TLU Football preview for game No. 2 (vs. Sul Ross State)

Game-By-Game

Texas Lutheran v. Sul Ross State

(Series tied, 18-18)

1946 Sul Ross 32, Texas Lutheran 0

1953 Sul Ross 39, Texas Lutheran 0

1954 Sul Ross 18, Texas Lutheran 12

1955 Sul Ross 27, Texas Lutheran 14

1956 Texas Lutheran 46, Sul Ross 10

1957 Sul Ross 12, Texas Lutheran 9

1960 Sul Ross 16, Texas Lutheran 14

1961 Texas Lutheran 33, Sul Ross 14

1962 Sul Ross 28, Texas Lutheran 14

1964 Texas Lutheran 7, Sul Ross 6

1965 Sul Ross 13, Texas Lutheran 0

1966 Sul Ross 13, Texas Lutheran 3

1986 Sul Ross 27, Texas Lutheran 3

1998 Texas Lutheran 29, Sul Ross 27

1999 Sul Ross 44, Texas Lutheran 40

2000 Texas Lutheran 23, Sul Ross 21

2001 Sul Ross 37, Texas Lutheran 23

2002 Texas Lutheran 24, Sul Ross 21

2003 Texas Lutheran 29, Sul Ross 21

2004 Texas Lutheran 38, Sul Ross 14

2005 Sul Ross 29, Texas Lutheran 28

2006 Sul Ross 31, Texas Lutheran 10

2007 Sul Ross 33, Texas Lutheran 31

2007 Sul Ross 45, Texas Lutheran 42 (3OT)

2008 Texas Lutheran 34, Sul Ross 27 (OT)

2008 Texas Lutheran 24, Sul Ross 14

2009 Sul Ross 35, Texas Lutheran 7

2010 Texas Lutheran 28, Sul Ross 11

2011 Texas Lutheran 43, Sul Ross 26

2012 Sul Ross 70, Texas Lutheran 65

2013 Texas Lutheran 41, Sul Ross 16

2014 Texas Lutheran 61, Sul Ross 15

2015 Texas Lutheran 44, Sul Ross 27

2017 Texas Lutheran 40, Sul Ross 14

2018 Texas Lutheran 63, Sul Ross 20

2019 Texas Lutheran 35, Sul Ross 6

37th all-time game between Bulldogs, Lobos

Texas Lutheran's rivalry with Sul Ross State renews this Saturday when the Lobos enter Bulldog Stadium to take on the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs and Lobos have played 36 prior times. That the second-most times TLU has played a particular opponent. TLU has played only one foe - Howard Payne - more times than the Lobos. (TLU and HPU played their 46th time on Feb. 6.) Kickoff for the 37th meeting between TLU and SRSU is set for 1 p.m. The game is the second contest of the year for both the Lobos and the Bulldogs. TLU is 1-0 after a 39-38 road win over Howard Payne. Sul Ross is 0-1 after a 17-14 road loss to McMurry, also on Feb. 6.

No fans allowed at Bulldog Stadium

Due to TLU's COVID-19 safety protocols, no fans will be allowed Saturday in Bulldog Stadium. TLU continues to evaluate its COVID-19 safety measures and regularly evaluates its current policy of not allowing spectators at any of TLU's home sporting events.

Free webcasts for many of TLU's home events

TLU is committed to providing free webcasts for as many home athletics events as possible this semester. Free webcasts, with links on tlubulldogs.com, can be viewed on your smart phone, your home computer, and your home smart tv (by connecting your computer to your tv, usually via an HDMI cable). Webcasts are archived and are available for viewing on-demand. TLU Football webcasts use the KWED AM 1580 audio as the audio feed for the TLU video webcasts. KWED AM 1580, with Mike McBride and Ivy Koehler Meehan on the call this Saturday, will broadcast all five TLU football games this year. An audio-only version is streamed on seguintoday.com, and of course each broadcast can be found in the Seguin area on the radio, at AM 1580.

