Update (12/8, 11 a.m.): The Tarleton Athletic Dept. has named Todd Whitten as head coach of the Texan football team. Read more here.

Original story: In 2015, the Tarleton State University Texans entered the season facing adversity. Instead of shying away from the challenge of staying motivated, head coach Cary Fowler’s bunch rallied each week to proudly represent the “T” on their helmets with unrelenting pride. Fowler has since resigned from his position as head coach, though the reason is unclear at this time.

Week 1- University of Findlay

The Texans opened their season with the rematch of the 1978 13-6 playoff loss to the Findlay Oilers. The opponent’s running attack generated problems for the Texan defense early, which put the Texans down 7-0 two plays into the game. After Zed Woerner’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Le’ Nard Meyers to tie the contest at 7-7, the Texans proceeded on a 17-0 scoring run to establish a 24-7 halftime advantage. Unlike Findlay’s first half performance, the Oilers’ efficiency throwing downfield and 5.8 yards/rush on the ground led to them outscoring the Texans 21-10 after the halftime break. The Texans rushed for a total of 247 yards and threw for 237 in the 35-34 loss. 

Week 2 – West Texas A&M University

The Texans took their talents to Arlington for the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium where they played the Buffalo of West Texas A&M. The Texans established an early 14-0 lead before the opposition’s running back scored consecutive touchdowns to tie it at 14-14. Blake Barnes’ 22-yard field goal put Tarleton back out in front 17-14; however, the Buffs would proceed to go on a 14-0 run to give them a 28-17 lead at the halftime break. Chase Varnado’s fumble return for a touchdown in the 3rd cut Tarleton’s deficit to 28-24. Following West Texas A&M’s field goal (31-24), Tarleton capitalized by scoring touchdowns on their next two drives. In the end, the Buff’s 501 total yards of offense proved too much to overcome as the Texans fell by a final of 52-38.    

Week 3 – Midwestern State University

The Texans took a 7-0 lead courtesy of Daniel McCants’ 43-yard touchdown run. McCant would ultimately lead the Texans in rushing yards (83) that day. Midwestern State, entering the contest with a 3-0 record, went on to score 28 consecutive points which put the Texans down 28-7 heading into the second half. McCants’ 58-yard kick-off return Barnes to take full advantage by adding 3 points to the board with a 44-yard field goal (28-10). On the ensuing Midwestern drive, Brayden Coverdale’s blocked punt recovered by Kason Fornes for a touchdown cut the Mustangs’ lead to 28-17. At that point, the Mustangs achieved a 21-0 scoring stretch to establish a 49-17 lead with less than 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Refusing to lie down, Zed Woerner tossed three second-half touchdown passes to Le’Nard Meyers, Dominique Martin, and Daniel McCants. As 4 minutes remained in the game, Tarleton trailed the Mustangs 63-40, at which point sophomore quarterback Alex Craig entered for Woerner, and managed to secure the Texans’ last touchdown on a 4-yard connection with Mitchell Leonard. The Texans totaled 503 yards of offense in the 63-46 loss to the rival Mustangs of Midwestern. 

Week 4 – Texas A&M Commerce  

As an injury sidelined starting quarterback Zed Woerner on the first drive, it was up to Alex Craig and Derek Kiser to lead the Texans against the no. 18 Lions. After two touchdown passes for Commerce, the Texans sat in an early 14-0 hole. Down 28-0 in the second quarter, Kiser led the Texans deep into the red zone prior to the drive’s disappointing end on 4th down as his pass to Kason Fornes fell incomplete. As the fourth quarter expired, the 63-0 shutout of the Texans marked the worst loss in school history.

Week 5 – Texas A&M Kingsville

Despite trailing 10-0 midway through the first quarter, Alex Craig led the Texans to their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion. Joseph Sadler’s 2-yard touchdown run served as Tarleton’s first points of the contest. Following the Javelinas’ touchdown to extend their lead to 17-7, Craig managed to lead the Texans downfield and find junior wide receiver Bubba Tandy for a spectacular one-handed 15-yard touchdown catch (14-7, 7:41 in 2nd). Blake Barnes’ 26-yarder with 52 seconds remaining in the first half tied the contest at 17-17; however, as 44 seconds still remained in the opening half, Kingsville completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to take a 24-17 lead heading into the locker room. Craig’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Le’ Nard Meyers tied the game at 24-24 in the third quarter, just prior to Kingsville again retaking the lead with a 38-yard field goal (27-24, 6:49 in 3rd). Kingsville’s 48-yard touchdown pass in the later part of the third marked the opposition’s last points of the day. As the Texans trailed 34-27, Joseph Sadler broke a 32-yard touchdown run to cut the Javelinas’ advantage to a mere field goal. After an exchange of empty possessions from both teams, 1:10 remained on the game-clock when Craig connected with Meyers for a 10-yard game winning touchdown pass. The Texans defeated the Javelinas 38-34 for their first win of the fall. 

