Sports | The University Star | Thursday November 15, 2012 | 7
FOOTBALL
Bobcats face team of ‘discipline, pride, heart’
By Jordan Brewer Assistant Sports Editor It is not all that surprising the United States Naval Academy is among the most disciplined in college football. Navy is currently tied for second in the country in fewest penalties per game, 3.4. It is third in fewest penalty yards per game, 26.6. The Midshipmen have finished atop college football in at least one of those standings every year dating back to 2009. “Navy has been good for many years,” said Coach Dennis Franchione. “They play with such discipline, pride, heart and execution. They play with (a physical) option game and they challenge us to go from playing Louisiana Tech last week to playing the spread option this week.” The Bobcats will travel to Annapolis, Md. to face the Navy Midshipmen for the first time in the teams’ history. Both are moving on from losses. Texas State is coming off a game where it committed 13 penalties for a total of 125 yards. Over the last 11 years, Navy has never finished below sixth in the country in rushing yards. It was the No. 1 rushing team four out of five years from 2003-2008. Its rushing attack is one of the reasons the team has won more BCS games as a nonBCS school than any other program. This year’s squad plans on keeping that streak alive as it currently ranks sixth with 274 yards per contest. The Bobcats
have faced two teams ranked currently in the top 10 in rushing. University of New Mexico is just ahead of Navy, averaging 311 yards, and the University of Nevada-Reno is ninth, averaging more than 250 yards. “This is a challenging week going from the type of offense we saw last week to Navy’s spread bone,” Franchione said. “It is a totally different concept. I don’t think anybody is going to break any passing records on us this week, but they do throw it a bunch underhand and backwards.” In this specific scheme, many different players touch the ball. This scheme is evident by the fact Navy has had 17 different players who have scored touchdowns this season, good enough for second in the country. The team has had four separate players reach 100 yards rushing this season. True freshman Keenan Reynolds won his first four games after being named the starter against Central Michigan University. He has done a majority of damage on the ground rushing for 622 yards on 115 carries, which is second on the team. He has added nine rushing touchdowns and eight passing. If he qualified for passing efficiency, Reynolds would lead the nation with a 177.4 rating. Senior slot back Gee Gee Greene has started the last 35 games at that position for the Midshipmen. Greene is having his best season with a team leading 679 yards rushing on 90 carries for a 7.5 average. He is coming off a career best 150 yards in a 41-31 loss at Troy University. The Navy defense ranks among the middle of the pack this season but held San Jose State to only 12 points while giving up 388
yards, compared to the 571 yards the Bobcats surrendered. The Spartans mustered four field goals in the contest and were held scoreless in the first quarter. “Texas State, they run a pistol-offense. It will be good practice for us,” said Navy linebacker Brye French. “We want to fly around and us seniors want to go out with a ‘W.’ Texas State is a great team and we are going to have to play a perfect game.” Navy is 28th in the country in red-zone defense, allowing only 29 scores in 38 opportunities, forcing four turnovers and four turnovers on downs. The team is led by senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel, who leads the team with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. “(Texas State) has the option factor,” said Navy Defensive Coordinator Buddy Green. “They have the capability of spreading you out. They have a really Star File Photo good running game inside. Plus they have a really good Texas State football will be traveling to take on the United States Naval play action boot game that Academy in Annapolis, Md. keeps you off-balance. They team in tackles with 64 on the season. He do it all.” The defense has had an infusion of youth leads the team with three interceptions. this season, playing as many as eight true The team leader is Tra’ves Bush, a senior freshmen, a majority of them in the second- rover who mans the secondary. Sophomore ary. Four of its starters on defense are se- cornerback Parrish Gaines is second on niors, including linebacker Matt Warrick, the team in picks with two. who plays next to Wetzel. Twitter: @jbrewer32 Warrick is among the leaders on the
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bobcats to compete against Hall of Fame coach By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter
classifieds
For Rent/Sale
Jobs
COUNTRY HOME ON FIVE ACRES 3bd, 1 bath, 6 miles South of San Marcos. 750mo, 750 pet deposit. 512-357-6271 or 830-660-5644.
Give a miracle with egg donation. See how to qualify for compensation. www. txeggdonor.com or call 888-my-donor
NICE, QUIET 1BD ON RIVER. Most bills paid, w/d. $625/mo. (512)3576636. BEAUTIFUL 1/1 DOWNTOWN. Renovated with stainless appliances, w/d, high ceilings, hadwood floors, central heat and air, parking. $850 mo., 1 year lease, available immediately, no pets, call 830-8324914. 2B/1 1/2B, tile and wood, backyard, $775-$900 call 512-392-6706.
