United Athletic Conference

Tarleton's J.F. Thomas, Abilene Christian's Hunter Kier and Tarleton's Adrian Guzman have been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for October 11 through October 17.

 

Thomas, a senior wide receiver from Dallas, scored on the Texans' first drive of the game, bringing in two catches for 64 yards including a 30-yard touchdown, to set the pace in Tarleton's 41-20 win at Dixie State. He finished the contest with six catches for 169 yards to record his first 100-yard receiving game in over two years. On the season, he ranks fifth in the WAC in receiving yards at 57.0 per game and he is one of 13 receivers across the league with multiple touchdowns this season.

 

Kier, a redshirt senior linebacker from Washington, Kan., was a presence on defense all game long, finishing with 10 tackles in the Wildcats' 24-17 win over Lamar on Saturday. Of those double-digit tackles, two were behind the line of scrimmage for a cumulative loss of 12 yards. On the season, the linebacker is fourth in the WAC in total tackles with 41.0, averaging 5.9 per game.

 

Guzman, a freshman kicker from Temple, Texas, made a pair of 37-yard field goals and was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points in the Texans' 41-20 win at Dixie State on Saturday night. The two made field goals give him seven on the season, ranking second in the WAC this season. He is also 22-of-23 on extra points for the 3-3 Texans.

 

Other offensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Peyton Mansell was 10-of-18 passing for 135 yards and also added 106 yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushing attempts in ACU's 24-17 win over Lamar … Dixie State's Drew Kannely-Robles finished with a career-high 81 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns in a 41-20 loss to Tarleton … Lamar's Mike Chandler made his first career start and nearly led the Cardinals to a win at Abilene Christian, going 9-for-17 with 206 passing yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 loss to the Wildcats.

 

Other defensive nominees: Lamar's Tylo Phillips finished with four tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, in the Cardinals' 24-17 loss at Abilene Christian … Tarleton's Benjie Franklin picked off his first interception of the season, stopping a Dixie State drive in the endzone and adding five solo tackles and a pass breakup in the Texans' 41-20 win

 

Other special teams nominees: Abilene Christian's Logan Burke averaged 42.0 yards per punt on four kicks, recording one touchback in the Wildcats' win over Lamar … Dixie State's Andrew Day punted the ball six times, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with one inside the 20, one touchback and four fair catches … Lamar's Bailey Giffen booted a career-long 54-yard field goal late in the first half and was 2-for-2 on extra points as the Cardinals fell in a tight one at Abilene Christian, 24-17.

 

Following a bye week, both Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin will get back on the gridiron this weekend. The top-ranked Bearkats will play host to Jacksonville State in a crucial AQ7 matchup while the 'Jacks head to Utah to take on Dixie State in a WAC game. Lamar also has an AQ7 battle as the Cardinals host Central Arkansas while Tarleton plays host to Midwestern State in a Lone Star Conference throwback.

 

As a team, Sam Houston leads the WAC in scoring offense (40.2), scoring defense (18.4), total offense (465.2), rushing offense (222.2), rushing defense (70.2), passing touchdowns (15), field goal percentage (100.0), opponent first downs (15.6) and least sacks allowed (6). Stephen F. Austin is tops in total defense (280.0), pass defense efficiency (100.6), passing offense (283.7), passing defense (165.0), field goals made (12), punting average (40.3), punt return average (18.8), punt return TDs (3), kickoff return aveage (42.8), interceptions (9), first downs passing (72), opponents third-down conversion (28.92), fourth-down conversions (47.37), opponents fourth-down conversion (23.08), sacks by (19) and time of possession (31:28). Abilene Christian is the leader in touchdowns scored (30), rushing TDs (14), pass efficiency (146.3), yards per rush (5.69), pass completion percentage (.644), pass yards per completion (7.7), PAT kicks made (27), first downs (136) and third-down conversions (48,28). Lamar has thrown the least number of interceptions (4) while while Tarleton has the only kick return for a touchdown this season.

 

Individually, SHSU's Ramon Jefferson is the leader in rushing (94.40) while his quarterback Eric Schmid leads the WAC in total offense (270.50) and is tied with SFA's Trae Self for the lead in passing average (240.0). SFA kicker Chris Campos has the lead in scoring (9.83) and field goals (12) while 'Jacks punter Max Quick is the leader in yards per punt (49.05). ACU's Stone Earle has the top pass efficiency rating (154.57) and Dixie State's Jalen Powell is the leader in receptions per game (7.50). SFA's Xavier Gipson is the leader in both receiving yards per game (104.20) and all purpose yards (127.0). 

 

Defensively, DSU's Tyrell Grayson leads the league in tackles per game (11.00) while SFA duo Edward Bobino and BJ Scarlett along with TAR's Corban James share the lead for sacks per game (1.00). SHSU's Markel Perry is the leader in tackles for loss per game (2.40). SFA's BJ Thompson is the leader in fumbles forces (2) while TAR's Devin Hafford, ACU's Jordan Paup and SFA's Myles Heard are tied for the lead in fumbles recovered (2). TAR's Hafford also has the lead in interceptions with four.

 

Following a crazy week around the FCS, Sam Houston not only remained the top team in the Stats Perform Top 25 and AFCA Coaches' Top 25. The 'Kats are also in the top spot in the Athlon Sports Top 25 and ranked third in the College Sports Madness FCS Top 25. Stephen F. Austin is among those teams receiving votes in the Stats Perform Top 25 and AFCA Coaches' Top 25.