Defensive success against Sul Ross State

Current Head Coach Ricky Matt was TLU's defensive coordinator in the Bulldogs' previous three wins over the Lobos. In those three wins, Matt's defense has allowed a total of 40 points, an average of 13.33 per game. The Bulldogs' defense has limited Sul Ross to 200 rushing yards on 74 carries in the last three games combined against the Lobos. The Lobos average 2.7 yards per carry against the TLU rushing defense in the last three games.

Matt waited 422 days for first game, first win

Ricky Matt became the 22nd head football coach in school history on Dec. 12, 2019. He waited 422 days to coach his first game, and win his first game, as head coach of the Bulldogs. Matt (pronounced "MOTT") succeeded Carl Gustafson, who announced his retirement the same day Matt was hired. Once Gustafson made his announcement, TLU and Matt were ready with the succession plan. Gustafson, a two-time American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year, was TLU's head coach for three seasons and produced a 21-9 overall record and 20-7 mark in the ASC. The Bulldogs were 8-2 overall and 8-1 in the ASC in 2019.

Call of the game came late in 4th quarter

Ricky Matt waited those 422 days to coach and to win his first game with the Bulldogs, but he really didn't have to wait too long once his head coaching career started to have a hard in-game coaching decision. With TLU trailing by seven late in the fourth quarter on the road against Howard Payne, Matt made the decision to go for the two-point conversion even before the Bulldogs scored the touchdown that cut the lead to one. With TLU driving deep into HPU territory, Matt said he informed the offensive coaches to have a two-point play in mind if and when the Bulldogs scored. The two-point play,  a quarterback keeper by Seth Cosme to the left pylon, worked perfectly. Cosme scampered untouched for the game-winning points. "Well our kids were very resilient," said Matt. "They pull for each other. They love each other. They never got down. They stayed in the game. They knew that if we just kept playing, because we have been there before the last three years several times, we could do it again."

Perkins named ASC West Offensive POW

Texas Lutheran senior receiver Mason Perkins was named the American Southwest Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week following the win over Howard Payne. Perkins caught a career-best 10 passes for a career-high 205 yards in the Bulldogs' 39-38 come-from-behind road win over Howard Payne on Saturday. At Brownwood's Gordon Wood Stadium, two of Perkins' catches resulted in touchdowns, and both scoring grabs came in the second half. Each touchdown catch brought TLU even with HPU on the scoreboard. Perkins' first TD grab came with 9:20 to play in the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Seth Cosme hit Perkins for a 32-yard scoring play. That TD and extra-point tied the game at 21. The touchdown came one play after TLU recovered a Yellow Jacket fumble. With 12:47 to play in the game, Cosme again found Perkins for a tying touchdown. The scoring play covered 49 yards and capped a 5-play, 75-yard drive.

Cosme impresses in first career start

Seth Cosme, the sophomore signal-caller, made his first career start and first significant varsity action truly memorable as he led the team to a come-from-behind victory on the road. Cosme threw two TD passes and rushed for two more. "Seth has done a great job for the last three weeks in practice," said Matt after the win. "We knew he was coming on. I kept telling our offense that he was going to be (very) good and that he was going to carry this team. And he did."

Cosme excelled in passing, rushing attacks

Seth Cosme and TLU first tied the game with HPU on a Cosme pass to Mason Perkins in the third quarter. That TD strike covered 32 yards. Cosme then hit Perkins for a 49-yard score at the 12:47 mark of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 31. After HPU took the lead back, on a two-yard run with 8:35 to play, Cosme and the Bulldogs marched 53 yards - on eight plays in just over two minutes - for the winning touchdown. Cosme went up the middle on a quarterback sneak to score and bring TLU within one. On the two-point play, he kept the ball around the left-side of the line and ran untouched into the endzone. Freshman running back DaKory Willis provided a key block.

Cosme's impressive numbers in first start

Seth Cosme completed 14 of his 22 passes (63.6 percent) against Howard Payne. He threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns and did not have an interception. Cosme also led TLU in rushing. He rushed for 83 yards on 16 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He scored a pair of rushing TDs - on a rush of three yards and on a rush of one yard.

Bulldog run game big factor in victory

The Bulldogs rushed for 215 yards on 51 rushing attempts against the Yellow Jackets last Saturday. TLU averaged 4.2 yards per carry. Eleven of TLU's 25 first downs came by rush attempt. TLU won the time of possession battle against HPU, holding the ball for 30:17, compared to 29:43 for the Yellow Jackets.

