DCTF College Football Previews: Grambling vs. PVAMU; Tarleton vs. Dixie State; Howard Payne vs. Hardin-Simmons & More!

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Grambling (0-1) vs Prairie View A&M (1-0)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, for the State Fair Classic

Broadcast: No broadcast available

The Matchup: The State Fair Classic returns this weekend, and like everything else in recent times, the game is not during the State Fair or at the Cotton Bowl. However, this game remains one of the best experiences every year, and Globe Life Park is an excellent location for this year’s affair.

The Tigers fell victim to Deion Sanders and Jackson State last week. Grambling struggled to stop the run against JSU. PVAMU pulled out a thrilling 20-19 win over rival Texas Southern last week. The Panthers begin their spring with two rivalry games.

Players to Watch: 

GSU - Geremy Hickbottom, QB, Sr, Mobile, Ala. (Williamson HS)

Kenan Fontenot, DB, Jr, Lake Charles, La. (Hamilton Christian HS)

Dorrell James, WR, Sr, Tallahassee, Fla. (Leon HS)

PVAMU - Colbey Washington, WR, So, Houston, Texas (Manvel HS)

Storey Jackson, LB, Sr, Kansas City, Kan. (Hutchinson CC)

Drake Cheatum, DB, Jr, Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite HS)

Key to Victory: Grambling has a solid offense led by Geremy Hickbottom, and the Tigers can run and pass the ball effectively. PVAMU has an outstanding defense will playmakers all over the field. Who wins this battle will be a big key.

PVAMU must figure out its running game after only gaining 88 yards and 2.9 yards per carry against Texas Southern last week. The Panthers offense is a work in progress with TJ Starks and Trazon Conley splitting time at quarterback.

Prediction: Grambling by 3

 

Tarleton (2-2) at Dixie State (1-1)

When: 8 p.m. Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Utah

Broadcast: Dixie State Athletics YouTube

The Matchup: This is a rematch from two weeks ago when the Trailblazers entered Memorial Stadium in Stephenville and departed with a 26-14 victory in their first FCS game in program history.

Dixie State was the recipient of five turnovers from Tarleton two weeks ago and put 445 total yards of offense on the Texans. Tarleton righted the ship last week with a home win over Mississippi College while DSU lost on the road to New Mexico State.

Players to Watch: 

Tarleton - Ronnell Wilson, LB, Sr, Abilene, Texas (Abilene HS)

Jordan Wells, DL, Sr, Navasota, Texas (Navasota HS)

Dray Roberson, WR, So, Fort Worth, Texas (YML Academy)

DSU - Kody Wilstead, QB, Jr, St. George, Utah (BYU)

Malaki, Malaki, LB, Jr, Leone, American Somoa (Murrieta Valley (Calif) HS

Darrius Nash, S, Jr, Los Angeles, Calif. (San Fernando HS)

Key to Victory: The obvious answer here is to limit turnovers, which is always a key. But the Texans will also focus on two other areas to improve to have an opportunity to win in the rematch.

Tarleton needs to pressure DSU quarterback Kody Wilstead and help their defensive backs, who are usually left on an island. The Texans also need more consistent play from their quarterbacks this week after Steven Duncan and Cameron Burston combined to complete 14-of-36 passes two weeks ago.

Prediction: Tarleton by 6

 

Lamar (0-2) at McNeese (1-2)

When: Noon Saturday at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, La.

Broadcast: ESPN+

The Matchup: Lamar and McNeese meet for the final time as conference mates this week. The Cardinals have played two of the best teams in the country, and played tough against UIW last week, while the Cowboys schedule has not been a walk in the park. 

What makes Lamar’s schedule brutal this spring is the Cardinals play six games in six weeks while nearly every other conference team has a bye week built in. This spring will provide a great learning experience for coach Blane Morgan and his young squad.

