December 5th, 2024 3:00am
LSC – Heritage Bowl Preview
OK, so I know the playoffs are still going on, and they’re in the regional finals this week…I get all that. But there still is some LSC football to be played, and I’m going to cover it.
So here it is – the last game of the LSC season. Texas-Permian Basin and MIAA opponent Central Missouri are heading to Corsicana, TX to face off in the seventh edition of the Heritage Bowl. LSC teams have appeared four previous times and have a 1-3 record in those games. It will also be the fourth game between LSC and MIAA teams in the 2024 season, with the LSC having a 1-2 record in those games (Texas A&M-Kingsville has the lone win and Angelo State the two losses). It will be UTPB’s first game against an MIAA opponent and UCM’s fourth game against an LSC opponent (they have a 2-1 record), but they haven’t faced an LSC opponent since 2011, when they lost to West Texas A&M in the Lower Kanza Bowl. It looks to be an offensive showcase, highlighted by UCM quarterback and 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski, who is looking to surpass 10,000 passing yards in his two seasons leading the UCM attack.
Texas-Permian Basin versus Central Missouri, 12:00 PM (Game held at Tiger Field at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium, Corsicana, TX)
Records: Texas-Permian Basin 7-4 (6-3 LSC), Central Missouri 8-3 (6-3 MIAA)
Series History: First meeting
Team Statistics
Texas-Permian Basin:
Points per game – 35 for; 17 against
Yards per game – 429 for (175 rushing, 254 passing); 276 against (131 rushing, 145 passing)
Turnovers – 10 committed; 17 caused
Sacks – 25 caused; 15 allowed
Time of Possession – 30:09 for; 28:57 against
Third Down Conversions – 42% for; 32% against
Field Goals – 7-14 for (long of 47 yards); 9-15 against
Central Missouri:
Points per game – 39 for; 33 against
Yards per game – 535 for (407 rushing, 128 passing); 456 against (126 rushing, 330 passing)
Turnovers – 15 committed; 17 caused
Sacks – 13 caused; 22 allowed
Time of Possession – 28:46 for; 31:14 against
Third Down Conversions – 45% for; 48% against
Field Goals – 7-13 for (long of 47 yards); 11-17 against
Top Players
Texas-Permian Basin:
QB Issac Mooring – 97/154 passes for 1236 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT; 52 carries for 139 yards, 3 TD
RB Kory Harris – 218 carries for 1009 yards, 11 TD; 13 catches for 103 yards, 1 TD
WR Ben Patterson – 27 catches for 502 yards, 5 TD
WR Deon Cook – 36 catches for 530 yards, 4 TD
WR Jeremiah Cooley – 40 catches for 552 yards, 8 TD
WR La’Quan Wells – 38 catches for 320 yards, 3 TD
LB Tristan Exline – 96 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT
LB Jalon Rocquemore – 70 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT
DL Yemi Oyesanya – 41 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks
DB Jalani Jefferson – 26 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 INT, 8 passes broken up
Central Missouri
QB Zach Zebrowski – 352/506 passes for 4462 yards, 38 TD, 9 INT; 103 carries for 461 yards, 6 TD
RB LaAngelo Bell – 116 carries for 509 yards, 11 TD; 8 catches for 74 yards
WR Zach Patterson – 59 catches for 1013 yards, 5 TD
WR Jack Pospisil – 58 catches for 697 yards, 4 TD
WR Hogan Wasson – 45 catches for 550 yards, 2 TD
WR Derrick Rose – 35 catches for 411 yards, 4 TD
DB Austin Bressler – 68 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks
DB Jevean Brown – 68 tackles, 4 tackles for loss
DB Noah Blair – 59 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 2 INT, 4 passes broken up
DB Talon Sanders – 57 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 5 passes broken up
LB Cale Miller – 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass broken up
For both Kris McCullough and UTPB, this is their second appearance in the Heritage Bowl. McCullough’s first Heritage Bowl was in 2022, a 38-21 win with his East Central University team over Texas A&M-Kingsville. For UTPB’s their first Heritage Bowl was a 24-21 loss to Oklahoma Baptist of the GAC when Justin Carrigan was UTPB’s head coach. This is Central Missouri’s first appearance in this bowl game.
For UTPB, their offense took a step back from their dominant 2023, but still averaged 35 points per game. Eyes will be on quarterback Issac Mooring, who replaced injured starter Dylan Graham in UTPB’s sixth game, a 36-7 loss to eventual LSC champion Angelo State. Mooring was 4-1 as starting quarterback, including the win over CWU. His only loss was a 30-27 loss in UTPB’s eighth game to Western Oregon. UTPB also runs the ball well with 1000-yard rusher Kory Harris. UTPB also brings a solid defense, led by linebackers Tristan Exline and Jalon Rocquemore along with defensive lineman Yemi Oyesanya. The Falcons’ best defensive effort of the season was in their 14-13 win over Central Washington. The Falcons gave up 285 yards and 13 points and won despite being outgained by285 to 227 yards. UTPB won the last three games of the season to finish with a 7-4 overall record and in a three-way tie for third place in the LSC with a 6-3 conference record.
Central Missouri is all about their offense, and their offense is all about quarterback Zach Zebrowski. Zebrowski has commanded the Mules’ lightning-fast offense the last two seasons to the tune of 9619 passing yards, 99 touchdowns, and interceptions to go along with 204 carries for 994 yards and 9 touchdowns. Zebrowski won the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy with an iconic 2023 season of 5157 yards and 61 touchdown passes. His 2024 season, with 4462 yards (876 yards more than Central Oklahoma’s Jett Huff) and 38 touchdown passes is tops in the nation in both categories once again. Zebrowski may very well win the Harlon Hill Trophy again. The Mules, as would be expected, have a very deep receiving corps, with four receivers with over 400 receiving yards, led by Zach Patterson’s 1013. The Mules’ defense is led by their defensive backfield, which has four defensive backs with 57 or more tackles.
UCM has won 5 straight games, including wins over Northwest Missouri State, Pittsburg State, and Emporia State. During their winning streak, they have scored no less than 31 points in any game, and their lowest point total in any game this season was 21 points in a 31-21 loss to Fort Hays State in their fifth game of the season. Their best defensive effort of the season was giving up 13 against eventual playoff team Pittsburg State, who at the time was ranked number 1 in the nation. The Mules finished with an 8-3 overall record and tied with Fort Hays State for third place in the MIAA with a 6-3 conference record.
I don’t see this game as being anything other than a shootout. UCM has scored against even the best defenses in the MIAA, and I don’t expect any different against UTPB. The UCM tempo and overall talent will be too much to keep off the scoreboard, even against the strong UTPB defense. But, the UCM defense doesn’t exactly scream “1985 Chicago Bears”, so I can’t see them holding down the also-strong UTPB offense. I honestly think this game could end with a score like 45-38 and possibly higher. Maybe the UTPB defensive front can get in the backfield some and bother Zebrowski, but I’m not sure they can mount enough pressure for what might be around 50 pass plays. So, I am going with Zebrowski and UCM here; his overall record is just too good to overlook against an up-and-comer in Mooring. Central Missouri by 7 points.
How to follow the Heritage Bowl:
UTPB-specific information - https://utpbfalcons.com/news/2024/11/25/football-2024-heritage-bowl-things-to-know.aspx
UCM-specific information - https://ucmathletics.com/news/2024/11/23/football-2024-heritage-bowl-things-to-know.aspx
Stats Tracker - https://utpbfalcons.com/sidearmstats/football/summary