Texans confirm at least a share of LSC Championship

The Tarleton State University football team finally received a pay off for their hard work this season. Friday’s win over Texas A&M-Kingsville secured their spot for at least a share of the LSC Championship.

The Texans defeated the Javalinas 45-20 when they traveled to Kingsville on Nov. 2.

“It feels great to get this win and a clinch of the championship,” Tarleton head football coach Cary Fowler said. “I’ve already told our players not to take a sigh of relief yet though because we still have two games left and we have to see how far we can go.”

The Texans ended their two-game losing streak and advanced their record to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The Texans took an early lead with a 39-yard rushing touchdown by Marquis Wadley and a successful field goal by Blake Barnes.

Kingsville put their first points up with a field goal with 10 minutes left in the first quarter, then took the lead when an interception turned into a touchdown three minutes later.

The Texans took the lead back with James Regal’s touchdown with 5:12 left in the first quarter. The first quarter ended with a Texan lead and a score of 14-10.

The Javelinas managed to get their only points of the second quarter in the first five minutes of the quarter. A field goal made the score 14-13, Texans.

Tarleton scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter, one by Clifton Rhodes III and the other by Le’Nard Meyers.

The third quarter was slow on both sides of the ball. Barnes managed to kick a successful 22-yard field goal to add the only points of the quarter from either side

Going into the fourth quarter, the scoreboard read 31-13, Texans. Two more Tarleton touchdowns finalized the win.

Fenske completed a pass to Zach Henshaw for the first touchdown. Cody Burtscher rushed 19 yards for the final Texan touchdown.

The Javelinas tried to come back, but could only manage one touchdown during the final quarter.

The Tarleton offense had 579 yards of total offence on 67 plays. Quarterbacks Fenske and Plata threw the ball for a total of 374 yards and gaining 205 yards on the ground. Fenske was able to complete 22 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns.

Meyers had his second 100-yard receiving effort for the season with a game-high 102 yards.

For the third week in a row, Henshaw led the Texans on the ground with 94 rushing yards on 12 carries. Henshaw had 24 yards and a touchdown on the receiving end, also. He has had three consecutive games with 100-plues yards in all-purpose yardage.

The Texans next game will be against Southwestern Oklahoma. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. at the Tarleton Memorial Stadium on Nov. 9.