Javelinas face must-win game Saturday

KINGSVILLE —No. 17 Texas A&M-Kingsville plays host to visiting Lone Star Conference South Division rival Angelo State at 7 p.m.  on Saturday night with plenty at stake. If the Javelinas (8-2, 6-2) win it will likely mean a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs, while a loss would possibly end the season.

With a win over the Rams (6-4, 5-3) and a Tarleton State loss to West Texas A&M, the Javelinas would gain a share of the LSC title. It would be the team’s first since 2004. If the Javelinas do not make the NCAA Division II playoffs they would still have a chance to be invited to the Kanza Bowl, an NCAA Division II bowl game featuring the highest rated LSC team not in the playoffs and a similar MIAA team. The game will be played on Dec. 5 in Wichita, Kan.

The Javelinas possess a balanced offense that features the passing of former Brownsville Porter star Billy Garza and the running of Fred Winborn. If Garza completes 14 passes he will break Abel Gonzalez’s school record of 414 career completions. For the season, Garza is 192-of-319 for 2,378 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Winborn took over the starting running back role midway through the season and has not looked back. He is tied for the conference lead in rushing yards per game (88.5) and broke the school record for yards (263) in a game. He also leads the team in scoring with 78 points on 13 touchdowns.

The Javelinas defense is led by junior safety DeIra Glover. He leads the squad with 73 tackles on the season and has added two interceptions, both of which he has returned for touchdowns.

The Rams boast the top sack man in the nation in Calvin Fance. He has 14 of the team’s conference-best 39 sacks on the season. He needs just one sack to tie the school record for sacks in a season which is held by Dane Krager.

On offense the Rams are led by quarterback Josh Neiswander. He is 215-for-349 for 2,718 yards and 22 touchdowns. His two favorite targets are V’Keon Lacey (63-779) and Dakarai Pecikonis (35-757). The two have caught a combined 16 touchdown passes this season. Dwight Pete is the team’s leading rusher with 486 yards and five touchdowns this year.

The Javelinas and Rams have met 42 times with the Javelinas coming out on the winning end 29 times. Last year, the Javelinas won a 38-14 in San Angelo behind a school-record 484 passing yards.