2014 Southwestern Football
Southwestern Pirates (1-3)
vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-2)
Saturday | October 11 | 1 p.m. | Birkelbach Field (Directions) | Georgetown, Texas (Weather) | Ticket Info
VIDEO/AUDIO: KMAC Sports (link)
Merle Bertrand (play-by-play), Todd York (color analyst)
LIVE STATS: Southwestern Live Stats
COMPLETE NOTES IN PDF FORMAT – Click Here
THE GAME
Southwestern lost a heartbreaker last Saturday to Austin College 20-13 as a second half comeback fell just short. This week the Pirates road doesn't get any easier as Oklahoma Panhandle State comes to town as a second NCAA II team on Southwestern's schedule in 2014.
THE SERIES
Southwestern University and Oklahoma Panhandle State will meet on the gridiron for the first time ever on Saturday ... OPSU is the second Oklahoma school the Pirates will face this season, with the first being Oklahoma Baptist ... It is also the second game for the Pirates against a NCAA Division II program, as Oklahoma Baptist is also a transitioning school that offers NCAA scholarships
THE COACHES
Joe Austin (Concordia-St. Paul '01)
Austin is in his fifth year as a head coach and second at Southwestern after spending the previous four seasons at Hanover College where he led the Panthers to back-to-back second place finishes in the HCAC. He was also the offensive coordinator at the University of Dubuque after spending time at Augsburg College and his alma mater, Concordia-St. Paul.
Russell Gaskamp (Texas '99)
Gaskamp enters his second season at Oklahoma Panhandle State after serving as an assistant at NCAA Division II opponents Angelo State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Texas A&M-Commerce. In his first season at the helm of the Aggies, Gaskamp guided the Aggies to a 4-7 record.
QUICK HITS
• Saturday marks the day another top offensive unit will test the Pirate defense. Oklahoma Panhandle State enters averaging more than 500 yards per game and has scored at least 49 points in each of their last three games - all wins.
• Oklahoma Panhandle State is the second Oklahoma school on the Pirates' 2014 schedule and second NCAA Division II School. The other - Oklahoma Baptist - defeated Southwestern 51-7 on Sept. 27.
• After rushing for 98 yards in the season opener last year, Dylan Wilburn recorded the first 100-yard rushing game of his career with 129 yards against Austin College on Oct. 4. Wilburn's 100-yard game is the second of the season for the Pirates as Justin Pelt rushed for more than 100-yards against Sul Ross State. Last year, the Pirates had one running back eclipse 100-yards in one game.
• Southwestern has had no problem forcing turnovers in 2014; however the Pirates have had trouble hanging on to the football. Through four games, the Pirates rank 33rd in NCAA III in turnovers gained, but their turnover margin ranks just 157th.
• Since moving to quarterback, Justin Pelt has grown into one of the most efficient passers in the SCAC. The sophomore is completing 54 percent of his passes - 2nd best in the SCAC. More importantly, Pelt bounced back last week, throwing for 194 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
• The Pirates defense is one of the best in the SCAC, led by defensive end Justin Broussard and corner back Nik Kelly. Broussard leads the league with 8.5 tackles for a loss and is ranked 27th in the nation. Kelly has picked off three passes, which is also tops in the SCAC and 15th best in NCAA Division III; his 13 passes defended is the second best mark in all of DIII football.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Since a season opening win the Pirates have dropped three straight and have another tough road ahead with NCAA II, Oklahoma Panhandle State. A tough defense has kept the Pirates in nearly every game this season however Southwestern is averaging just 20 points per game.
OFFENSE
Dylan Wilburn had a breakout game last week with his first 100-yard rushing game of his career. However, Wilburn and the Pirates were unable to find the end zone more than once. The Pirates got playmaker, Nik Kelly involved in the offense that scored the only SU touchdown on a quick pass that saw Kelly break 3 tackles.
DEFENSE
Southwestern continues to be one of the top defenses in the conference and the nation as Justin Broussard and Nik Kelly rank in the top 50 of several categories. Broussard enters with 4.5 sacks - 2nd best in the SCAC - while Kelly ranks 15th in NCAA III with 3 interceptions. AJ McCort leads the Pirates in tackles with 36 as the safety also led SU in tackles in the last two games. As a team the Pirates rank 33rd in NCAA III in turnovers gained and with 8 interceptions are just one behind Texas Lutheran in the SCAC.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Laith Tucker connected on his first two field goals of the season with a long of 35-yards. On returns the Pirates continue to experiment as Colton Williams leads the way on kickoffs as Chris Luca and Nik Kelly have each worked into the mix in the last two games.
SCOUTING THE 'ROOS
With three straight wins and scoring 45 or more points in each win, the Aggies enter Saturday on fire. The high powered OPSU offense has come mainly through the air, although the defense pitched its first shutout last week at Sul Ross State.
OFFENSE
Led by senior quarterback Caleb Holbrook, the Aggies are averaging 550 yards per game with 306 coming through the air. Holbrook enters with 11 TDs and over 1,100 yards however; the Texas native is completing just 49 percent of his passes. A quartet of receivers has double digit catches and at least one touchdown while Lavendar and Williams over 200-yards receiving. Lavendar leads the way with four touchdowns while Williams has three. The ground game is led by McClendon who is averaging over 100 yards per game and just shy of the 500 yard mark on the season.
DEFENSE
Andy Dougherty leads the Aggies with 34 tackles while Xavier Murry leads a defense with two interceptions while Dominic Johnson recorded the team's only pick six.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Gabriel Ortega is 2-for-4 on field goals this season and a perfect 22-for-22 on extra point attempts. The return game is led by Devyn Williams who averages 27.2 yards per return.