LSC FOOTBALL
This week includes four Lone Star Conference games and one non-conference contest. West Texas A&M tops the standings after a shutout victory over Abilene Christian to extend its winning streak to six games.
At the halfway point of the 10-game GSC-LSC First and Ten Challenge, the Gulf South Conference leads the series 3-2, with visiting teams prevailing in each game so far. The average score has been 31-27.
LSC football teams are 29-30 overall this season. The squads are 2-3 combined versus the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, which are also in NCAA Super Regional Four.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Dustin Vaughan, West Texas A&M University, SR, QB, Corpus Christi, Texas, Calallen HS
Vaughan had his fourth 300-yard game or better last week as WT downed Abilene Christian 36-0 on Homecoming. He was 32 of 46 for 359 yards and three touchdowns. He had 11 yards rushing on three carries and was sacked one time. It was his fourth game with no interceptions as he has had just three for the season compared to a league-best 23 touchdown passes. For the season he is 162 of 255 with three interceptions and 23 touchdowns. He has thrown for a league-best 2231 yards. Vaughan moved into sixth all-time in school history Saturday in passing yards with 5,884. He ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency at 165.08 and 11th nationally in total offense at 324.29. Both are conference-bests.
DEFENSIVE
Ethan Westbrooks, West Texas A&M University, JR, DE, San Leandro, Calif., Franklin HS
Westbrooks had a stellar game with a game-high three sacks for 15 yards which was a career-high in sacks in a game and yards in a game against LSC Preseason Player of the Year Mitchell Gale. He also had a team-high three quarterback hurries and has six in the past two games. He helped lead the Buffs to a season-high nine sacks (51 yards) and 14 tackles for loss (61 yards) in a 36-0 blanking of Abilene Christian.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS
Sergio Castillo, Jr., West Texas A&M University, JR, K, La Joya, Texas, La Joya HS
Castillo had a career and Lone Star Conference season-long 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half giving the Buffs a 13-0 lead. He added a 35-yarder later in the game as WT shutout Abilene Christian 36-0 on Homecoming. Castillo, Jr., went 2-2 in field goals and has made seven-straight field goals and 10 of 12 for the season. Castillo Jr., is a perfect 31 of 31 in extra points this season. He ranks fifth all-time in scoring in school history with 219 points. He is 28 of 38 in field goals and 135 of 137 in extra points. Castillo, Jr., is a league-best 33 of 33 in extra points this season.
Blake Barnes, Tarleton State University, FR, K, Stephenville, Texas, Stephenville
Barnes cemented his place in Tarleton school history this past Saturday in the Texans’ 46-10 win over A&M-Commerce, as he tied a school record with five field goals in the victory, which is the most made in the LSC this season. Barnes got the Texans on the board with a 18-yarder in the first quarter and then tallied four-straight field goal attempts in the second and third quarters. His school record-tying field goal attempt came at the 2:26 mark of the third quarter - following a near two hour lightning delay. Barnes came out of the locker room and nailed the 38-yarder to tie the school record that has been held for 19 years.