Outstanding debut for DaKory Willis

Freshman running back DaKory Willis had one of the great TLU Football debuts in recent memory. The Flatonia, Texas product rushed for 79 yards on 11 carries and had a long run of 41. He also threw a pass for 42 yards, on a half-back pass, that helped the Bulldogs to their first score. Willis hit Mason Perkins for the long gain in the second quarter. Perkins was pushed out of bounds at the 3-yard line. TLU scored one play later on a quarterback keeper from Seth Cosme.

Revamped offensive line performs well

The TLU offensive line, with three new starters, did not allow a sack last weekend and paved the way for an offensive attack that registered 215 rushing yards and 272 yards passing. TLU averaged 6.6 yards per play, 11.8 yards per pass play, and 4.2 yards per rush. The Bulldogs have returning starters at center (Trevor Hopkins) and right tackle (Nike Gooden) with new starters at left tackle (Jackson O'Neal), left guard (Levi Torres), and right guard (NaKoven Lewis).

Monroe adds to career rushing totals

Senior running back Chris Monroe carried the ball 17 times for 61 yards in the road win at HPU. Monroe pushed his career totals to 1,602 rushing yards in 23 career games. He averages 6.1 yards per carry in his career, and he has 13 career touchdowns. Monroe moved up to fifth on the TLU DIII-era rushing list. Monroe moved past Dominique Hardaway, who finished his four-year career with 1,595 yards. Monroe now is 202 yards from passing A.J. Saucedo for fourth on the DIII list.

Two Monroes equals two playmakers on field

Last Saturday in Brownwood, senior running back Chris Monroe had the pleasure of playing in a college football game with his younger brother, Christian, who had a key sack in the closing moments of the win. Christian Monroe, a starting defensive tackle for the Bulldogs, sacked HPU quarterback Landon McKinney on a 2nd-and-10 play with 55 seconds left in the game. That sack led to 3rd-and-12 and 4th-and-12 plays that resulted in incomplete passes for the Yellow Jackets. TLU took over on downs and kneeled down twice to secure the road win.

James Bell makes plays again for TLU "D"

Senior free safety James Bell led TLU in total tackles, with nine, against Howard Payne. The four-year starter, three-time All-South Region selection, and 2019 All-American collected seven solo tackles and two tackle assists. He also secured two tackles for loss (totaling in three yards in losses). Bell recovered a fumble in the third quarter that led to a TLU touchdown.

Bell moves up TLU DIII-era tackle chart

With his nine tackles last Saturday, senior safety James Bell moved within eight tackles of 11th place on the Bulldogs' DIII-era tackle list. Bell now has 165 career tackles. He is eight tackles from tying Will Gavit for 11th on the tackle list. Jake Dearing, brother of TLU Assistant Sports Information Director Joey Dearing, is TLU's all-time leader in total tackles. Jake Dearing concluded his four-year career with 294. Bell is also on the TLU DIII-era leaders list for career interceptions. He has 11 interceptions in 29 games. His 11 are the fourth-most in the Bulldogs' DIII-era, which spans from 1998 to the present. Former Bulldogs Dwight Bonner and David Garcia share the TLU lead. Each had 16 career interceptions.

Strong return for DaKwa Davis

After missing most of the 2019 season to injury, senior linebacker DaKwa Davis made a strong return to the field with nine total tackles against the Yellow Jackets last week. That total tied for the team lead. Davis had three solo tackles, six tackle assists, and a forced fumble. Davis has 138 total tackles, seven sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 23 career games at TLU.

Matt was one of first hires by Gustafson

Ricky Matt was one of the first hires by Carl Gustafson after Gustafson accepted the TLU head coaching position on Nov. 17, 2016. Matt was named defensive coordinator on Jan. 10, 2017. He served as defensive coordinator in all three of Gustafson's seasons as head coach. Matt was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2018 season.

