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

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: Midwestern State and West Texas A&M both shared the Lone Star Conference (LSC) football championship in 2012, with the Mustangs outlasting the Buffaloes in dramatic fashion, 52-48, on November 3.  Both teams advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs after finishing 7-1 in LSC play.

In the D-II playoffs, WTAMU, coming in as the No. 6 seed out of Super Region 4, made a surprise run through the postseason, ousting the top three seeds: No. 3 Chadron State, No. 2 Ashland, and No. 1 Colorado State-Pueblo, before bowing to eventual national runner-up, Winston-Salem State, 41-18, in the national semifinals.

As for Midwestern State, though, the Mustangs playoff run was "one-and-done", as they were eliminated by Indianapolis, 31-14, in the first round.


Looking ahead: The LSC loses two teams for 2013, as long time member Abilene Christian, as well as football newcomer Incarnate Word, both left to begin their respective transitions to the NCAA Division I ranks.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. West Texas A&M (12-3):  After one of their most successful seasons in school history, the Buffaloes hope to take one final step, and take home their program's first-ever NCAA Division II national championship in 2013.  But the schedule sees WTAMU paying a visit to Midwestern State in the season finale on November 16.


2. Midwestern State (9-2):  Coming off of their third-ever LSC football title, as well as their third NCAA playoff appearance in four years (fifth overall), the Mustangs hope to build on that winning tradition again this season.

3. Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-6):  The Javelinas hope to move forward after an up-and-down 2012 season that ended with a 45-38 loss to Emporia State in the Kanza Bowl.

4. Tarleton State (6-4):  A three-game winning streak to end 2012 gives the Texans and their faithful a glimmer of hope to start 2013.

5. Angelo State (5-6):  Rams face a brutal 2013 slate that includes defending D-II national champion Valdosta State, defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) champion and playoff participant Colorado State-Pueblo, as well as fellow LSC foes Midwestern State and West Texas A&M.  Can anybody say "Ouch!"

6. Eastern New Mexico (3-7):  Greyhounds welcome new head coach Josh Lynn in time for the 2013 campaign. 

7. Texas A&M-Commerce (1-9):  The Lions will begin what's likely to be a long rebuilding effort under new head coach Colby Carthel.  If the last name of Carthel sounds familiar, he's the son of West Texas A&M head coach Don Carthel.

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