Players to Watch: 

Lamar - Chaz Ward, RB, So, Houma, La. (Terrebonne HS)

Marcellus Johnson, WR, So, Killeen, Texas (Killeen HS)

Dallas Martin, ILB, Sr, Murrieta, Calif. (City College of San Francisco)

McNeese - Cody Orgeron, QB, Sr, Mandeville, La. (Mandeville HS)

Andre Sam, DB, Jr, Iowa, La. (Iowa HS)

Earnest Grayson III, DE, Fr, Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks HS) 

Key to Victory: The Lamar offense was better against UIW last week. The Cardinals are still trying to find the quarterback who can lead a team struggling in the passing game. The Cardinals rushing attack will need to gain enough yards to keep Lamar out of obvious passing downs.

The key for the Cardinals defense is stopping dual-threat quarterback Cody Orgeron. Orgergon leads the Cowboys in rushing and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry with three touchdowns on the ground this year.

Prediction: McNeese by 12

 

UT Permian Basin (2-0) at Western New Mexico (0-0)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday at Ben Altamirano Field in Silver City, N.M.

Broadcast: Lone Star Conference Network

The Matchup: A game that has been in doubt for months will finally happen when WNMU opens its two-game spring season against the Falcons. UTPB has cruised to a 2-0 start this spring by a combined score of 87-34. Silver City, N.M. is never a comfortable place for opponents, and the Falcons lost 47-28 at WNMU in 2019.

Players to Watch: 

UTPB - Clayton Roberts, QB, Jr, Houston, Texas (St. Pius X)

Kobe Robinson, WR, Jr, Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)

Miquon Mayes, LB, Jr, Dallas, Texas (Duncanville HS)

WNMU - Joshua Powell, WR, So, St. Louis, Mo. (Hillcrest HS)

Tylen Riley-Coleman, DL, Fr, Milwaukee, Wi. (Maricopa HS)

Thomas Webb Jr., DB, So, Tucson, Ariz. (Cienega HS)

Key to Victory: If UTPB can manage the travel schedule and difficulty playing in one of the smallest venues in Division II, the Falcons should roll over a Mustangs squad with a ton of new faces on its roster.

Prediction: UTPB by 21

 

Birmingham Southern (2-1) vs Trinity (2-1)

When: Noon Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.

Broadcast: Hendrix Athletics

The Matchup: Trinity’s defense was outstanding last week, but the offense struggled to find any rhythm, which places the Tigers against BSC this week in the final game of the spring for both teams. The winner of this game will claim third place in the Southern Athletic Association and have some momentum heading into the fall.

Players to Watch: 

Trinity - Chris Stewart, WR, Sr, The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands HS)

Campbell Miller, DL, Sr, Tyler, Texas (Lee HS)

Wyatt Messex, QB, Sr, Granger, Texas (Granger HS)

BSC - Robert Shufford, RB, Sr, McKenzie, Ala. (McKenzie HS)

Branden Rew, WR, Jr, Fayetteville, Ga. (Starr’s Mill HS)

Carson Walter, DB, So, Fayetteville, Ga. (Trinity Christian HS)

Key to Victory: These teams are very evenly matched on paper. The winner of this game will be determined by who can convert on third down and manageable, score touchdowns inside the red zone, and limit turnovers.

Prediction: Trinity by 3

 

Centre (1-2) vs Austin College (1-2)

When: Noon Sunday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.

Broadcast: Hendrix Athletics

The Matchup: Austin College earned its first win of the spring last week. Their reward is a game against one of the top teams in the Southern Athletic Association, who has lost two games by a combined eight points. The Colonels fell to perennial power Berry 18-17 in overtime last week.

Players to Watch: 

AC - Evan Powell, RB, Sr, Carrollton, Texas (Hebron HS)

Aaron Rideaux, WR, Jr, Beaumont, Texas (Forney HS)

Keegan Nichols, LB, Jr, Cedar Park, Texas (Cedar Park HS)

Centre - Jordan Gunter, WR, Sr, Louisville, Ky. (Ballard HS)

Andre Evans, LB, Sr, Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle HS)

Clayton Bell, DL, Sr, West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West HS)

Key to Victory: Centre may have the best defense the ‘Roos have seen this spring. Austin College will need to stay ahead of the chains and convert on critical downs while playing its best game of the spring on offense. 