Defensive success with Coach Matt

Ricky Matt's three years at TLU as defensive coordinator have produced three of the best statistical years in the Bulldogs' non-scholarship era, which started in 1998. The Bulldogs went from allowing 38.2 points per game in 2016 (the year before Matt's arrival) to allowing 29.2 in 2017 – a nine-point improvement per game. TLU also went from two overall wins in 2016 to six wins in 2017. The points allowed per game by the TLU defense has gone from 29.2 in 2017, to 26.9 in 2018, to a new TLU DIII-era record of 18.4 points per game in 2019. Under Matt, TLU became a much better defense against the run. The Bulldogs went from giving up 171.6 yards of rushing per game in 2016 to allowing only 91.8 yards per game in 2017.

Record-setting defense with Matt

The 2018 squad set the TLU DIII-era record for rushing defense by allowing only 76.5 rushing yards per contest. The 2019 squad came within six yards per game of tying the mark of the 2018 team. In 2019, the TLU defense gave up only 82.5 yards on the ground per game. In Ricky Matt's three years as defensive coordinator, the Bulldogs have produced the top three rushing defense seasons of TLU's NCAA Division III era, spanning 22 seasons.

Pass defense numbers vastly improved

TLU's pass defense numbers under Ricky Matt also have enjoyed significant improvement. In Matt's first season as defensive coordinator, 2017, the Bulldogs allowed 309.1 passing yards per game. That number dropped to 259.8 per game in 2018 and fell to 203.7 per contest this season. The Bulldogs' 2019 pass defense allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (10) in TLU's 22 seasons since the re-start of the football program in 1998. The total number of opponent touchdowns allowed (24) in 2019 also set a new TLU DIII-era record for fewest TDs allowed in a season. The 2019 squad broke the DIII-era record by six touchdowns.

Bulldogs hopeful of Wade Freeman return

TLU's 2019 starter at quarterback, junior Wade Freeman, missed the road game with Howard Payne. Freeman has been out with a non-COVID medical issue. The Bulldogs are hopeful that he can return for the shortened 2021 season. Freeman started all 10 games at quarterback for the Bulldogs in 2019. After being part of a two-QB rotation in the season-opener last season, Freeman took hold of the starting job in game No. 2 – the road victory at East Texas Baptist. In that victory, he completed 10-of-14 passes for 151 yards, tossed three touchdowns, rushed 12 times for 58 yards, and scored a rushing touchdown in the 31-21 win in Marshall.

Completions record for Freeman in 2019

TLU QB Wade Freeman would go on to complete 65.6 percent of that 2019 season's passes, setting a new TLU DIII-era record for single-season completion percentage. He threw 14 touchdowns and tossed only four interceptions. Freeman also rushed for 622 yards and seven touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He led the team in rushing. Twice, Freeman was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Week.

5-game schedule in the COVID era

Texas Lutheran will play a five-game varsity football schedule this spring semester. TLU and all of its fellow football members in the American Southwest Conference will play four games against divisional opponents and a final game against a cross-divisional opponent. For the first time in ASC history, the conference's football schedule will be played under a two-division model with teams closing the 2020-21 season with a playoff pitting teams cross-seeded in a single game.

Two divisions for ASC in winter ball

Each ASC Football division will have five teams. Belhaven, East Texas Baptist, Louisiana College, Mary Hardin-Baylor and Southwestern will be in the East Division. Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, McMurry, Sul Ross State and TLU will be in the West. The ASC's fall sport 2020-21 schedules are subject to change and contingent upon health and safety guidelines of the NCAA and local, state, and federal entities.

Recent weather upends ASC schedule

Postponements due to weather issues the past two weeks prompted changes to the Texas Lutheran and American Southwest Conference 2021 spring semester football schedules. The revised schedules for the league's 10 football programs were approved by the conference's directors of athletics. First, the adjustments move games originally scheduled for Feb. 13 to March 13. TLU was scheduled to play McMurry University at Bulldog Stadium in Seguin on Feb. 13. The Bulldogs and War Hawks now will play at Bulldog Stadium on March 13. A kickoff time has yet to be announced. Games originally scheduled for Feb. 20 have been moved to March 20. The Feb. 20 game day was to be TLU's bye-week date. The Bulldogs' bye is now March 20.

