Lone Star Conference power rankings: Conference play is here

West Texas A&M specialist Tobias Harris was named Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. [Provided by WT athletics]

1. Tarleton (2-0): The No. 4-ranked Texans opened its newly renovated Memorial Stadium by rolling Doane College, 56-3, in front of 8,361 fans. Receiver Zimari Manning hauled in eight catches for 155 yards with two touchdowns. The Texans open Lone Star Conference play at home Saturday night with West Texas A&M.

2. MSU-Texas (2-0): The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead, but had to use a couple of big special teams plays to hold off a scrappy Lindenwood team 28-27. MSU-Texas opens LSC action with UT Permian Basin at home Saturday,

3. E. New Mexico (2-0): Two weeks in a row the Greyhounds have had to survive, however, when the clock hit zero they’re still 2-0. ENMU QB Wyatt Strand had to punch in a touchdown in OT to lift the Greyhounds over Colorado Mesa, 44-37. ENMU will need to play much better at No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday.

4. A&M-Commerce (2-0): E.J. Thompson scored on a 5-yard run with six minutes left in the game to give the No. 12 Lions a 34-27 road win at Western Oregon. TAMC comes hope to open the league schedule against a very tough ENMU squad Saturday.

5. W. Texas A&M (2-0): The Buffs scored 35 unanswered points to down William Jewell College, 49-21. It’s the Buffs first 2-0 start since 2013. The schedule gets much stronger when WT plays at Tarleton on Saturday night.

6. Angelo State (2-0): Jeff Girsch is now 2-0 as a first-year head coach after his Rams throttled Simon Frasor, 68-7. Running back Lloyd Howard piled up 130 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. ASU makes a trip down to Kingsville to open the LSC schedule against the Javelinas on Saturday.

7. UTPB (2-0): The Falcons are off to a positive start thanks to a convincing 40-24 home victory against Northern Michigan. Coach Justin Carrigan’s team hopes to carry UTPB’s booming offense to Wichita Falls for a matchup with No. 16 MSU-Texas on Saturday.

8. A&M Kingsville (1-1): The Javelinas are in the win column for the first time this season with a 72-0 pummeling of Sul Ross State. Quarterback Cade Dyal was 14 of 18 for 146 yards and two TD tosses. TAMK welcomes Angelo State for a conference clash Saturday.

9. W. New Mexico (0-2): Woes continued for the Mustangs, falling at Northern Arizona, 55-21. WNM is the only team not starting LSC play this weekend, instead playing host to Central Washington.

LSC Standings

Team   LSC  Overall

Tarleton    0-0  2-0

MSU-Texas 0-0  2-0

E. New Mexico  0-0  2-0

A&M-Commerce  0-0  2-0

West Texas A&M   0-0  2-0

Angelo State 0-0  2-0

UT Permian Basin  0-0  2-0

A&M-Kingsville   0-0   1-1

W. New Mexico 0-0   0-2

Week 3 games

Saturday

Central Washington at W. New Mexico, 1 p.m.

E. New Mexico at A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m.

W. Texas A&M at Tarleton, 6 p.m.

UT Permian Basin at MSU-Texas, 7 p.m.

Angelo State at A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.