August 8th, 2024 3:00pm
2024 Lone Star Conference Season Preview
Like so many oil wells across Texas, offseason hope can spring like a gusher. But except for very few teams, that hope is replaced with cold, harsh, empty reality once the season starts. The 2024 season starts with hope that the LSC can continue its momentum from last season, placing multiple teams in the NCAA Division 2 playoffs and placing an LSC member in the Super Region 4 title game for the sixth straight season. However, the reality is that the last 5 LSC members to get that far in the playoffs have all lost, with the only team to win being the 2017 National Champion TAMU-Commerce team. With 3-time defending Super Region 4 champion Colorado Mines losing some of their top players to graduation, maybe there’s an opening for an LSC team to break through in 2024?
Part 1 – A look back at the 2023 LSC season
2023 LSC standings
The main stories from of the 2023 season were:
Part 2 – The LSC Off-Season
This was a much quieter offseason compared to 2023:
Part 3 - 2024 Lone Star Conference Preview
First, the LSC Preseason Awards and Players to Watch in 2024:
Go to the below link to see the LSC’s Preseason Awards and players to watch. Central Washington running back Tyler Flanagan is the LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Central Washington defensive back and 2023 Cliff Harris Award winner Tanner Volk is the LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
https://lonestarconference.org/news/2024/7/17/central-washingtons-flanagan-volk-receive-lsc-football-preseason-honors-players-to-watch-list-announced.aspx
Next, the LSC Preseason Media Poll and Team Previews – I will profile each team in this order, starting with tenth-place Sul Ross State:
https://lonestarconference.org/news/2024/7/17/lsc-football-preseason-poll-announced.aspx
A short note before the team profiles – It should be noted that these team profiles are written with the best information that I could find. However, at this time, some schools haven’t posted a 2024 roster, which can make profiling teams difficult, especially for profiling teams who are in the process of making significant changes or are making significant changes (like Midwestern State, West Texas A&M, or Western New Mexico). While I have tried my best to be as accurate as possible, there may be errors, and if there are errors, they are solely on me.
10. Sul Ross State Lobos
2023 Record: 4-6 (3-4 in Division 3 American Southwest Conference)
Coach: Barry Derickson (third season, 8-12 record)
Notable Players: Offense – WR Vicente Luevano, WR Isaiah Pena, QB Andrew Martinez
Defense – DB Quincy Blair, LB Darrion Brown, DB Brendon Martin
First Game in 2024: August 29 at home against West Texas A&M
Outlook: It’s going to be rough
In the high desert of West Texas sits Alpine, Texas, home of Sul Ross State University. New Division 2 and returning LSC members (they were LSC members from 1950 to 1975), Sul Ross State joins the LSC from the Division 3 American Southwest Conference. The Lobos are not exactly strangers to LSC teams, posting a 1-6 record against LSC members since the 2013 season, with the only win coming in 2017 against Texas-Permian Basin, who were in their second season as a program.
Under third-year coach Barry Derickson, the Lobos have improved to their best win totals (4 wins in each of the last two seasons) since a 5-5 season in the 2017 season. But history really doesn’t mean much of anything when you are making the move up from Division 3 to Division 2. Some teams like Frostburg State in the MEC have not missed a beat since making the move, with the Bobcats falling just short of a playoff spot in 2023 after finishing their probation period. Unfortunately for Sul Ross State, the Lobos didn’t have a 10-1 record and a third consecutive Division 3 playoff appearance like Frostburg State did when they made the move. Expect a tough season, navigating a rebuilding process along with the transition to Division 2 athletics. However, a 57-player recruiting class does give some hope to Lobos fans.
Schedule Highlights:
August 29 vs. West Texas A&M – This is not only Sul Ross State’s first Division 2 game, it’s their first LSC conference game.It’s also the first game on the 2024 LSC schedule.Could the Lobos pull off a surprise upset over a West Texas A&M team that is expecting bigger things in 2024?
October 19 vs. Western New Mexico – Sul Ross State lost a close 42-28 game to the Mustangs last season in Silver City.This could be an opportunity for the Lobos to pick up a win if the Mustangs haven’t shown improvement in 2024.
9. Western New Mexico Mustangs
2023 Record: 2-8 (1-7 LSC)
Coach: Billy Hickman (second season, 2-8 record)
Notable Players: Offense – QB Hunter Davis, WR Anthony Flores, WR Deuce Zimmerman
Defense – LB Kiu Teu, LB Cole Lalama, DB Rene Holguin
First Game in 2024: August 31 at Texas-Permian Basin
Outlook: Was 2022 the Exception?
