LSC week 8 power rankings: Rams hold strong behind Texans, Buffs stay middle of the pack

West Texas A&M quarterback Nick Gerber (15) hands the ball off to Jordan Johnson during Saturday’s Lone Star Conference game against Angelo State. [Mackenzie Teal/ Press Pass Sports]

1. Tarleton (7-0, 5-0): Another test passed for No. 4 Tarleton as they knock off No. 23 Texas A&M-Commerce, 35-21. Receiver Zimari Manning snagged seven balls for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

With those three scores, Manning now leads the nation with 12 touchdown receptions this season. The Texans improve their regular season win streak to 17 straight games, they lead the nation with 12 straight home wins, and have won 13 Lone Star Conference games in a row.

2. Angelo State (6-1, 4-1):The Rams snuck out of Canyon with a 17-14 victory Saturday, despite not playing their best football. But with that said, a win is a win, and ASU has. matched last years win total under first-year head coach Jeff Girsch. More importantly the Rams have kept themselves in great shape for a playoff spot.

3. A&M-Commerce (5-2, 2-1):The Lions couldn’t overcome an early 14-0 deficit in a loss to Tarleton. The defense struggled at times, giving up 200 yards on the ground and 255 in the air. Quarterback Miklo Smalls was a bright spot throwing for 288 yards with two touchdowns. TAMC hopes to bounce back at home against Western New Mexico on Saturday.

4. E. New Mexico (5-2, 3-2):Running back Paul Terry became the first back in the LSC to a 1,000 yards this season during the Greyhounds 48-17 victory at Western New Mexico. Terry torched the Mustangs for 180 of the Greyhounds 576 rushing yards. Terry has now ran for 1,167 yards in seven games.

5. W. Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2): The Buffs suffered a devastating final five minutes of a 17-14 loss to Angelo State in a key LSC contest. The WT offense left points on the board by missing game-tying kicks from 31 and 22-yards that could have sent the game to overtime. The Buffs have to quickly regroup for a huge Wagon Wheel rivalry game at Eastern New Mexico on Saturday.

6. MSU-Texas (4-3, 2-3): Quarterback Triston Williams was named LSC Offensive Player of the Week after the sophomore matched a program single-game record connecting for six touchdown passes to lead MSU-Texas to a 70-35 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. Williams helped the Mustangs snap a three-game losing skid throwing 354 yards.

7. W. New Mexico (1-6, 1-3): The Mustangs defense struggled against rival Eastern New Mexico’s devastating ground attack, allowing a season-high 576 yards rushing. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday.

8. UTPB (2–5, 0-4): Chadron State scored 27 points before the Falcons knew what hit them duding a 43-21 loss. UTPB did show grit, cutting the lead to 27-21 in third quarter, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Despite the loss, Bushland graduate and senior QB Kameron Mathis threw for 247 yards with two touchdowns, and ran for another score.

9. A&M Kingsville (1-6, 0-4): It was a long night for the Javelinas defense, who gave up 70 points to MSU-Texas. TAMK has been in a tail spin of late, dropping its fifth straight game. Javelinas running back Kris Barnes did rush for 131 yards in the game.

LSC standings

Team   LSC   Overall

Tarleton   5-0    7-0

Angelo State 4-1    6-1

A&M-Commerce   3-1  5-2

E. New Mexico  3-2  5-2

West Texas A&M   2-2  5-2

MSU-Texas 2-3    4-3

W. New Mexico   1-3  1-6

A&M-Kingsville  0-4  1-6

UT Permian Basin    0-4   2-5

Week 8

Saturday’s games

MSU-Texas at Western Oregon, 3 p.m.

W. New Mexico at A&M-Commerce, 3 p.m.

UT Permian Basin at Angelo State, 4 p.m.

Tarleton at A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

West Texas A&M at E. New Mexico, 7 p.m.