Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, Richard Bartel)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Cody Vannoy, Keltin Wiens)
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
The Texans are going all out for this year's homecoming game with their 15K Initiative. The goal is to get 15,000 fans in the doors to witness one of the best rivalries in Texas football – Tarleton vs. Midwestern State.
The game, set for 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with John Liddle and Richard Bartel on the call. The game can be heard on Tarleton Sports Network at 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas, with Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Cody Vanoy and Keltin Wiens leading the broadcast.
GAME DAY FESTIVITIES
The 15K Initiative is simple: Pack Memorial Stadium with 15,000 fans. The Texans are looking to set a new attendance record for this year's homecoming classic against Midwestern State.
There will be 2,000 free rally towels and hats given out to students, courtesy of Student Affairs, and a postgame fireworks show, presented by the Lance Zimmerman Department of Student Involvement Tradition Spirit & Family Relations.
Before the game kicks off, there will be the best pregame event in Tarleton history, centered around the presentation of the game ball. Yes, it's a surprise! Make sure you get in the doors early for this one!
Texas State House of Representative DeWayne Burns will be a part of the coin toss at 6:02 p.m.
Texan Alley Tailgate will open at 9 a.m. in Lot A. For maps of the area and complete tailgating policies, visit TarletonSports.com/TexanAlley. Non-tailgating lots will open at 2 p.m., while the stadium gates will open at 4 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. at Texan Alley, the Tarleton Game Day Radio Show will begin live from onsite.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
- This will be the 37th all-time meeting between Tarleton and Midwestern State. Only McMurry has faced Tarleton more all-time (39 times). With this game, Midwestern will become TSU's second-most common opponent (currently tied with Angelo State, 36 meetings).
- Tarleton has won three straight against Midwestern, tied for the second-longest winning streak by either team in the series. Only TSU's seven-game run from 2001-09 has seen more consecutive wins.
- At 5-1, MSU is ranked No. 19 in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Mustangs have scored 30+ in all six games.
QUICK HITS
- This is Tarleton's homecoming game, dubbed the 15K Initiative. The mission is to host 15,000 fans.
- With its 41-20 win over Dixie State, Tarleton is now 50-1 under head coach Todd Whitten when scoring 40+ points.
- The Texans are 2-0 at Memorial Stadium this season, outscoring their opponents 94-28 (33.0 average margin of victory). They've won their last two home games against Midwestern by a combined score of 99-28 (35.5 avg.).
- This marks back-to-back seasons the Texans are hosting the Mustangs for their homecoming game. Tarleton has won four consecutive homecoming games, last losing in 2016.
- WR J.F. Thomas and K Adrian Guzman were named WAC Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for their games at Dixie State. Thomas had six catches, 169 yards, 1 TD. Guzman had 2 FGM, 5/5 XP.
- In the last game, Devin Hafford had an interception, marking his sixth takeaway of the season (4 INT, 2 FR). That's tied for the most takeaways across NCAA Division I football, tied with Illinois' Kerby Joseph (3 INT, 3 FR) out of the FBS, and Western Illinois' Michael Lawson (4 INT, 2 FR) out of the FCS.
- With nine more tackles, Ronnell Wilson (331 tackles) will surpass Robert Ivey (339 tackles, 1985-88) for second on Tarleton's all-time tackles leaderboard. Tally Neal (1975-78) is first in Tarleton history at 613.
HOME SWEET HOMECOMING
There's no energy at a football game that can quite match the vibe at a homecoming game, besides maybe a playoff contest. For this homecoming, Tarleton is planning on making it extra special – enter the 15K Initiative. The mission is simple; host 15,000 loud and proud fans at Memorial Stadium for the game. The Texans are bringing in extra seating, increasing capacity to 16,500, in anticipation of reaching their goal, which would be a new Tarleton attendance record. Special events throughout the day include the best pregame event in the history of Tarleton – yes, it's a surprise – 2,000 rally towels and hats for students, and a postgame fireworks show.
This marks back-to-back seasons the Texans are hosting Midwestern State for their homecoming game, winning in the spring 33-21. Steven Duncan threw three touchdowns, including two to Tariq Bitson, who totaled six catches and 83 yards. Two Texans had 100+ yard games on the ground, with Khalil Banks totaling 135 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Ryheem Skinner recording 102 yards and a TD. Zach Strong had 1.5 sacks. The Texans have won four straight homecoming games, last losing in 2016.