When Billy Hickman took over a surprise 6-5 Mustangs team in 2023, there was some hope that he could continue momentum or at the very least keep the Mustangs’ record close to even.Outside of an upset win in the Green Chile Bowl over ENMU, the 2023 season was a full-on nightmare for the Mustangs.Without a strong rushing attack, defenses could key in on the WNMU passing game and keep WNMU out of the end zone.Combined with a defense that gave up more than 48 points in 6 games, 2023 had very few positives.
Hunter Davis is the most experienced quarterback returning with Devin Larsen following old coach Philip Vigil to CSU-Pueblo.Overall, it needs to be seen on the field what improvements have been made on both sides of the ball to prevent fans from thinking that the 2022 team was the exception and not the rule for WNMU football.
Schedule Highlights:
September 14 vs. New Mexico Highlands – In the 2023 edition of La Batalla Bowl, Highlands won a 48-42 shootout in 2023 despite being outgained by 95 yards.Highlands made up for it by winning the turnover battle 4-1.
October 26 at Eastern New Mexico – The Mustangs hold a 2-game winning streak in the Green Chile Bowl after losing the previous 16 meetings to ENMU.Could they stun the Greyhounds again?
8. Western Oregon Wolves
2023 Record: 3-8 (2-6 LSC)
Coach: Arne Ferguson (twentieth season, 103-91 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – WR Damon Hickok, RB Dominique Loggins, WR Keyvaun Eady
Defense – LB Malcolm Liufau, DB Tyler Copeland, DB Dawson Muggy
First Game in 2023: September 7 at Idaho State (Division 1 – Big Sky Conference)
Outlook: Play a full 60 minutes
With Midwestern State’s Bill Maskill retiring after the 2023 season, Arne Ferguson now stands as the current longest-tenured coach at an LSC school. Starting his twentieth season in charge at Western Oregon, the Wolves have been plagued by uneven games over the past few seasons. Some games, the offense would be great, but the defense wasn’t there. For others, the opposite was true. One game, they would have 300 passing yards, another game they would have 85.
Atop the offensive priority list is a replacement for quarterback Gannon Winker, who is now the WOU quarterback coach after graduating. Increased depth at the skill positions wouldn’t hurt either, with Dominique Loggins as the top returning rusher and Damon Hickok the top receiver. Linebacker Malcolm Liufau is the team’s top returning defender and the team’s top tackler in 2023.
Schedule Highlights:
September 30 at West Texas A&M – This has become one of the most exciting games on the LSC schedule, with WOU a surprising 3-0 against the Buffaloes.Two of the previous three games were back-and-forth affairs that have come down to the last possession.
November 16 at Central Washington – The last two games between these teams have been close, defensive struggles.Wouldn’t be a surprise if the same is true this year.It is the last game of the regular season for both teams.
7. Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds
2023 Record: 5-6 (2-6 LSC)
Coach: Kelley Lee (second season of second tenure at ENMU, 26-18 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – QB Mario Sanchez, RB Elijah Zeh, RB Ja”Calvin Newsom
Defense – DB Micah Lewis, DB Zerrian Meander, LB Colten Madison
First Game in 2024: August 29 at New Mexico Highlands (RMAC)
Outlook: Keep it clean when it matters
ENMU really should have finished last season 6-5 in Kelley Lee’s first season back as coach.But a shock loss in the Green Chile Bowl where multiple late mistakes by the Greyhounds provided the opportunity for WNMU to get their first and only Division 2 and LSC win in 2023, a 25-24 victory.Even so, there were many positives to draw from and point toward more success in 2024.For one, quarterback Mario Sanchez took quite well to the triple-option offense, throwing 13 touchdowns to just 1 interception and leading the Greyhounds with 12 rushing touchdowns.There were improvements on both sides of the ball, but the mid-season 5-game losing streak (although they did play the LSC’s top 4 teams in that stretch) and the loss in the Green Chile Bowl show that this the beginning and not the end of the rebuilding process.If Lee’s coaching history is any prediction (and previous results should not necessarily be indicative of future results), big things could be on the horizon for ENMU.You see, Lee’s previous 5-6 season in 2018 was followed with an 8-4 season in 2019, so maybe ENMU could shoot up then LSC standings again?
Schedule Highlights:
October 19 vs. West Texas A&M – ENMU has won the Wagon Wheel game the last two seasons and look to keep ahead of the Buffaloes.