 

After helping lead Sam Houston to a 21-20 rivalry win over Stephen F. Austin in the Battle of the Piney Woods, senior defensive end Jahari Kay was been named Stats Perform FCS Defensive Player of the Week. He finished with eight tackles (six solos), including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble late in the game and had two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.  

 

In a rivalry dating back to 1923, the Battle of the Piney Woods lived up to expectations, with top-ranked Sam Houston eeking past Stephen F. Austin, 21-20, to stretch their BOTPW win streak to 10. 

 

Lamar's 17-10 win over Northern Colorado was the WAC's first overtime game of the FCS era and the 59th in the conference's history since college overtime was introduced in 1996. 

 

It's a new era as football returns for the WAC for the first time since 2012, this time at the Football Championship Subdivision. Led by defending FCS national champion Sam Houston, the new incarnation of WAC football will also include Abilene Christian, Dixie State, Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and Tarleton. In 50 years at the FBS level, the WAC was home to the consensus 1984 national champion (Brigham Young), the winner of the 1990 Heisman Trophy (Ty Detmer, QB, Brigham Young) and the first pick of the 2002 NFL Draft (David Carr, QB, Fresno State). 

 

Fresh off winning the tophy, Sam Houston had a pair of players pick up Preseason All-America honors, earning a spot on the Athlon Preseason All-America team. Defensive lineman Jahari Kay and teammate Jequez Ezzard (punt returner) earned the recognition.

 

Seven WAC football players were recognized on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Teams. Kay, Ezzard and Sam Houston defensive back Zyon McCollum earned first team honors. Sam Houston Quarterback Eric Schmid was joined by teammate Joseph Wallace and SFA receiver Xavier Gipson on the second team. SHSU offensive lineman Colby Thomas was a third team selection.

 

Sam Houston quarterback Eric Schmid and wide receiver/returner Jequez Ezzard are among 35 players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, which is presented to the top offensive player nationally in collegie football's Division I championship subdivision.

 

On the other side of the ball, SHSU's Jahari Kay and Zyon McCollum are on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player nationally in FCS.

 

Not looking to shy away from anyone, Dixie State has one of the toughest schedules in FCS, taking on four non-conference opponents that played in last spring's FCS tournament, in addition to traveling to WAC-foe Sam Houston. The four members of the AQ7 will also take on Jacksonville State, who represented the Ohio Valley Conference in the FCS playoffs.

 

Non-Conference Games Against 2020 FCS Playoff Teams

Sep. 11 - Weber State at Dixie State

Oct. 2 - Dixie State at South Dakota State

Oct. 9 - Stephen F. Austin at Jacksonville State (AQ7)

Oct. 23 - Jacksonville State at Sam Houston (AQ7)

Oct. 30 - Dixie State at Delaware

Nov. 6 - Abilene Christian at Jacksonville State (AQ7)

Nov. 13 - Jacksonville State at Lamar (AQ7)

Nov. 20 - Missouri State at Dixie State

 

As part of an expanded multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement announced on Aug. 24, all home football games in the WAC for the next four years will reside on ESPN platforms. In addition, all home men's and women's basketball, as well as other select events, will be housed on ESPN digital platforms.

 

With college football returning to the Western Athletic Conference for the first time since 2012, defending national champion Sam Houston is the favorite to win the 2021 WAC title while Bearkats quarterback Eric Schmid and defensive lineman Jahari Kay were selected WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, in a vote of the league's six head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

 

Schmid led the Preseason All-WAC Offense and is joined by teammates Ramon Jefferson, Jequez Ezzard, Isaac Schley, Eleasah Anderson, Prince Pines and Colby Thomas. Stephen F. Austin was represented by Xavier Gipson and Zach Ingram while Tarleton earned honors from Tariq Bitson and Zachary Perry. Dixie State running back Quali Conley earned the final offensive spot.

 

On defense, Kay was joined by teammates Trace Mascorro, Joseph Wallace, Quentin Brown, Trevor Williams, Zyon McCollum and Jaylen Thomas. SFA's Brandon Thompson Jr. and Brevin Randle were recognized, as was Tarleton duo Ronnell Wilson and Devin Hafford. Lamar's Anthony Ruffin represented the Cardinals in the preseason awards.

 

On special teams, Sam Houston kicker Seth Morgan and punter Matt McRobert were recognized and Ezzard earned the spot reserved for kick returner.

 

Sam Houston earned all five possible first place votes to earn 20 points. Stephen F. Austin earned the final first place votes and 16 points to earn second place. Tarleton is picked third with 11 points, followed by Lamar and Abilene Christian. Dixie State, who will be eligible for all individual awards, will not be playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts.

 

After lifting the NCAA FCS National Championship trophy in May, the Sam Houston Bearkats are expected to return to the postseason as AQ7 champions as voted on by the seven head coaches of the alliance, which made up on four institutions from the Western Athletic Conference and three from the Atlantic Sun Conference.

 

The Bearkats earned all seven first place votes to score a perfect 49 points. Central Arkansas was picked second with 40 points, followed closely by Jacksonville State in third with 37 points. Stephen F. Austin is fourth with 27 points, followed by Eastern Kentucky, Abilene Christian and Lamar.

 

The WAC will expand yet again on July 1, 2022 as Southern Utah University joins the party. The Thunderbirds are currently members of the Big Sky Conference and will make the switch in all sports.