KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team is back on the road as they travel to Monmouth, Oregon to take on Western Oregon at 3 p.m. CT.
The Javelinas (5-3, LSC 3-3) will look to bounce back and finish the season strong after dropping a close one to No. 24 Central Washington last Saturday, 17-21. Western Oregon (3-6, LSC 2-4) returns back to their home turf looking to snap a three-game losing skid.
The Wolves came up short last week in Odessa against No. 18 UT Permian Basin, 16-28.
The Javelina defense is the third-best rushing defense in the Lone Star Conference, allowing only 126.6 yards on the ground per game, only 9 yards behind first place. They also boast the second-best team passing efficiency defense rating in the LSC at 100.3.
The "Junkyard Hogs" have forced 16 turnovers this season, earning at least one each game in 2023, after recovering a fumble early in the second quarter against CWU. As a unit, the defense has also recorded 10 interceptions this season, the third-best in the conference.
The Javelina defense also leads the conference in sacks at 21.
Dillon Bredesen and
Luke Shaffer top the conference in punting, averaging 47.4 and 43.4 yards per kick respectively.
The Javelina offense has put up almost 500 yards and 7 touchdowns rushing the ball over the past three games and has converted 10 of 13 fourth-down attempts this season - the second-best in the conference.
TAMUK enters the week ranked No. 10 in the regional rankings for Super Region Four.
This will be the seventh meeting between the Javelinas and the Wolves where WOU currently holds the series lead, 5-1.
Scouting the Wolves
The Wolves hold the second-best rushing performance in the LSC with 373 yards and 4 touchdowns against Eastern New Mexico in week three.
Running Backs Dominique Loggins and Austin Bacher are fifth and sixth in the conference in rushing with 664 yards/5 touchdowns and 650 yards/6 touchdowns respectively.
Overall, the WOU offense is fifth-best in the conference with 22 touchdowns and averaging 323.3 yards per game.
The Wolves hold second place in the LSC in third-down defense, only giving up 40 conversions on 118 attempts - 33.9 percent.
The Wolves' defense is seventh in the LSC in overall defense, giving up 353.9 yards per game and 28 touchdowns.
Last Meeting
The Wolves took home the victory in a shootout with the Javelinas in Kingsville, 48-37.
The crucial play happened with 7:11 left in the game when Mason Brown scooped and scored a strip sack 60 yards to stop a threatening Javelina drive and give the Wolves the lead.
Both teams racked up more the 300 yards of offense and a special teams touchdown apiece - a 96-yard kickoff return from
Craig Clemons for TAMUK and a punt return touchdown for WOU.
Dailon Gants led the Javelina defense with 8 tackles on the night, followed by
Darian Mayberry and
Khalid Walker with 7 each.
Jaylin Smith led the TAMUK receiving core with 68 yards and a touchdown on 3 receptions with Clemons just behind with 65 yards on 4 receptions.