October 26 at Western New Mexico – Arguably the two most important games of the ENMU season are on consecutive weeks.ENMU had a letdown in last year’s Green Chile Bowl, could the result of the previous week’s Wagon Wheel Game impact the Greyhounds?
6. West Texas A&M Buffaloes
2023 Record: 3-7 (2-6 LSC)
Coach: Josh Lynn (second season, 68-57 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – RB Tre’Jon Henderson, RB Tray’Vian McCoy-Gay, QB Kanon Gibson
Defense – LB JT Cavender, DB Preston Steszewski, LB Koby King
First Game in 2024: August 29 at Sul Ross State
Outlook: Year 2 should be better?
At each of Josh Lynn’s three coaching stops, his teams had one thing in common – 3 wins in his first season.Also true – his previous teams all increased their win totals in his second season, with ENMU jumping to 7 wins in 2013 and Nebraska-Kearney to 5 wins in 2018.What will Lynn’s second season look like at WT?One thing for sure is their early-season schedule is one of the toughest in the nation.After the season opener against Sul Ross State, the Buffaloes face Colorado Mines, Western Colorado, and Central Washington – the preseason picks for the top two RMAC teams and the preseason LSC favorite.It is very possible WT will have a 1-3 record with the Wagon Wheel Game, UTPB, TAMUK, and Angelo State still ahead of them.
To WT’s favor will be a more experienced roster, with Kanon Gibson the most-experienced returning quarterback in the WT system.Also, Central Washington transfer Tre’Jon Henderson hopes to have a healthy season in his return to his home state.JT Cavender had his 2023 season interrupted with injuries, but he is one of the LSC’s (and the nation’s) top defenders when healthy.Lynn is working to build a strong roster at WT, but a run to the top of the LSC may still be a year or two away, which may not be the thing Buffaloes fans want to hear.
Schedule Highlights:
September 5 at Colorado Mines – WT takes their shot at the three–time defending Super Region 4 Champions in Golden.Mines was the preseason pick to win the RMAC once again despite the departure of former Harlon Hill winner John Matocha.We will see if the Buffaloes have better luck with the Orediggers than Angelo State has had over the previous three seasons.
October 19 at Eastern New Mexico – WT has lost the last two Wagon Wheel Games, and winning this one will tell a lot about whether the Buffaloes are beginning to beat the teams picked to finish below them in the standings.
5. Midwestern State Mustangs
2023 Record: 4-6 (3-5 LSC)
Coach: Rich Renner (first season, no record)
Notable Players: Offense – RB Devin Cross, RB Jalen March, WR Justin White Jr.
Defense – DE Kaleb Manning, DB Javian Giipson-Holmes, DB Jaylen Shaw
First Game in 2024: August 29 at home against Missouri Southern (MIAA)
Outlook: Fix the passing game
Defensive coordinator Rich Renner replaces Bill Maskill, who retired after 23 seasons and a 173-79 overall record.His most pressing issue will be on offense, where in 2023MSU only scored 21 points per game with an offense where it was a surprise if they managed 100 passing yards in a game.The running game, led by returning sophomore Devin Cross and junior Jalen March, is more than fine – it’s now up to Renner and the MSU staff to put a serviceable passing game together.The top returning quarterback from 2023, James Cooper, Jr., averaged a meager 72 yards passing per game with just 5 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.The defense was solid, giving up 20 points per game, but MSU loses their top four tacklers from 2023. Sounds an awful lot like a team that going to be stuck in the middle this season.
Schedule Highlights:
September 7 at Western Colorado – A 2024 playoff team, Western Colorado had an early-season win at home over UTPB and look to do the same here.
November 9 at West Texas A&M – The latest edition of the Highway 287 Rivalry.MSU and WT were picked to finish in the fifth and sixth spots in the LSC Preseason Poll.If the poll holds up, the winner will have a chance at finishing in the top half of the LSC standings.
4. Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas
2023 Record: 7-3 (5-3 LSC)
Coach: Mike Salinas (fifth season, 19-15 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – OT Kevaughnte McGowan, WR Craig Clemons, TE Walker Ring
Defense – DT Xavier Henderson, LB Jaylen Hackney, DE Demarcus Hendricks
First Game in 2024: August 29 at home against Colorado Mesa (RMAC)
Outlook: Break through to the top
The Javelinas had significant injury issues in 2023, especially at quarterback, where incumbent starter Jacob Cavazos suffered a concussion against UTPB and didn’t play again that season.TAMUK used four quarterbacks in 2023, and when you’re using that many players at that position, you’re bound to have your share of ups and downs.But even with the injury issues, they gutted out 4 one-score wins, and their only losses were to the three teams that finished ahead of them in the LSC standings, with two of those games decided by one score.The Javelinas will need to replace quite a bit of offensive production in 2024, having lost Cavazos and top rushers Christian Anderson and CJ Odom to graduation. Linebacker Jaylen Hackney and defensive tackle Xavier Henderson will anchor a Javelina defense that will have a particularly young group of linebackers.
