GAME NOTES: Texans host Southwest Baptist in home opener

Special to The Flash
TarletonSports.com

STEPHENVILLE (September 10, 2016) —  Tarleton State (0-1) welcomes Southwest Baptist (1-0) to Memorial Stadium Saturday evening. It’s the home opener for the Texans, and their first game in Stephenville since the return of head coach Todd Whitten, the winningest coach in the school’s 56-year senior-college era. Notes below courtesy Tarleton Athletic Communications.

THE GAME
Tarleton looks to get into the win column as it makes its home debut of the 2016 season against Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

GAME COVERAGE
A complete broadcast of the game can be heard on the Tarleton Sports Network presented by the North Texas Ford Dealers. Byron Anderson has the call on the flagship station of Tarleton Athletics – KTRL 90.5 FM in Stephenville – and worldwide at TarletonSports.com/ListenLive. Live Stats and a free video stream can be found on the football schedule of TarletonSports.com.

ABOUT THE TEXANS
Tarleton showed a lot of promise in its season opener against FCS No. 9 McNeese State, despite falling 33-3. The Texans held a 3-0 first quarter lead against the Cowboys and held MSU scoreless in the final quarter. Tarleton has historically been successful in home openers and bouncing back after a loss under head coach Todd Whitten. The Texans are 5-1 in home openers under Whitten and are averaging 40.5 points per game while holding opponents to only 12 points. Whitten also has a career record of 16-6 after a loss at Tarleton. The Texan defense has already made strides from last season, and held McNeese State under last season’s rushing average in the opener.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist topped Lone Star Conference opponent Eastern New Mexico 49-35 in its season-opening win. The Bearcats put up 538 total yards with 444 yards coming on the ground. Defensively, Southwest Baptist surrendered 550 yards to ENMU (326 pass, 224 rush). The Bearcats were led by Bubba Jenkins’ 179 rushing yards, while TJ Edwards threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Southwest Baptist, located in Bolivar, Missouri, went 4-6 last season and 3-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

SERIES HISTORY
Tarleton is 1-0 all-time against Southwest Baptist, with the Texans winning the 1983 matchup in Stephenville 42-7.

UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will begin Lone Star Conference play when Angelo State visits Memorial Stadium on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.