
 
The two teams have not met since 2009, which was SWOSU's second to last season as a member of the Lone Star Conference. While the two teams were both members of the LSC, Tarleton won 10 out of 11 games against the Bulldogs. Prior to its first meeting as LSC foes in 1999, SWOSU had led the all-time series 9-4.
 
The last time Tarleton faced SWOSU, the Texans downed the Bulldogs 66-3 in Stephenville. Tarleton tallied 453 yards of total offense while holding the Bulldogs to just 184 total yards.
 
SWOSU's last win against the Texans came back on Sept. 8, 2003 - a 21-17 victory over the Texans in Weatherford, Okla. The Bulldogs last win over the Texans in Stephenville came back on Oct. 2, 1993 (12-7).
 
A WIN OVER THE BULLDOGS WOULD...
• Push Tarleton's win streak over SWOSU to seven straight games.
• Extend Tarleton's home win streak over SWOSU to seven consecutive victories as well.
• Give the Texans a 2-1 record against non-conference opponents in 2013.
• Snap Tarleton's one game home losing streak.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE TEXANS
For the first time since 2009, the Tarleton State football team clinched at least a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship with a 45-20 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville at Javelina Stadium last Saturday night in Kingsville.
 
The Texans snapped a two-game losing streak with the win and improved to 6-2 overall on the year, while closing out the conference schedule at 5-1 to clinch at least a share of the title.
 
The Tarleton offense racked up 579 yards of total offense on just 67 plays Saturday night, throwing the ball for 374 yards and gaining 205 yards on the ground. Jake Fenske completed 22 passes for 313 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Le'Nard Meyers notched his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with a game-high 102 yards.
 
Wadley led the Texans defensively with 15 total tackles, a quarterback hurry and one interception. Jake Blount had five tackles on the evening and a game-high two sacks as he continues to lead the squad with six sacks on the season. Dashaun Phillips had four tackles on Saturday and registered a season-high four pass break-ups as well.
 
TAMUK's Ronnie Ford completed 25 of his 40 passes for 307 yards, a touchdown and the one interception, while Anthony Washington led the team on the ground with 80 rushing yards. Robert Armstorng collected a team-high seven catches for 89 yards.
 
NOTABLES FROM LAST SATURDAY
• The Texans clinched at least a share of the LSC title for the first time since 2009 and third time in school history.
• Tarleton allowed the opposing offense to pass for 300-yards or more in three straight games for the first time in over 15 years.
• Saturday's win marked the first of the season when the opposing team passes for more then 300 yards and just the fourth time in the Fowler era.
• The Texans improved to 2-0 on the season and 9-0 under head coach Cary Fowler when scoring at least 40 points in a game.
• Zach Henshaw accumulated over 100 all-purpose yards for the three straight games.
• The Texans improved to 6-1 in November games under Fowler.
• Jake Fenske added to his career-high passing yards in a single season with 1,975 yards in 2013.
• Jerome Regal scored a rushing touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time this season and the first time since hitting paydirt in the first two contests of 2012.
• Le'Nard Meyers tallied over 100 receiving yards for the second time this season.
• Marquis Wadley recorded double-digit tackles for the fifth time this season and the 15th game of his career.
 
TEXANS UNDER FOWLER
The Texans are now 21-19 under head coach Cary Fowler. The Texans were just 4-13 in Fowler's first 17 games, but since then the Texans have won 17 of the last 23 contests under him.
 
TEXANS IN THE POLLS
The Texans remained out of this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 Poll following Saturday's 45-20 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Texans also remained out of the D2Football.com Poll as well.
 
AFCA POLL HISTORY
The Texans had been ranked inside the AFCA Top-25 for 82 different weeks since becoming a member of the NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference. Tarleton was ranked inside the AFCA Poll for five straight weeks this season before falling out a couple of weeks ago.
 
Tarleton's first-ever ranking inside the AFCA Top-25 Poll was a No. 24 national ranking on Nov. 6, 2001. The Texans went on to finish that season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
 
The Texans earned its highest ranking in school history in 2002, from Sept. 9-24, after earning the No. 6 spot for three consecutive weeks.
 
TEXANS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Since 2000, Tarleton is 12-22 when playing against ranked opponent, with six of those wins coming against a top-25 ranked MSU team. The Texans are 6-2 all-time against the Mustangs when they have been ranked.
 
The Texans are 0-7 all-time when facing a nationally ranked WTAMU team.
 
TEXANS IN THE LSC
The Texans are 98-134 (.420) all-time against opponents in the LSC. Tarleton had won six straight LSC games dating back to last season before a 22-10 loss to A&M-Commerce on Oct. 26. The Texans finished the 2013 season at 5-1 in LSC play.
 
