GAMEDAY INFORMATION

When: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 7 p.m. (CST)

Where: Stephenville, Texas | Memorial Stadium

Series: Texans trail 0-1 | Streak: UF, Won 1

Last Meeting: Findlay 13, Tarleton 6 on Nov. 18, 1978 in Findlay

Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on KTRL 90.5 FM | Listen Live | Pregame Show begins at 6:30 p.m.

Web Stream: TarletonSports.com/ListenLive

Social Media: Facebook | Twitter

Follow the Action: Live Stats | Game Notes

Tailgating Information: Texan Alley presented by Green Acres Rental

THE GAME
Tarleton Football will begin the 2015 season Saturday night with a historic rematch against the University of Findlay. The season will begin with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville.
 
COVERING THE GAME
Saturday's contest will be aired on the Tarleton Sports Network presented by North Texas Ford Dealers. The game will be broadcast live on KTRL (90.5 FM) with Casey Hogan calling play-by-play and Keltin Wiens joining him for color commentary. Travis Smith joins the broadcast team on the sidelines. In addition to the radio feed, the game is online at www.tarletonsports.com/listenlive.
 
PRESEASON POLL
Tarleton checked in at No. 4 in the annual preseason poll by the Lone Star Conference. The Texans finished four points behind Midwestern State for third and three votes ahead of West Texas A&M in fifth place. Angelo State and Texas A&M-Commerce were picked as the top two teams in the LSC, respectively, when the conference hosted its Online Media Day on July 28.
 
TARLETON vs FINDLAY
This is the second meeting in the history of these two programs and the first since the Texans and Oilers met in the NAIA playoffs in 1978. The Texans lost the only previous meeting to the Oilers.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The 1978 Texans, who boasts Tarleton's first playoff appearance as a four-year institution, traveled to Findlay for the opening round of the NAIA playoffs on Nov. 18, 1978 and fell 6-13 to the Oilers in a defensive shootout. Tarleton went into the game with a record of 8-0-1 while the Oilers also boasted a perfect 9-0 mark through the regular season.
 
A LOOK AT THE LAST MEETING
This future Tarleton Hall of Fame football team set the tone of championship football for the future at Tarleton State University. Tally Neal, the only player to ever have his number retired at Tarleton, recorded 16 tackles against Findlay that day including 12 solo stops. Dane Crisp (13) and Tony Tuck (11) were also defensive powers for the Texans in holding the Oilers to just 85 total yards of offense that day. Chuck High rushed for 58 yards and Sam Scott hauled in four passes for 85 yards - from quarterback Dan Smalley, who threw for 172.
 
TARLETON'S SCORING STREAK
The Texans have now scored a touchdown in 47 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 55 straight games heading into Saturday's game. The Texans have not been shutout since Nov. 8, 2008.
 
TARLETON IN SEASON OPENERS
The Texans are 11-10 in season openers since joining the NCAA in 1994. Tarleton has won three straight season openers, dating back to the 2012 season when Tarleton upended No. 4 Midwestern State 20-17 in Stephenville. The three-game winning streak on opening day by Cary Fowler over the last three seasons matches the longest season-opening win streak in Tarleton's NCAA era - joining the three straight season-opening wins by Sam McElroy from 2007-09.
 
TARLETON IN HOME OPENERS
Tarleton is also 11-10 in home openers since becoming an NCAA institution in 1994, including 2-3 in home openers under Fowler.
 
BEHIND THAT TEXAN LINE
Tarleton boasts one of its best offensive lines in the NCAA era in 2015. The front five for the Texans are all seniors and have been here for at least three seasons, including four-year starter and preseason All-America selection Nick Perez. The five starting linemen have combined for over 100 career starts in their careers and have helped Tarleton's offense move the ball for over 14,500 total yards since 2012.
 
A 'GRAND' LINEAGE
When Tarleton went to Findlay for its first-ever NAIA playoff game on Nov. 18, 1978, the head coach and defensive coordinator for the Texans were Buddy Fornes and Joe Gillespie. Now - 37 years later - the grandsons of those two legendary Tarleton coaches will take the field for the Texans against Findlay Saturday night. Kason Fornes (11; WR; Kerrville) and Josh Gillespie (LB; 59; Stephenville) will suit up for Tarleton Saturday, carrying on the legendary lineage of their coach grandfathers.
 
GIVING INTO THE DEFENSIVE SIDE
Several Texans have made position switches in the offseason, going from the offensive side of the ball to the defensive side. Cody Burtscher, a two-year running back, will transition into middle linebacker while Jarmarquis Durst and E.J. Speed will make the switch from wide receivers to safety and defensive end, respectively.
 
RECORD TRACKER: BLAKE BARNES
Entering his senior season, Blake Barnes is making a case to go down alongside Tarleton Hall of Famer J.W. Boren as two of the top kickers in Tarleton history.
• FG Att: Barnes now has attempted 56 field goals in his career to place him No. 2 all-time. He is 28 attempts shy of passing Boren (83) for the all-time lead.
• FG Made: Entering Saturday's game with 40 career field goals, he is tied with Paul Williams for second all-time. Barnes is 20 field goals away from becoming the all-time leader and passing Boren (59).
• PAT Att: He is also in second-place all-time in PATs attempted (133). He is 16 extra points away from the all-time record, held by Boren (148)
• PAT Made: In PATs made, Barnes is second all-time with 131 and is six extra points away from passing Boren (136) as the all-time leader.
 
RECORD TRACKER: LE'NARD MEYERS
Entering his senior season, Le'Nard Meyers will look to etch his name into the all-time receiving records.
• Receptions: Meyers enters the season with 127 career receptions and is 62 catches shy of passing Hall of Famer Harlan Wunsch (188) for second all-time in school history.
• Receiving Yards: Meyers will need 896 yards this season to crack the top five all-time in school history. Jeremy Madkins (2003-06) holds the No. 5 position with 2,441 yards.
• Receiving Touchdowns: Meyers needs nine (9) touchdowns this season to move into the top-3 all-time in receiving scores. Will Moody (2000-03) is currently third all-time with 20 touchdown catches.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton head to AT&T Stadium next weekend to open Lone Star Conference play against West Texas A&M in the home of the Dallas Cowboys at the annual Lone Star Conference Football Festival at 3:30 p.m.