Mike Salinas has made slow but steady progress in his TAMUK tenure.With 7 wins in each of the last two seasons, the Javelinas want to take the next step to playoff contender.Unless they have found answers at key positions, this might be difficult in 2024.
Schedule Highlights:
August 29 vs. Colorado Mesa – Colorado Mesa was picked to finish fourth in the 2024 RMAC Preseason Poll.A 30-10 Javelinas win over the Mavericks in 2023’s first week was the first win of a season-beginning 3-game winning streak.
October 19 vs. Central Washington – The Javelinas held a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead in last year’s game but gave up the game’s last 9 points to lose their second straight game of what would become a five-game losing streak.
3.Texas-Permian Basin Falcons
2023 Record: 10-2 (8-0 LSC, 2023 LSC Champions, NCAA Division 2 Playoffs Super Region 4 First Round)
Coach: Kris McCullough (second season, 19-5 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – WR Jeremiah Cooley, RB Kory Harris, WR Deon Cook
Defense – LB Jalon Rocquemore, DB Champ Mathis, DB Ashton Hamby
First Game in 2024: August 31 at home against Western New Mexico
Outlook: Get back to the playoffs and win
UTPB steamrolled nearly everyone on their way to running the table in LSC play.The playoffs were a different story, however, as Bemidji State went to Midland and held the Falcons’ offense to its worst effort of the season and ended UTPB’s run by a 10-3 score.The architect of the Falcons’ high-flying offense was quarterback Kenny Hrncir, who is now on the UTPB coaching staff as the nation’s youngest offensive coordinator (well, co-offensive coordinator), joining teammates Hayden Kelly and Matt Zubiate on the UTPB coaching staff.
In 2024 another band of transfers, along with many returning players, will try to take UTPB further than the first round.The biggest challenge for McCullough will be replacing Hrncir, who was his quarterback at East Central and at UTPB, along with top linebacker Kelly.Former starting quarterback Dylan Graham is still listed on the UTPB roster, and he’s the most-experienced quarterback on the roster, so maybe it’s his turn again?UTPB does return top rusher Kory Harris and the top six receivers from last year’s squad, so if McCullough finds that quarterback, the Falcons may be flying on offense once again.Replacing Kelly’s production will also be difficult, although Jalon Rocquemore is very capable at linebacker.
Schedule Highlights:
September 7 at CSU-Pueblo – Both UTPB and CSU-Pueblo look to be in the playoff hunt in 2024, and the winner of this matchup could have a leg up in the Super Region 4 rankings.
October 5 vs. Angelo State – A win over the Rams could help to establish the Falcons as more than a one-year wonder and help with playoff positioning.
2. Angelo State Rams
2023 Record: 7-3 (6-2 LSC), 2022 LSC Champions
Coach: Jeff Girsch (sixth season, 46-18 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – WR Zorhan Rideaux, WR Kyle Bradford, RB Brayden Wilcox
Defense – LB Eric Rascoe, DB Andrew Pitts, DB Jordan McKinney
First Game in 2024: August 29 at Fort Hays State (MIAA)
Outlook: Win the big games
Having played baseball for several years when I was young, I learned about “baseball memory”.Basically, it’s the idea that if something bad happened, like making the last out with the tying run at third or giving up the game-winning hit, that you can’t let it carry over and impact the next game.For Angelo State, Central Washington will test their memories.Uncharacteristic errors in the second half led to a 27-24 loss that may have kept the Rams out of the 2023 playoffs.If ASU has more success in those big games in 2024, they should return to the playoffs.Last year, they didn’t win any when maybe even one win might have been enough.
The Rams have a deep group of skill players but need to replace Gerald Gardner at quarterback.The defense, ASU’s calling card in Girsch’s tenure, is led by linebacker Eric Rascoe.Overall, the Rams return experience and skill on both sides of the ball and should have no shortage of motivation to get back to the playoffs, where they made the Super Region 4 Final in 2021 and 2022.
Schedule Highlights:
October 5 at Texas-Permian Basin – ASU held a 23-21 lead in the third quarter against UTPB before giving up the lead late in the third quarter.Two late UTPB interceptions sealed the game for the Falcons.