Prediction: Centre by 10

 

Howard Payne (1-1) at Hardin-Simmons (2-0)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday at Shelton Stadium in Abilene, Texas

Broadcast: HSU Athletics

The Matchup: HPU has been very impressive in its first two games this spring. The Yellow Jackets improvement over the past two seasons has been incredible. But this week, they meet Hardin-Simmons. The Cowboys are a perennial powerhouse for a reason and have been clicking on all cylinders this spring.

Players to Watch: 

HPU - Jake Parker, WR, Sr, Whitehouse, Texas (Cisco JC)

Landon McKinney, QB, Fr, Liberty City, Texas (Sabine HS)

Peyton Lowe, LB, Fr, Gunter, Texas (Gunter HS)

HSU - Cade Bell, WR, Southlake, Texas (Texas Tech)

Jamion Shaw, DE, So, Commerce, Texas (Commerce HS)

Kyle Jones, QB, Sr, Giddings, Texas (Mary Hardin-Baylor)

Key to Victory: The Yellow Jackets have shown they can pass the ball on anyone, but they will need to protect Landon McKinney against one of the best defensive lines in the country. The Cowboys will continue to rely on their defense and a very balanced offensive attack.

Prediction: Hardin-Simmons by 17

 

Southwestern (0-2) at Louisiana College (1-1)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday at Wildcat Field in Pineville, La.

Broadcast: LC Sports Net

The Matchup: Southwestern has had two weeks off after playing two of the top teams in the American Southwest Conference. The Pirates seek their first win of the spring against a Wildcats squad who pulled off a huge upset at home over East Texas Baptist before falling on the road last week.

Players to Watch: 

SU - Austin Castilleja, RB, Jr, San Antonio, Texas (Winston Churchill HS)

Landry Gilpin, QB, So, Mission, Texas (Veterans Memorial HS)

Jason Lund, DE, Fr, Azle, Texas (Azle HS)

LC - Sal Palermo III, QB, So, Walker, La. (Live Oak HS)

Julius Johnson, LB, Sr, Abbeville, La. (Kaplan HS)

Micah Latin, DL, Jr, Gloster, La. (Captain Shreve HS)

Key to Victory: The Pirates will need to get the running attack churning to turn around the narrative this spring after averaging 1.7 yards per carry in two games. The Wildcats are allowing 201.5 yards rushing per contest this year. Landry Gilpin and Austin Castilleja could each have a huge game.

Prediction: Southwestern by 7

 

McMurry (1-1) at Texas Lutheran (2-1)

When: 2 p.m. Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Seguin, Texas

Broadcast: TLU Athletics

The Matchup: McMurry has shown massive improvement thus far in the spring, but the War Hawks schedule has not provided any favors. The War Hawks meet an angry TLU squad entering the game after the Bulldogs first loss of the season last week. This could be a sneaky good game.

Players to Watch: 

McM - Kristopher Martin, WR, Fr, El Paso, Texas (El Dorado HS)

Colton Strickland, DL, Fr, Hawley, Texas (Hawley HS)

Micheas Garibaldi, LB, Jr, San Antonio, Texas (MacArthur HS)

TLU - Chris Monroe, RB, Sr, College Station, Texas (College Station HS)

Mason Perkins, WR, Sr, Burleson, Texas (Arlington Martin HS)

Christian Monroe, DL, Fr, College Station, Texas (College Station HS)

Key to Victory: The Bulldogs are a solid team on defense but have struggled to force turnovers this spring. McMurry has a talented squad but is filled with youth and has struggled to hold onto the ball this spring with a -3 turnover margin.

Prediction: TLU by 10

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