Final day of spring football season March 27

The final day of the ASC's spring 2021 schedule – for playoff games between East and West Division seeds – will be staged March 27. On that day, TLU as a member of the ASC West Division will play its corresponding seed from the ASC East Division. The No. 1, 3 and 5 seeds in the West will host a cross-division match-up. The No. 2 and 4 seeds from the East will host their cross-division games. The winner of the game between the two top-seeded teams will be named the 2020-21 ASC champion. In addition, the ASC Directors of Athletics agreed the conference spring football season will not extend beyond March 27. Conference football games already set for Feb. 27 and March 6 will be played as scheduled. TLU will host Sul Ross State on Feb. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs will play Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas on March 6. Game time is set for 1 p.m. 

TLU re-ups FB affiliate membership

Texas Lutheran University's football affiliate membership with the American Southwest Conference has been extended four years. The ASC announced on Aug. 18 the extension of affiliate membership in the sport of football for both Southwestern University and TLU. Southwestern and TLU play the bulk of their athletics programs as members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. TLU has 18 intercollegiate programs in the NCAA Division III. Three of those programs do not have membership in the SCAC. TLU Football is an affiliate member of the ASC, and TLU Men's Indoor Track & Field and Women's Indoor Track & Field compete as independents. TLU and Southwestern have played with the ASC since the 2017 season. The new affiliate agreement will run for the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. "We are excited to continue our affiliation with Southwestern and Texas Lutheran," said ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton. "And we look forward to the continued success both programs have brought to the league."

Bulldog success in ASC since re-join

Texas Lutheran has finished among the top three in the ASC Football standings in each of the last three seasons. The Bulldogs were the 2019 conference runner-up with an 8-2 overall record and an 8-1 league mark. Since coming over from the SCAC when the conference's football league disbanded, TLU Football has registered an ASC record of 21-7 with an overall mark of 22-9. TLU has produced 24 ASC All-Conference players. In 2018, place-kicker Juan Ocampo was named the 2018 ASC Freshman of the Year, and recently retired head coach Carl Gustafson earned ASC Coach of the Year twice (in 2017 and 2019). As a member of the ASC, TLU has had four All-America picks – guard Alejandro Briseno in 2017, safety James Bell in 2019, offensive lineman Garrett Garza in 2019, and defensive lineman Manny Longoria in 2019. Austin College, a former football member of the ASC and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, begins play in the 2021 season as a new football affiliate with the ASC.

Road to 2021 spring FB started in July

On July 22, 2020, Southwestern University and TLU, as affiliate football members of the American Southwest Conference, jointly announced that both universities were suspending their intercollegiate football competitive seasons for the fall of 2020 due to ongoing health and safety concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The two universities made plans for football intercollegiate contests in the spring semester of the 2020-21 academic year, provided health and safety conditions warranted a return to the sport and a blanket waiver was provided by the NCAA to allow such activity. The Bulldogs and Pirates, and later the entire ASC Football establishment, spent the days and months since July preparing for this spring football season. TLU has implemented testing and healthcare guidelines that are in line with the NCAA's requirements. Each player on the field Saturday will have passed COVID screening in the days just prior to kickoff.

No D3 postseason possibilities for FB now

On Aug. 5, 2020, NCAA Division III championships in fall sports for 2020-21 were canceled. With the health and safety of the division's student-athletes, coaches, athletics administrators and communities as its priority, the DIII Presidents Council made the decision to cancel the championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related administrative and financial challenges. The DIII Presidents Council's decision affected the TLU sports of football, men's soccer, women's soccer, women's cross country, men's cross country, and women's volleyball. These sports will not have DIII postseason possibilities in the 2020-21 academic year. 

Last Game - Sul Ross State

McMurry 17, Sul Ross State 14

Feb. 6, 2021

ABILENE, Texas - Two touchdown passes from Clayton Maxwell were not enough Saturday as McMurry prevailed 17-14 over the Lobos in a tight contest throughout.

After two downs for the War Hawks on their opening drive, the Lobos defense clamped down and forced a turnover on downs to regain possession with 12:18 left in the first.

