LSC FOOTBALL
This week includes four Lone Star Conference games and one non-conference contest. West Texas A&M remains atop the standings after a victory at Eastern New Mexico in the annual Wagon Wheel Game to extend its winning streak to seven games.
The ENMU at Midwestern State contest on Saturday will be web streamed live on FoxSportsSouthwest.com. The Mustangs have won their last six games and sit in second place with a 5-1 league mark.
This week’s GSC-LSC First and Ten Challenge match-up sends WTAMU to Carrollton, Ga., to take on West Georgia. The game is set to be aired live on ESPN GamePlan, ESPN3 and back to the Amarillo area on KAMR-NBC 4.
After five contests 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 33-35 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
CO-OFFENSIVE
Brandon Kelsey, Midwestern State University, SR, QB, Arlington, Texas, Arlington HS
The signal caller of the Mustangs’ Pony Express, Kelsey led No. 12 Midwestern State to a 35-31 victory at Abilene Christian by running for 141 yard and a career-high four touchdowns. The 24 points equals the most scored in the Lone Star Conference this season. The MSU quarterback also completed 12-of-16 passes for 121 yards in the contest as he directed the Mustangs attack to their sixth straight win and their third 500-yard game of the season. Kelsey jumped to seventh on the MSU career rushing charts with 1908 yards and is seventh on the MSU career scoring list with 156 points.
Khiry Robinson, West Texas A&M University, SR, RB, Temple, Texas, Temple HS/Blinn JC
Had a career-high four rushing touchdowns in the Buffs’ 44-21 win at Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, including three touchdowns in the second half alone. It was his fourth consecutive game with 100 or more yards rushing as he averaged a season-best 8.2 yards per carry on 16 carries. His four rushing touchdown performance is the first since Keithon Fleming had four versus Central Washington on Nov. 15, 2008. Robinson also had three receptions for 30 yards in the game. He leads the team averaging 111.5 yards per game and has 669 yards on 96 carries with six rushing scores. He ranks second in the league in rushing. He has seven total touchdowns for the season ranking second in points with 44.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Ethan Westbrooks, West Texas A&M University, JR, DE, San Leandro, Calif., Franklin HS/Sacramento City CC
Westbrooks had another outstanding game recording three more sacks for six in the last two weeks. In the 44-21 win at Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, he had a game-high three sacks for 11 yards against a team that runs the triple option, which makes sacks hard to get. Westbrooks had two quarterback hurries with three solo stops and two assisted tackles for five total stops. He has really come into his own as of late with 12.5 tackles for loss for 49 yards in the last five games and nine sacks for 40 yards during that span. Westbrooks has 31 total tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss (58 yards) and 10 sacks for 49 yards on the year. He ranks first in the conference in tackles for loss and sacks. He has nine quarterback hurries on the year which leads the team.
Mark Savere, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, FR, LB, San Antonio, Texas, Warren HS
Savere had a pair of interceptions and one pass break-up in the Javelinas win over Tarleton State. He now shares the team lead with two picks. Savere also had six total tackles with three solo and three assists.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jonathan Woodson, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, SR, PR/KR, Missouri City, Texas, Marshall HS
Woodson, who entered the game with over 2,000 yards in career kickoff returns, returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown in the Javelinas victory over Tarleton State on Saturday. It was his first kickoff return for a score and the longest in the LSC this season. He finished with 134 all-purpose yards and two scores including a 26-yard TD run in the first quarter.