FOR THE RECORD
The Texans ran 106 offensive plays at Delta State last Saturday, which broke the previous school record of 102 plays that was set against West Texas A&M back on Oct. 12, 1996.
 
Tarleton ran 66 passing plays and 40 rushing attempts in the contest.
 
TARLETON'S SCORING STREAK
The Texans have now scored a touchdown in 35 straight games dating back to the 2010 season. The last time a Tarleton team was held without a TD came in a 65-3 loss to Abilene Christian back on Sept. 25, 2010.
 
Tarleton has scored at least a field goal or touchdown in 46 straight games heading into Saturday's game.
 
TEXANS IN NOVEMBER
The Texans improved to 6-1 overall in November under head coach Cary Fowler with a win over the Javelinas last Saturday.
 
Tarleton has won five consecutive games in the month of November dating back to the 2011 season.
 
The Texans are 25-17 overall in the month of November since joining the LSC and NCAA Division II in 1994.
 
30-POINTS TO VICTORY
The Texans are 18-4 overall when putting up at least 30 points or more under head coach Cary Fowler. That record includes an 9-0 mark when scoring 40 points or more. Tarleton was 5-2 last season when eclipsing the 30-point barrier.
 
WINNING THE GROUND ATTACK
Under head coach Cary Fowler, the Texans are now 15-7 when out-rushing the opposition. Tarleton is just 6-12 over the past four seasons when the opposing team out-gains the Texans in rushing yardage.
 
PASSING PRECISION
Jake Fenske notched a 91.7 passing percentage in week two against Midwestern State after completing 11 of his 12 passes in the game. His only incompletion of the contest was an interception that came deep into the end zone at the beginning of the second quarter.
 
Fenske set a single-season school record in 2012 with a 66.2 pass-completion percentage. After taking over at quarterback in the final four games last season, Fenske completed 102 of his 154 passes.
 
Aaron Doyle finished the season with a 62.7 completion percentage, which ranks third best in a single-season. He connected with 153 of his 244 passes last year.
 
LOCAL AREA TEXANS
The 2013 Texan Football squad boasts seven players (Alex Sanchez, Blake Barnes, Chase Varnado, Brayden Coverdale, Kade Cole, Nick Perez and Kody Travis) from Stephenville, with a pair of players (Cody Burtscher and Jared Thames) from Glen Rose and one player (Tyler Wright) from Granbury.
 
WEARING NO. 96
Sophomore defensive end Patrick Bettiol was awarded the Zach Shaver Award this past spring and he will honor the memory of the former Texan by donning the No. 96 this season.
 
Shaver passed away from a traumatic brain injury on Mar. 29, 2010. As a memorial to Shaver, each year a Texan player is chosen to wear the No. 96 jersey because of their dedication, their attitude, their heart and their love for the game of football.
 
TEXANS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Tarleton had a handful of former players in the national spotlight this offseason and it began with former defensive end Rufus Johnson (2011-12) going to the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Johnson recorded four tackles in four preseason games with the Saints and will serve on New Orleans' practice squad to start the 2013 NFL season.
 
Former Texan quarterback Nick Stephens (2010-11) played in two preseason games for the Dallas Cowboys, which included the national televised Hall of Fame Game on NBC.
 
Former running back Derrick Ross (2004-05) and former kicker Garrett Lindholm (2006-09) squared off against each other in the Arena Football League's Arena Bowl this past August. Lindholm was named the AFL's Kicker of the Year, while Ross became the AFL's career leader in rushing yards.
 
TEXANS PICKED 3RD IN LSC POLL
Tarleton State was picked to finish third in the Lone Star Conference after receiving one first-place vote for a total of 99 points. West Texas A&M was the top choice to repeat as the LSC football champion according to the preseason poll.
 
PRESEASON HONORS
The Texans had nine different players earn preseason All-American honors prior to the 2013 campaign.
 
Dashaun Phillips (1st Team) and Blake Barnes (3rd Team) were each tabbed D2Football.com Preseason All-Americans, while Jerome Regal (2nd Team), Marquis Wadley (2nd Team), Barnes (2nd Team), Zach Henshaw (3rd Team), Lucas Love (HM), Nick Perez (HM), Clifton Rhodes III (HM), Desmond Jackson (HM) and Phillips (HM) were all named to the USA College Football Preseason All-American Team.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE TEXANS
The Texans will play back-to-back games at Tarleton Memorial Stadium for the first time next Saturday when Tarleton hosts North Alabama in the 2013 regular-season finale. Kickoff between the Texans and Lions is set for 2 p.m.
 
It will be Senior Day for the Texans as Tarleton will recognize 14 current seniors along with former Texan, Zach Shaver, who would have been a senior for the Texans as well.