Jobs !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 ext. 157. BECOME AN EGG DONOR
HERE IN BEAUTIFUL San Marcos, Tx we are looking for new, talented and motivated real estate agents! Find out more about us at MyGreatLocations.com or email us at
Misc. info@mygreatlocations. com STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid survey takers needed
Former San Antonio Spurs head coach Larry Brown and the 1-0 Southern Methodist University Mustangs are the next test for Texas State after the Bobcats’ one-sided win over the University of Texas at Tyler. At the age of 72, Brown is the only coach to have an NBA championship and NCAA title on his resume. He won his NBA title in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, who beat out a star-studded Los Angeles Lakers roster that included Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Brown’s last coaching job was for the Charlotte Bobcats in December 2010. When Brown last coached at the collegiate level, he was cutting down the nets and celebrating a National Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks in 1988. Like Texas State, SMU also had five players score in double figures in their season opener. Guard Nick Russell led the Mustangs with 19 points, guard Ryan Manuel contributed 14 points, forward Shawn Williams added 12 and guard Jalen Jones ended with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Mustangs defeated Loyola Marymount 73-58. SMU’s three starting guards accounted for 19 rebounds, which was 50 percent of the Mustangs’ total production against Loyola Marymount. Russell, Manuel and Jones’ aggressive play combined for 27 free-throw attempts, converting 81.48 percent.
Misc. in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on surveys. THE LANDING STRIP AUSTIN is NOW HIRING all positions, all shifts. Apply in person any day between 11am and 6pm. 745 s.183 Austin tx. $5,500-$10,000 PAID EGG DONORS. All Races. N/ Smokers, ages 19-27, SAT>1100/ACT>24/ GPA>3.0 Reply to: info@eggdonorcenter.com SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate.com
Texas State has averaged 47 rebounds in their first two games of the season, and holds a +7.5 margin over their opponents. In both of their games, the Bobcats have collected 32 defensive rebounds while grabbing 30 total offensive boards. Texas State has allowed 13 and 14 second chance points on the season. “Our guys are going to have to box out and keep them off the boards,” said senior guard Vonn Jones. “It’s going to help a lot that we have guys who can come off the bench and score and contribute while the other team is tired. The bench is one of our strengths, and that’s going to help us for the rest of the year.” Contrasting styles of coaching will be on display Saturday when a more balanced Texas State team will face off against an SMU team who is more reliant on their starters. Between the Bobcats’ first two games, the starters have averaged 23.7 minutes per a game, along with having a reserve come off the bench and scoring at least 16 points. In Texas State’s victory over UT- Tyler, 10 different players scored. SMU, on the other hand, had a starting lineup that averaged 32.6 minutes in their season opener. In the second half, only one bench player came in for 5 minutes total. “This is the time of the year where we’re going to play everybody,” said Coach Doug Davalos. “Some of these minutes aren’t going to be so tight. Some guys are going to get more minutes and some are going to get less as
we move on. If you take Joel Wright out of the equation, their bench outscored our bench 31-13. So I challenged our guys to make sure they’re ready when given a chance.” Last time these two teams faced off, the Mustangs defeated the Bobcats despite career-highs at the time for J.B. Conley, Tony Bishop and Uriel Segura, who each scored 18 points. SMU held on to win 94-86 at Moody Coliseum. Before the Mustangs race down to San Marcos, they will face rival Texas Christian University in Fort Worth on Thursday, Nov. 15. Twitter: @SamuelRubbelke
Star File Photo
Men’s basketball will take on Southern Methodist University Nov. 17 at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats have won their first two games of the season.
UPCOMING FOOTBALL NEXT BOBACT GAME Texas State (3-6)
@
Navy (6-4)
The Bobcats have lost five of their last six games and will play their final road game outside of Texas this season against the Midshipmen. Texas State does lead the WAC in red zone offense percentage. Navy will be celebrating senior day, a game that they have not lost in 10 years. Saturday November 17, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE UTSA (6-4, 1-3)
@
Idaho (1-9, 1-3)
UTSA has lost three straight WAC games but did defeat the FCS’ McNeese State 31-24 last week. Idaho has gone 0-2 since interim head coach Jason Gesser took over. Neither of these teams have a chance to make a bowl game this season. Saturday November 17, 4:00 p.m., KCWX-San Antonio Utah State (8-2, 4-0)
@
Louisiana Tech (9-1, 4-0)
The WAC’s prime matchup of the season is finally here between the remaining two undefeated teams in the conference. Louisiana Tech needed 62 points to beat Texas State last week while Utah State has won nine straight WAC games. Their last loss was to Louisiana Tech in 2011. The Aggies have outscored their opponents 103-6 in the first quarter. Louisiana Tech has scored below 50 only twice in 2012. Saturday November 17, 3:00 p.m., ESPN3
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE San Jose State (8-2)
vs. BYU (6-4)
San Jose State’s last win over BYU came in 1968, a 25-21 triumph. San Jose State will try for their fifth win in a row for the first time since 1990. The Spartans’ quarterback David Fales is now the most accurate quarterback in the country, completing 72.4 percent of his passes. BYU has won their last six games against WAC opponents. Saturday November 17, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2