Week 6 – Eastern New Mexico (Homecoming Week)

Following their first win against the Javelinas, the Texans took the field in search of back-to-back wins. After missing a game due to injury, Zed Woerner made the start at quarterback and threw for 382 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. The Greyhounds scoring on their first two drives, putting the Texans in 14-0 deficit. Tarleton’s first points came via a 21-yard touchdown run courtesy of Jabari Anderson, who went on to have a career day rushing for 127 yards on 16 carries for two touchdowns. Ultimately, turnovers undid the Texans’ winning hopes as they gave the Greyhounds opportunities to maintain the lead. The Texans fought for four quarters on Homecoming night, and despite scoring a touchdown in the last 48 seconds, Tarleton fell to the Greyhounds 49-44. 

Week 7- Oklahoma Panhandle State

The Texan offense got off to a fast start against the Aggies as Jabari Anderson’s 11-yard touchdown run put Tarleton on the board in the opening minute of the contest (7-0, 14:13 in 1st). Both teams exchanged a touchdown for a touchdown until the latter part of the second quarter as Zed Woerner dialed up Kason Fornes for a 9-yard touchdown to establish a multiple touchdown buffer (3:35 in 2nd). The next Texan drive produced identical results, as Woerner found Fornes for a consecutive touchdown which extended Tarleton’s lead to 42-21 with 1:08 in the opening half. To credit the opposition, the Aggies managed to score as time in the first half expired to minimize their deficit to 42-28 heading into the locker-room. The Aggies came out swinging to open the second half as they’d return the opening kickoff 100 yards to narrow the Texan lead to nine points (extra point blocked). From that point, Woerner and the offense began to pile on the points. Le’ Nard Meyers hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Woerner, which was followed by a 35-yard sprint to the end zone by Joseph Sadler to extend Tarleton’s advantage to 56-33 midway through the third quarter. The Texans made four additional trips to the end zone before game’s end on a night where Tarleton’s 84 points served as the most in school history, and they defeated the Aggies 84-47.

Week 8 – Angelo State University (End of Regular Season)

As 28 seconds remained in the 2nd quarter, Zed Woerner hit Le’ Nard Meyers for a 66-yard touchdown to take the 21-14 lead over the heavily favored Angelo State Rams. Momentum slipped as the Rams began the second half with a 66-yard touchdown of their own that tied the game at 21-21 in the opening minute of the third quarter. Blake Barnes’ field goal from 37 yards went on to be the final Texan points of the night, and Tarleton fell to the Rams 57-24. The Texans initially went toe-to-toe offensively with Angelo State in the first half, amassing 411 total yards of offense before halftime, but their undoing was their inability to maintain the same level of offensive efficiency in the second half.

Week 9 – Texas A&M Kingsville (LSC Playoffs)

The Texans faced a 10-0 deficit in the opening quarter prior to Blake Barnes’ field goal from 43 yards. After the Javelinas’ second end zone trip, Tarleton’s ensuing touchdown came by virtue of the 8-yard touchdown connection from Woerner to Meyers to make the score 17-10 (Kingsville) entering the second quarter. Joseph Sadler’s 6-yard touchdown run with 2:40 before halftime tied the contest at 17-17; but, to the dismay of the Texans, the Javelinas went on to tally 26 unanswered points to win by a final of 43-25. 

Week 10 – Oklahoma Panhandle State

In their first meeting with the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, the Texans posted a school record 84 points with 658 yards of total offense. Unlike the first matchup, the Aggies managed to score the game’s first touchdown on the opening drive. After being shutout 17-0 at the halfway point, Derek Kiser got the Texans on the board with his 1-yard touchdown run as 11:45 remained on the game. Tarleton’s three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half shrunk their deficit to 35-27 in the fourth quarter. Le’ Nard Meyers and Jabari Anderson’s fourth quarter touchdowns secured a late 48-41 lead. Following the Aggies’ touchdown to bring the score to a 48-47 margin, the opponent opted for a two-point attempt that failed, earning the Texans a 48-47 victory to close the 2015 season.

The Texans finished the season with a 3-7 record. Now, Tarleton will begin the search for a new head coach as the team heads into 2016.