The Southwestern University Pirates football team returns home depleted but not dejected for Saturday's homecoming game against theSul Ross State Lobos, ready to bounce back from a tough road loss against Texas Lutheran University.
"A homecoming football game in Texas at the school that invented homecoming games is a big deal," Head Coach Joe Austin said of the tradition that began on April 21, 1909 at Southwestern. "We're proud to be a part of it and we know our job is to go out and get a win."
Series History
The Southwestern University Pirates have won all three meetings between the two teams, beginning in 2014 with games in 2017 and 2018. Last season, the Pirates won 55-7 on the road.
Southwestern scored 28 points in the first quarter and never looked back. Running back Kalon Heim, then in his sophomore season, led the team in rushing yards with 148 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
Current wide receivers David Brandenburg and Anfernee Stephens combined for five five catches and 57 yards in that game while the Pirate defense held Sul Ross State to just 152 yards of total offense.
Season So Far
Sul Ross State has a trio of lopsided defeats, getting shut out through the first two games of the regular season by Hardin-Simmons University (64-0) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (72-0).
The Lobos' lone victory came against McMurry University, scoring two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 21-7 victory. Last week, they lost 48-13 to East Texas Baptist University.
Southwestern opened the season with blowout wins against Sewanee (47-7) and Louisiana College (50-3), showcasing the Pirates' trademark clock-eating run game and strong defense.
Turnovers plagued the Pirates in a loss to Texas Lutheran, putting the defense in tough positions until it finally broke.
Scouting
Injuries have chipped away at the defensive experience thought to be the strength of the team and rendered an already young offense even greener.
True first year Landry Gilpin gets the nod under center as the third starting quarterback in four weeks. Southwestern also has several other holes to fill along the depth chart, forcing the team to go back to basics in a sense.
"We're going to place an emphasis on effort and hustle and deemphasize trying to have a perfect scheme," Austin said. "When your top two quarterbacks are true freshmen, you can't rely on scheme. It's going to come down to the execution of the players around them, effort, and energy."
Southwestern will continue to lean on its run game, which ranks second in the ASC with 278.7 yards per game, led by Gilpin's average of 62.7. They also distribute carries to running back Elijah Smith (50.0 yards per game) and receiver David Brandenburg (42.7 yards per game).
Sul Ross has struggled to contain the run so far this season, giving up 279.5 yards on the ground per game, which ranks 10th in the ASC.
The Lobos' trade lies in deception, which could prove troublesome against Pirates taking on new roles sooner than expected.
"On offense and defense, they try to be very multiple in formations, personnel, alignments, and blitzes," Austin said. "They want to make sure teams aren't comfortable with what they see."
Down several starters, the Pirates can't be too concerned with their opponent's game plan.
"We're worried about us, filling out our depth chart and roster," Austin said. "We have to learn what we do, what we have left, and what our best lineups are going to be."
Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.