Overall at Memorial Stadium, this is the first game of a three-game homestand for TSU. Tarleton has won two straight in Stephenville, five of its last six. At home this season, Tarleton has outscored opponents 94-28, an average of 33.0 points per game. In just two home games, the Texans have scored 12 touchdowns, nine of them on the ground.
OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS
On Saturday at Dixie State, the Tarleton offense exploded in the first half, with Steven Duncan throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. On each of Duncan's first three drives of the game, Tarleton drove down the field and scored a touchdown, drives of 75 yards, 80 yards and 67 yards. For the game, J.F. Thomas had six catches, 169 yards and a touchdown, recording four catches of 30+ yards each. Tarleton has already scored 40+ points three times this year after just one such occurrence last season.
Across the WAC, Tarleton is averaging the second-most total yards per game (424.5) and the third-most rushing yards per game (192.7). If not for reclassification, the Texans would be averaging the 27th most yards per game in the FCS, and the 26th most rushing yards per game. It helps when you have two of the most efficient running backs in the league, with Jayy McDonald averaging a would-be 16th most yards per carry in the FCS at 6.47 YPC, and Daniel Wright Jr. averaging a would-be 22nd most in the FCS at 6.06 yards per carry. WR Tariq Bitson has the most yards on the team though at 460 on the year. Tarleton has the highest red zone percentage in the conference at 90 percent, scoring on 26-of-29 trips inside the 20. Of those 29 trips, 19 of those scores were touchdowns, giving them the second highest redzone touchdown percentage at 66 percent. They also have the fewest number of fumbles lost in the conference (two)
DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS
The Texan defense has been strong once again this season. Opponents have had an even rougher time when it comes to second halves in particular. When defensive coordinator Marcus Patton and his staff have gotten a chance to see the opposition's game plan, the Texans have made their adjustments in the locker room and played lockdown D in the second half. The Texan defense has allowed just one touchdown scored in the second half over the past three games, and across the season, they've only allowed four touchdowns in second halves, two of which were scored by Southern Utah on Sept. 18. That's three touchdown-less second half performances in six games by the Texan D.
Defensively, Tarleton has allowed 19.3 points per game (as 12 points were scored by the opposing defenses on turnover returns). As a team, the Texans' are allowing 21.3 points per game, third fewest in the WAC. Defensively, the Texans have only had one not-up-to-standard performance, their matchup against Southern Utah in which they allowed 40 points. Outside of that, no team has scored more than 21 points, with Fort Lewis managing just seven. The Texans have forced 12 turnovers (seven interceptions, four fumble recoveries and a safety).
WAC WEEKLY AWARD
Through seven weeks of college football, four Tarleton players have earned WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, including two just this past week...
In Week 2, linebacker D.J. Harris was named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his dominant performance against Fort Lewis. Harris had 13 tackles (six solo), a forced safety, 1.5 sacks, 3.0 tackles for a loss and three quarterback hurries.
In Week 4, defensive back Greg Eggleston Jr. was named the TicketSmarter WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception game against New Mexico Highlands. He's the first Tarleton freshman (true or redshirt) to have two interceptions in a single game since Dee Collins had two picks against Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2008 as a redshirt freshman.
In Week 7, wide receiver J.F. Thomas and kicker Adrian Guzman were named the TicketSmarter WAC Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week from their nights at Dixie State. Thomas pulled in six catches for 169 yards and a touchdown, with four of his receptions surpassing 30+ yards. It's his first 100+ yard game in over two years. Guzman made two field goals and all five of his extra point attempts. His two field goal makes tied a season-high for makes in a game, and both were 37-yard attempts, new season-longs for the freshman.
BEST OF THE WAC
Tarleton is prominently featured across the top of the Western Athletic Conference stat leaderboards this season...
