LSC End of Season Recap

January 5th, 2025 11:00am

LSC 2024 End of Season Recap

The 2024 LSC season ended with a thud as both the conference’s playoff teams lost in the first round of the Super Region 1 playoffs, ending the LSC’s multiple-year run of placing a team in the Super Region 4 Final.  And while Texas-Permian Basin held down the now two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski of Central Missouri for three quarters, they ran out of gas in the in the fourth and lost the Heritage Bowl in two overtimes. 

So, let’s get into the highlights (and lowlights) of the 2024 season and take a much-too-early look at what next year might bring. 

LSC Final 2024 Standings

* Includes postseason games

LSC All-Conference Awards:

Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins Award): Braeden Fuller, Angelo State
Offensive Back of the Year: Tyler Flanagan, Central Washington
Receiver of the Year: Jeremiah Cooley, Texas-Permian Basin
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Slade Edwards, Central Washington
Offensive Freshman of the Year: Demonte Greene, Midwestern State
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes Award): Tanner Volk, Central Washington
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Owen Seaver, Angelo State
Co-Linebackers of the Year: Tristan Exline, Texas-Permian Basin and Eric Rascoe, Angelo State
Defensive Back of the Year: Andrew Pitts, Angelo State
Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year: Mikaio Edward, Central Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Zorian Stanton, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Jeff Girsch, Angelo State

LSC football awards and the All-Conference teams can be found here: https://lonestarconference.org/news/2024/11/20/2024-lsc-football-all-conference-awards-revealed.aspx

Team Summaries

1. Angelo State – The Rams started the season with an 0-2 road trip to MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Emporia State while trying to find a solution at quarterback.  Braeden Fuller ultimately won the starting job, and from the point he took over, he became one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, leading the ASU offense to an undefeated LSC record without throwing an interception all season.  The Rams’ defense, led by Eric Rascoe and Andrew Pitts, was also among the nation’s best.  Unfortunately, the ASU winning streak (and Fuller’s interception-less streak) would end once they left LSC play in the first round of Super Region 4 playoffs.     
2. Central Washington – CWU could have easily gone into the playoffs as LSC champions with one loss overall, but their two conference losses came in games decided by a missed extra point kick and the Wildcats were sent back to Western Colorado for a return playoff trip, which didn’t go as well as last year’s visit.  Kennedy McGill and Tyler Flanagan anchored an offense that was more comfortable running the ball than throwing it, and Tanner Volk led a deep and talented defense that kept them in every game. 
3. Texas A&M-Kingsville – Much like the previous two seasons, the Javelinas rode their defense and just enough offense to a 7-win season.  However, those offensive deficiencies, personified by having three quarterbacks have significant time, kept TAMUK from making a run at the top teams in the LSC, struggling against CWU and ASU after defeating Texas-Permian Basin.  Demarcus Hendricks and Xavier Henderson anchored the Javelina defense and Roger Hagan the offense.  TAMUK will be led in 2025 by new head coach Scott Parr, who replaces Michael Salinas, who resigned to take over as TAMUK athletic director. 
4. Texas-Permian Basin– There was no repeat of a perfect LSC record and playoff berth for the Falcons, who lost three nail-biters and lost big to CSU-Pueblo and ASU.  They did play in the Heritage Bowl, where they held Central Missouri quarterback Zach Zebrowski down for three quarters, but couldn’t close it out before losing in two overtimes to the Mules.  Issac Mooring grew into the quarterback position after starter Dylan Graham was lost for the season with a broken leg, but the offense, despite most of the skill players returning, didn’t have the same dominance of last year’s team.  The defense was still solid but didn’t perform as well against the Falcons’ top opponents. 
5. Western Oregon – After losing two games to Division 1 opponents to start the 2024 season, the Wolves then ran off 5 straight wins to the surprise of everyone not in the Wolves’ locker room.  A solid defense and just enough offense, led by quarterback Jordan McCarty and running back Dominique Loggins, kept WOU atop the LSC until a close loss to TAMUK ended the streak and injuries to key players ultimately kept the Wolves from challenging ASU and CWU.  However, even shorthanded, WOU gave it their absolute best in a tough 13-3 loss to CWU to end the 2024 season.          
6. West Texas A&M – The good news – WTAMU finished with a winning record in LSC play, finishing with a 5-4 record.  The bad news – those were the Buffaloes’ only wins in 2024 and their final record was 5-6 (still better than their 2023 record).  Also good news – the Buffaloes won when they ran the ball well.  Not so good news – the Buffaloes couldn’t run the ball (and couldn’t score) against better defenses, usually leading to losses.  And finally…Good news – Kanon Gibson took over at quarterback for Sean Johnson and went 4-2 in the second half of the season.  Bad news – He’s now on the UTPB roster after transferring.   With a new athletic director at WTAMU, head coach Josh Lynn’s seat might be a bit warm. 
7. Midwestern State – Rich Renner’s first season at MSU nearly started with an early-season upset at Western Colorado where quarterback Sean Jastrab had a game for the ages with 361 passing yards.  However, that offensive spark was short-lived as the Mustangs continued to struggle offensively and played three quarterbacks in 2024.  Demonte Greene was a bright spot at wide receiver and safety Larry Donnell anchored the Mustangs’ defense. 
8. Sul Ross State – The Lobos won their first LSC conference games as a Division 2 program by sweeping the two New Mexico schools.  Outside of those games, the main theme for the Lobos was their need to build depth and meet the physical needs of the LSC’s higher level of football, as they struggled to run the ball and create and leverage upfront on either side of the ball.  In other words, they’re working their way up from the Division 3 team that they were before.  Quincy Blair was among the nation’s leaders in tackles with 126 and Jordan Morales came on late in the season to provide a spark on the ground.  The Lobos are currently looking for a new head coach as former head coach Barry Derickson resigned from the position after the season’s close. 
9. Eastern New Mexico – Kelley Lee’s Greyhounds took a couple steps back from his first season in his return to the ENMU sidelines.  In particular, the Greyhound defense gave up over 37 points a game, far down from the (still not great) 29 points a game they gave up in 2023.  But the ENMU offense also went a bit backwards, going from 32 points a game in 2023 to 27 points a game.  Also, the Greyhounds committed 18 turnovers compared to 12 in 2023.  Too many times in 2024 ENMU would fall behind and fail to finish enough drives to stay competitive. 
10. Western New Mexico – Life hasn’t gotten much better in Silver City for Billy Hickman, whose Mustangs struggled when they weren’t playing teams that finished at the bottom of the RMAC standings (Adams State and New Mexico Highlands), being the only LSC team to fail to win a conference game.  Of (not a happy) note was scoring a total of 23 points against the LSC’s top four teams and being shut out against CWU and ASU.  Linebacker Cole Lalama and wide receiver Deuce Zimmerman were the Mustangs’ bright spots, but clearly this is a team that needs more pieces on both sides of the ball to improve next season. 

