SWOSU Ready for Rematch with Tarleton

September 28, 2006

WEATHERFORD -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University will have its second opportunity in as many years at beating Tarleton State in a home football matchup. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Milam Stadium. The game is part of Parents Day festivities.

The Texans (0-3) will be making their second straight visit to Milam Stadium because of a quirk in the Lone Star Conference schedule. The Texans switched to the LSC South Division in 2005 and took over Texas A&M-Commerce’s position in the schedule slot thus making for the unusual back-to-back Weatherford trips. TSU won last year 16-9.

Although this Tarleton State team is unranked and winless, the Texans have had some quality moments. Their three losses have been by a combined 12 points and they took nationally-ranked NCAA I-AA Texas State (formerly Southwest Texas State) to the limit before falling, 27-23.     

Quarterback Richard Bartel is the leading offensive star for the Texans. He has completed just over 50 percent of his passes this year and is averaging nearly 200 yards a game through the air.      

Like Tarleton, SWOSU (2-2) is also looking forward to better fortune on the football field. The Bulldogs were 31-0 shutout victims in their last outing at Abilene Christian. SWOSU is hoping to spark an offense that just one week ago ripped Panhandle State for 450 yards and put up 33 points on the scoreboard.

Much of SWOSU’s success will likely hinge on its ability to dramatically cut down turnovers and mistakes. The Bulldogs turned it over three times in the loss to ACU plus had a punt blocked, all of which resulted in easy scores for their opponent. Only one other team, Southeastern Oklahoma State, has more turnovers through the season’s first four games.   

Defensively, the Bulldogs have played well for much of the season. SWOSU is one of only three Lone Star Conference teams that is averaging holding its opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense.   

Linebackers Jon Patterson and Greg Franklin are just about even through four games this year in the team’s tackle chart. Patterson has 27 stops while Franklin has 25.       

SWOSU’s other linebacker, Ruzell McCoy, had a big interception in the Abilene game. He is third in tackles with 20.

The game will be broadcast on KWEY 95.5 FM or can be heard by clicking on the “Listen Live” link on the homepage of the SWOSU athletic website at www.swosu.edu/athletics.