Steven Duncan:
- 2nd in completion percentage (.650)
- 2nd in total passing yards (1,283)
- 2nd in total completions (104)
- 3rd in passing yards per game (213.8)
- T-3rd in total touchdown passes (nine)
Daniel Wright Jr.:
- 2nd in total all-purpose yards (544)
- 3rd in total rushing yards (388)
- 3rd in rushing yards per game (64.7)
- 3rd in average yards per carry (6.1)
- 4th in all-purpose yards per game (90.7)
Jayy McDonald:
- 2nd in average yards per carry (6.5)
- 2nd in rushing yards per game (71.2)
- T-2nd in total rushing touchdowns (three)
- 5th in total rushing yards (432)
Tariq Bitson:
- 2nd in total receiving yards (460)
- 2nd in receiving yards per game (76.7)
- 2nd in average yards per catch (17.7)
- T-2nd in total receiving touchdowns (four)
- 4th in total receptions (26)
J.F. Thomas:
- 1st in average yards per catch (19.0)
- 5th in total receiving yards (285)
- 5th in receiving yards per game (57.0)
D.J. Harris:
- 3rd in total tackles (56)
- 4th in tackles per game (9.3)
- T-4th in total tackles for a loss (6.0)
Devin Hafford:
- 1st in interceptions (four)
- T-1st in fumble recoveries (two)
Ronnell Wilson:
- T-4th in total tackles (41)
- 5th in tackles per game (6.8)
Greg Eggleston Jr.:
- T-4th in interceptions (two)
Marsean Fisher:
- T-2nd in total pass breakups (six)
Adrian Guzman:
- 2nd in scoring (43 points)
- 2nd in field goal makes (seven)
- 3rd in extra-point makes (22)
Jake Walrath:
- 1st in punts inside the 20 (nine)
- 2nd in average yards per punt (43.0)
Tre Johnson:
- T-2nd in total pass breakups (six)
TSU DIGS THE LONG BALL
Head coach Todd Whitten uses a certain word a whole lot when talking about the goal for the offense – explosive. The Texans have certainly been explosive this season, with several big plays every week. Currently, two Texans lead the WAC leaderboard in average yards per catch, with J.F. Thomas No. 1 at 19.0 yards per reception, and Tariq Bitson No. 2 at 17.7 yards per catch. On the ground, the Texans are second and third in yards per carry, with Jayy McDonald second at 6.5 YPC and Daniel Wright Jr. third at 6.1 YPC. All four players have had plays that spanned 40 or more yards, with Bitson owning the longest play by a Texan this season with an 84-yard catch and run on the very first play against New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 25.
THE LB DUO
Starting linebackers D.J. Harris and Ronnell Wilson are great friends off the field and constant competitors on the field. In fact, they host a competition between themselves on who can tally the most tackles in a season. Harris is winning the battle in 2021 so far with his team-leading 56 tackles (28 solo). Wilson is second on the team with 41 total tackles (23 solo). The top two Tarleton tacklers are third and tied-fourth on the WAC's total tackles leaderboard. They're fourth and fifth, respectively, on the WAC's tackles per game board (9.3 per for Harris, 6.8 per for Wilson).
THE BEST IN TEXAS
Since the start of the 2018 season, there has not been a better scholarship football program in the entire state of Texas than Tarleton State University. The Texans enter Saturday's game with 31 wins since the start of 2018, tied for the most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program. The list of the top scholarship programs in Texas over that span are as follows:
| # | School | League | Wins |
| 1. | Tarleton | WAC | 31 |
| Texas A&M | SEC | 31 | |
| 3. | Texas | Big XII | 29 |
| 4 | Sam Houston | WAC | 28 |
| SMU | AAC | 28 | |
| 6. | Baylor | Big XII | 26 |
| 7. | A&M-Commerce | LSC | 25 |
| 8. | TCU | Big XII | 21 |
| UTSA | C-USA | 21 | |
| West Texas A&M | LSC | 21 | |
| Angelo State | LSC | 21 |
MILESTONE WATCH
9: Ronnell Wilson (325) is nine tackles away from surpassing Robert Ivey (339, 1985-88) for second on Tarleton's all-time tackles list. Tally Neal (1975-78) is first at 613.
1.2: Steven Duncan is 1.2 percent short of matching the best completion percentage in a single-season in TSU history. At 65.0 percent, Duncan is currently at the second-best pct.
LOOKING TO GO OVER .500
With wins in their next two, TSU would bring its senior college era record over .500 for the first time since 1961. In 1961 under head Johnny Dunn, Tarleton won its first-ever game as a senior college. Tarleton lost its next three and had a chance to bring its all-time record to .500 again in the season finale, but lost to East Central and had not reached the .500 mark as a four-year program again until defeating Northeastern State in their second to last game of 2020. East Central spoiled it again. The Texans are currently at 312-313-3 in their senior college history.
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Get ready for a clash between two WAC opponents as the reigning champion Sam Houston Bearkats come to town. Sam Houston won the FCS national championship last season and is currently 5-0 this year. The game will be in Stephenville next Saturday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium. It's also the Texans' Pink Out game, so wear your pink and help us spread breast cancer awareness.
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