Top LSC Games of 2024 (in no particular order)

1. Texas-Permian Basin 14-13 over Central Washington
2. Western Oregon 30-27 over Texas-Permian Basin
3. Angelo State 17-16 over Central Washington
4. Central Missouri 39-37 over Texas-Permian Basin

Other games of note include Sul Ross State winning its first LSC game 34-20 over Western New Mexico and also winning against Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State giving it all it had in a 38-33 loss to Western Colorado, and Eastern New Mexico winning the Chile Bowl in a 41-34 shootout.

Looking at the 2025 Season

As I have no crystal ball and my off-brand Magic 8-Ball has told me “Do I have to answer?” when I asked about the LSC next year, let’s take a look at some questions going into 2025:

1. Is Scott Parr the answer at Texas A&M-Kingsville?
2. Who will lead Sul Ross State after Barry Derickson’s resignation?
3. Will Angelo State continue their run atop the LSC?
4. Who will challenge Angelo State for the LSC championship in 2025?
5. How will the LSC fare in the realigned Super Region 4?

Last Words Until Next Season

Super Region 4 will be quite a bit different in 2025 with regional realignment.  With Conference Carolinas (Super Region 2) sponsoring football in 2025, changes needed to be made.  Here is what LSC fans will see in 2025:

This region just got a quite a bit tougher.  The silo-conference GAC brings in 2023 National Champion Harding along with possible playoff teams in Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State, and Southern Arkansas.  The MIAA, who left their silo schedule in 2024, may now lay claim to the strongest conference in the new Super Region 4 with national contender Pittsburg State along with a host of contenders, including conference champion Central Oklahoma, Central Missouri, Fort Hays State, and Emporia State.  Oh, and if Northwest Missouri State figures things out again, look out!  And I haven’t even mentioned the already-strong RMAC yet, with CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Mines, and Western Colorado.  Business will really need to pick up if the LSC is to continue placing multiple teams in the Super Region 4 playoffs. 

Well, that just about does it.  From this point on to next season’s opening kickoff, everyone is back to 0-0 and full of hope that things can go their way when they take the field.  Until then, best of luck!