November 2 vs. Central Washington – Angelo State looks to get revenge on the Wildcats after Tanner Volk nearly won last year’s game by himself.
1. Central Washington Wildcats
2022 Record: 9-4 (7-1 LSC, NCAA Division 2 Playoffs Super Region 2 Runner-Up)
Coach: Chris Fisk (fifth season, 30-19 overall record)
Notable Players: Offense – RB Tyler Flanagan, QB Kennedy McGill, WR Darius Morrison
Defense – S Tanner Volk, LB Brett McCalla, LB Isaac Clark
First Game in 2024: September 7 at U. of San Diego (Division 1 – Pioneer Football League)
Outlook: Prove they aren’t a one-hit wonder
It was supposed to be UTPB making the deep playoff run and going to Golden for an offense-versus-offense showdown against Colorado Mines.So when Bemidji State hit UTPB in the mouth and knocked them out, CWU took what they did best (run the ball and play defense), and went on the road to beat both teams that beat UTPB in 2023.Yes, they fell short against Mines in the Super Region 4 Final, but only the stampeding herd of Bisons from Harding stopped Mines last season.
The biggest question about the Wildcats is whether McGill can take a step forward and carry more of the offensive load, especially if Flanagan is out again for any significant time.The last CWU quarterback that had this level of expectation was Quincy Glasper, who unfortunately was hurt in his second season and then later transferred.On defense, can Volk continue to have such a large impact on the game?He led all divisions with 13 interceptions and was the only NCAA defender with double-digit interceptions.What happens if his productivity decreases?
Schedule Highlights:
October 12 vs. Texas-Permian Basin - CWU looks to avenge their only 2023 loss in LSC play, a loss that cost the Wildcats the LSC championship.
November 2 at Angelo State – With Sul Ross State and Western Oregon to follow, this might be CWU’s last test of not just the LSC season, but could also be important for playoff positioning if the Wildcats are in the playoff race.
What’s my take on the LSC?
Has there ever been an LSC season when the preseason pick to win the conference didn’t reside in Texas? Is the LSC’s best team really in the Pacific Northwest? With the preseason top offensive and defensive players in the LSC wearing CWU colors, that’s certainly a good start for the Wildcats to make a run at the conference title.
The schedule has some new looks in 2024 as well – with Sul Ross State’s arrival, every week of the regular season will have at least one conference game (except for week 2, although there is the very odd non-conference game between LSC members Eastern New Mexico and Sul Ross State), unlike previous years where the first couple of weeks were reserved for just non-conference games. Also, with the MIAA leaving their longtime silo scheduling system, they have scheduled some games with LSC squads. Of note, Angelo State has scheduled two games and MSU one game against MIAA teams in 2024. Should be a nice preview for when the MIAA (and if you’re not familiar with the MIAA, they’re the conference with Division 2 titans Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri State) moves to Super Region 4 in 2025.
So, how do I think the LSC will fare this season? It’s easy to say Central Washington should win the league with the top rusher and defender in the LSC returning. The Wildcats were able to win the close ones with a strong defense and running game. If CWU continues to rely on this style of play, there is the idea of “regression to the mean”, where things can go one way one year and then the opposite way the next year. Remember, this was a team that lost to an NAIA school last season. CWU’s going to be very good, but they still need to prove to me that they are the best in the LSC.
With an experienced and motivated Angelo State team coming back in 2024, I can see the Rams finishing on top of the LSC again. That is, of course, if they find a capable quarterback to replace Gerald Gardner. Then there’s UTPB and TAMUK. UTPB does have quite a bit of offensive talent returning, so they could stay atop the LSC if they shore up the quarterback position and defense. TAMUK not only needs stability at quarterback, but their top two rushers also left to graduation, but there should be enough talent there to have a shot at scaring the teams picked for the top.
As far as possible LSC playoff competitors are concerned, I would look at CWU and Angelo State as two of the four LSC teams with legitimate shots at being in the top 7 of the Super Region 4 rankings. UTPB and/or TAMUK may also be in the top 10 as well. The predicted middle of the LSC (WT, Midwestern State, and even ENMU) may possibly scare the predicted top teams if they catch some breaks. I do think the LSC gets two teams in the playoffs again, with a third team having a shot. Of course, there will certainly be some surprises, like UTPB winning the LSC in 2023 after being picked to finish seventh. I guess that means Eastern New Mexico as LSC Champions?
All right, enough of the speculation, it’s time for kickoff!