RFC Summer Semester--Lone Star Conference (LSC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

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2011 Final Standings 

Looking back: Midwestern State (10-1 overall) breezed through the regular season undefeated to win the 2011 Lone Star Conference crown.  But the Mustangs postseason run was halted before it even started, as they were stunned in overtime by Northwest Missouri State, 38-31, in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.  Two other teams also advanced to postseason play, but had mixed results, as Abilene Christian fell to Washburn in a heartbreaker, 52-49, in the first round of the D-II dance, while West Texas A&M downed Central Missouri, 26-7, to win the 2011 Kanza Bowl in Topeka, Kansas. 


Looking ahead: Expect the Mustangs to be the team to beat in the LSC in 2012.
 

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Midwestern State (10-1):  If they can stay healthy and focused, the Mustangs should win their fourth Lone Star conference crown in four years, as well as advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs for just the fourth time ever, in 2012.  Oh, and they've had 12 straight winning seasons dating back to 2000, too.  Now, if they can make that deep postseason run that has eluded them recently.

2. Abilene Christian (8-3):  Despite having a new head coach in Ken Collums, don't count out the Wildcats this season.


3. West Texas A&M (8-3):  Winning the Kanza Bowl is nice, but the Buffaloes really want to be in the D-II playoffs this season.  Their last trip there was in 2010.


4. Tarleton State (6-5):  The Texans overcame a sluggish start at 1-5 to finish 2011 above .500, winning their final five games to close out the season.  They hope that late season surge will carry over into 2012.


5. Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-5):  The Javelinas look to make a serious run at the LSC championship after struggling to a so-so 4-4 mark in league action last year.


6. Angelo State (5-6):  The Rams lost five games by 14 points or less last season.  Were it not for those tough losses, they would have finished 2011 with a winning record.  That's something the Rams hope to accomplish in 2012. 


7. Incarnate Word (2-8):  The Cardinals look to fly high as they enter their fourth season of football.  In fact, their win total has declined steadily since their inaugural season in 2009, when they finished 5-5.


8. Texas A&M-Commerce (1-9):  Head Coach Guy Morriss hopes the return of 45 letterwinners--including 13 starters--will restore the roar to a Lions program that hasn't had a winning season since 2001, when they finished 7-4.  They'll face a serious uphill battle to get there in 2012.


9. Eastern New Mexico (2-9):  The Greyhounds also face some long odds after a long 2011 season.