The Matchup    
>> Texas A&M-Kingsville remains at home this week to take one New Mexico Highlands in a non-conference matchup at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium
>> Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT
>> The game will broadcast on the JavelinaAthletics YouTube account as well as KTAI 91.1 with Mark Inserra and Nate Kotisso on the call
>> This will be the third match alll-time between the Javelinas and the Cowboys
>> The teams last saw each other in 1972, a 30-6 win in Kingsville
>> The first meeting came in 1969 in the NAIA Semifinals in Kingsville as TAMUK took the game 28-23
>> In the semifinal game, Hog wideout Eldrige Small made a 33-yard catch from QB Karl Douglas with 1:12 left in the game to put the Javelinas ahead for good after going down to NMHU at 23-22 with 2:12 to play

Scouting the Cowboys    
>> New Mexico Highlands is in the midst of a two-game skid after dropping contests to Dixie State and No. 17 Colorado Mines
>> The Cowboys started the year with a 45-31 win over Fort Lewis on the road in RMAC play before downing Adams State at 65-37 at home
>> Dione Alston leads NMHU on the ground with 467 yards on 58 carries through four games, averaging 116.8 per game, but with only one touchdown
>> Danny Cameron will be under center as he has 903 total passing yards on the season with nine touchdowns and two interceptions on a 56% completion rate
>> Cameron has three targets to work with as D.J. McFadden, Devon Henderson and Zach Drew-Toles each have over 100 receiving yards on the year
>> McFadden owns 271 to lead the team alongside three scores on 20 catches, Henderson has 15 catches for 225 yards and two scores, while Drew-Toles owns 166 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns

Last Time Out    
>> The Javelinas fell to Eastern New Mexico in the first home LSC contest of the year at 31-14
>> The Hogs evened the count at 14 apiece after recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half
>> The Greyhounds pulled away late following consecutive passing touchdowns from Wyatt Strand to Johnny Smith
>> Nick Pelrean scored his third rushing touchdown of the year on a three-yard scamper in the second quarter to trim the ENMU lead to 14-7
>> Koy Detmer Jr. connected with Roe Posada for two yards to set the line score at 14-14 with 11:09 to play in the third quarter
>> Payton Hendrix led the defensive effort with 15 tackles, nine solo
>> Jordan Semanat had his second interception of the year early in the fourth quarter
>> Caleb Valentine and Alan Smith each had a fumble recovery

Check the Rankings    
>> MSU Texas moved up to No. 5 following a 57-36 win over Angelo State in Wichita Falls, Texas
>> A&M-Commerce dropped to No. 9 in the AFCA rankings following a 23-13 loss to then-No. 22 Colorado St.-Pueblo
>> Tarleton moved up to No. 25 after besting UT Permian Basin

Home Non-Conference Matchups under Wilkinson    
>> The Hogs are currently 4-2 all-time at home in non-conference matchups under head coach Daren Wilkinson
>> TAMUK is currently 1-0 this year following a 52-10 win over Texas Wesleyan to open the 2018 home slate
>> The Javelinas went 1-1 in 2017 after dropping a 34-10 decision to Central Washington to begin the year but rebounded with a last-minute 38-34 win over William Jewell to close the season
>> Texas A&M-Kingsville won its only home non-conference game in 2016, a 68-7 thrashing of Simon Fraser
>> The Hogs went 1-1 in Wilkinson's first year after defeating Missouri S&T, 38-20, and falling to West Alabama, 31-22
>> TAMUK will have one more home non-conference game this year next week when Western Oregon pays a visit to Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium
 
Mid-Season Trends    
>> The Hog defense has made an impact on the field in the first four games of the 2018 campaign, currently tops in the LSC in turnovers gained, fumbles recovered and blocked punts
>> The Javelina defense is also second in the conference in 4th down conversion % and passing yards allowed, while third in 3rd down conversion %, first downs allowed, opponent passing efficiency, tackles for loss turnover margin and total defense
>> In the NCAA, the Hogs are 14th in in turnovers gained, 29th in tackles for loss, sixth in fumbles recovered, seventh in blocked punts and 24 in 3rd down conversion %
>> The Javelina offense is also hovering in the top five of the conference in several categories, including completion %, first downs, passing offense, red zone offense, rushing offense, scoring offense, time of possession and total offense

Showcase Showdown    
>> This is the second year in a row where the Hogs have been featured on the NCAA Division-II Showcase
>> Top-ranked A&M-Commerce held on for a 37-36 win in double overtime in the season opener for both programs after the Hogs went ahead 36-30 in the second extra frame
>> TAMUK and Tarleton faced off in Kingsville in 2017 on ESPN3 as the Texans took away a 41-34 decision

The Javelina Connection    
>> Assistant coaches Scott Brown and Eddie Moten have had football careers that went beyond the college gridiron
>> Brown coached in Division-I up until 2012 when he became the scout for the San Francisco 49ers and eventually the defensive line coach
>> Brown has coached several players who played into the NFL, including Craig Sauer (Atlanta Falcons - 1996, 6th round) and Fred Washington (Chicago Bears - 1990, 2nd round)
>> Brown also played under legendary TAMUK coach Ron Harms, who coached at Adams State from 1970-73 when Brown was a student-athlete for the Grizzlies
>> Moten had a successful career in the Arena Football League for the Philadelphia Soul, winning the 2008 ArenaBowl XXII