STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Football improved to 2-1 on Saturday in impressive fashion, cruising over Houston Christian on the road 35-18. Voters have taken notice, and elevated the Texans in both polls by several spots, nearing the top 15.
Tarleton State was slated 16th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll announced on Monday, and ranked 17th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, also announced on Monday. The Texans moved up four spots in each poll, going from 20 to 16 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, and from 21 to 17 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
Tarleton State was the featured team in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll release.
“It appears to be the right season for Tarleton State to be eligible for the FCS playoffs for the first time,” FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform Craig Haley wrote. “The Texans expect to have their strongest team on the Division I level, as evidenced by their rising to No. 16 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll on Monday. Tarleton State even has its deepest team, having used its third different starting quarterback (Daniel Greek) while winning at HCU 35-18 and improving to 2-1 Saturday night. The Texans, under coach Todd Whitten, posted a winning record in each of four seasons during a reclassifying period from D-II. This season, their matchup with No. 7 Central Arkansas on Nov. 23 – the final Saturday of the regular season – could determine the United Athletic Conference title and automatic playoff bid. Both teams have potent offenses, with Tarleton State featuring running backs Kayvon Britten and Derrel Kelley III and wide receiver Darius Cooper.”
A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote. The AFCA FCS Coaches Poll is voted on by the panel chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the AFCA their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top-25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second-place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.
The Texans have started 2-1 for the third straight year, and are excelling in several key areas. They have the tied-best turnover-margin in the country at plus-six, with eight takeaways (tied-best in NCAA Division I) and two turnovers through three games. They are 18th in the country in rushing offense (187.7 yards per game), and Britten has the most rushing yards in the FCS (384), second most across all of D1. Plus the team has been disciplined, averaging the tied-23rd fewest penalties per game.
Tarleton now gets a chance to refresh, as the Texans have their first of two byes this week. They next play on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. CT at North Alabama.
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