Quarterback Clayton Maxwell then took the Lobos on an 8-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by an 18-yard touchdown strike from Maxwell to Corey Driver for the first score of the game with 8:17 left in the first. Jaden Brown's extra point was good for the 7-0 advantage.

McMurry proceeded to march down the field and found the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run from De'Marea Robinson. Jaylen Bussey blocked the extra point attempt to keep Sully ahead 7-6 with 4:27 left in the first quarter.

The rest of the first would remain scoreless and the second quarter would only see three points on a late 20-yard field goal from Jared Mendoza for a 9-7 McMurry lead at the half.

After the defense forced a punt, Sully's second possession of the third quarter proved big. Ozias Wright started the drive with 16 yards on three runs before Maxwell completed a 17-yard pass to Brian Mattison to put the ball on the War Hawks 18-yard line. Maxwell found Mattison again the very next play, this time for 18 yards in the end zone for the lead again. Brown's point after attempt was good for a 14-9 lead with 7:10 left in the third.

The Lobos held the lead the remainder of the third, but McMurry's final drive of that quarter dipped into the fourth and proved costly. The War Hawks were able to take 5:54 off the clock on 13 plays and 62 yards. It was capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by Robinson with 11:09 left in the game. McMurry went for two after the score and were successful for a 17-14 lead.

Sully's defense gave the Lobos a prime opportunity midway through the fourth with a Quincy Blair forced fumble that was recovered by Jaylen Bussey at the 24-yard line of the War Hawks with 6:29 remaining. McMurry's defense had an answer by forcing a quick turnover on downs on four plays from the Lobo offense.

The Lobos had two more chances on offense late in the game but were unable to get past the 50-yard line as the War Hawks came away with the 17-14 win.

Maxwell threw for 114 yards on 16-of-36 passing to go with his two touchdown passes. Wright rushed for 104 yards on 22 carries and had a long of 21. Mattison was the leading receiver for the Lobos with 41 yards on three receptions. Defensively, Xavier Minjarez, Quincy Blair, and Ronin Williams led the Lobos with seven tackles each.

Last Game between TLU & Sul Ross State

Texas Lutheran 35, Sul Ross State 6

Oct. 26, 2019

ALPINE, Texas -- The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs rolled to a 35-6 victory Saturday night over Sul Ross State that moved the Bulldogs to 6-0 in the American Southwest Conference. 

TLU (6-1 overall) won its sixth straight overall in 2019 and collected its sixth consecutive win over the Lobos, who dropped to 3-4 overall and to 3-3 in the ASC. The series between TLU and Sul Ross is now tied at 18-18. The Bulldogs have won 10 of the last 12 against Sul Ross. 

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead by scoring 14 in the first quarter and 14 in the second.

TLU sophomore quarterback Wade Freeman threw first-quarter touchdown passes to Aaron Sotelo and Joseph Moreno and rushed for a 16-yard score in the second quarter. The touchdowns for Sotelo and Moreno were their first touchdowns at the college level. Sotelo is a freshman tight end, and Moreno is a sophomore receiver. 

Ian Leslie put TLU up by four touchdowns with a 1-yard run at the 8:37 mark of the second quarter. Leslie added another 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter. 

The Bulldogs had scoring drives on its five touchdowns of seven plays for 60 yards, seven plays for 58 yards, seven plays for 66 yards, five plays for 41 yards, and 10 plays for 79 yards. 

"The great thing about a long road trip is that you have a long time to get focused," said Carl Gustafson, TLU's head football coach. "Our guys were extremely focused. They wanted to redeem themselves a bit, and not just win but play well again." 

TLU rushed for 285 yards on 49 carries and held Sul Ross to 14 yards rushing. The Bulldogs were 6-of-10 on third down and held the ball for 32 minutes, 19 seconds. 

TLU had five backs with at least 30 yards. Christopher Monroe led TLU with nine rushes for 60 yards. 

The Lobos 14 rushing yards came on 23 carries. TLU held the ASC's second-leading rusher Williton Grear to 23 yards on seven carries. Grear came into the game with 643 rushing yards.  

Sul Ross State was 3-for-11 on third down and 0-for-1 on fourth down.