The Skyline Newspaper

The Lobos, lead by sophomore Homer Saenz, storm the field before a game earlier this fall. Photo by Jason Hennington

One Point Loss In Pineville Doesn't Stop Lobo Pride

Another record setting day for senior Austin Davidson saw the Sul Ross Lobos drop a heart-breaking 38-37 ASC decision to host Louisiana College Saturday afternoon in Pineville, Louisiana.

Davidson, who was 44 yards shy of Scott Kello's 7,400 career passing yards heading into Saturday's outing, surpassed the mark with 432 yards in the air including 4 touchdowns. He completed 28 of 55 passes and suffered two interceptions and was sacked once.

Michael Van Wagner also set a milestone with his career long 46-yard field goal late in the third period. Van Wagner's kick surpassed his game-winning 41-yarder in triple overtime in Sully's win over Texas Lutheran in October.

Senior T.J. Barber posted 9 carries for 49 yards. Jarrett Dickerson led receivers with 11 receptions for 206 yards and 2 scores.

Jamal Johnson led defenders with 9 tackles including an interception and a pair of breakups. Johnnie Williams also collected 9 stops in Saturday's contest.

The Wildcats took the initial lead as kicker John Babineaux bingoed on a 39-yard field goal at the 12:23 first period mark. Babineaux's boot capped an 8-play, 33-yard drive.

The Lobos went with their punt return for the go ahead as Jamal Johnson hauled in a 66-yard sprint. Van Wagner's kick was good giving Sul Ross a 7-3 advantage with 9:40 left in the first.

The Cats answered in the second period as LC's Jeremy Worthey picked off a Davidson pass. Worthey fumbled the ball which was recovered by Richie Frank in the Sul Ross end zone. John Michiels's extra attempt fell short with Louisiana College sporting a 9-7 lead with 6:42 left until the break.

The Cats then went to the air as Marcus Preston found Taylor Huffman on a 33-yard halfback pass. Michiels kick was good as the Wildcats took a 16-7 lead with 4:13 remaining in the half.

Sully pulled to within two as Davidson connected with Dickerson on an 18-yard scoring strike after 5 plays and 54 yards. The Van Wagner kick was good with LC sporting a slim 16-14 lead at the 2:34 second period mark.

Louisiana College spread the gap with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ben McLaughlin to Justin Johnson on a 4-play, 88-yard drive. Michiels kick was good giving the Wildcats a 23-14 lead with 1:29 left until intermission.

The Lobos cut the LC lead to two again with 44 seconds remaining as Davidson went to Jamal Groover on a 24-yard scoring toss completing 4 plays and 56 yards. Van Wagner nailed his extra point to narrow the gap 23-21 at the half.

The Lobos scored again late in the third period as Van Wagner connected on his career-long 46-yard field goal to give Sully a trim 24-23 lead with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Cats regained the lead in the fourth as James Gathright trotted 4yards to pay dirt ending a 9-play, 56-yard trip. McLaughlin's pass to Jordan Rideaux on the 2-point conversion put LC on top, 31-24 with 11:07 left in regulation.

Louisiana College returned to the pass with 4:52 left as McLaughlin found Bobby Rose on a huge 86-yard touchdown throw after a brief 2-play, 87-yard drive. Michiels kick was good giving LC a 38-24 lead.

Davidson then went to Barber on an 11-yard scoring pass after 7-plays and a long 92 yards. Van Wagner booted the extra try to pull Sul Ross to within a touchdown and an extra point kick, trailing 38-31 with 2:14 left in the game.

Sul Ross then pulled off a dramatic 28-yard touchdown pass from Davidson to Dickerson to pull the Lobos to within a point capping a 7-play, 82-yard drive as time expired. Van Wagner's extra point kick was good which would have tied the game but a timeout called by LC just seconds before the ball was snapped was enough to chill the Lobo extra point team. Van Wagner's second kick sailed wide to the left and handed the Wildcats the 38-37 win.

The Lobos drop to 5-4 on the year and 3-4 in ASC play. Louisiana College improves to 4-5 and 3-4 and picks up their second consecutive victory for the first time in 2007.

Sul Ross and Mississippi College will meet on the grid iron for the 12th time in a series which goes back to 1996.

Lady Lobos Earn ASC Recognition In V-Ball

RICHARDSON -- Sul Ross Lady Lobo volleyballers Stacy Macias, Fabens, and Melanie Valenciana, Odessa Permian, have been selected to the American Southwest Conference West Division Honorable Mention team, the ASC announced on Monday, Nov. 5, after a vote of the league's 13 head coaches.

Macias, a senior, finished her collegiate career with 257 season kills for 2007 averaging 2.82 kills per game. She collected 168 digs at 1.85 digs per game and was team-second in blocks with 28-14 solos and 14 assists. She also posted 13 aces her senior season.

Valenciana, a junior, led the Sul Ross front court this season with a team-high 293 kills with an average of 3.22 kills per game and led the Lady Lobos with 30 service aces. She finished her junior season with 126 digs (1.38 pg) and led Sul Ross in blocks with 39-19 solos and 20 assists.

Lobos Basketball Falls To UTEP In Exhibition Game

EL PASO -- Filiberto Torres led Lobo scorers with 11 points as Sul Ross fell to NCAA Division I UT-El Paso, 101-38 in Monday exhibition play. Torres also led rebounders with 6 boards.

UTEP spotted 5 players in double figures as Randy Culpepper led the charge with 23 points.

The Lobos were held to 24.5 percent shooting from the field in Monday's affair and mustered 4 of 25 shots from beyond the arc, good for 16 percent. Sully connected on 8 of 12 shots from the free throw line at 66.7 percent.

The Miners finished play shooting 56.3 percent from the floor including 9 of 30 from 3-point distance or 30 percent. UTEP went 0-7 from long range in the second half and sank 12 of 22 shots from the line.

UTEP assembled a 12-0 run during the first 3 and a half minutes of play. Sophomore Anthony Miller put the first 2 points on the board for Sul Ross with a pair of foul shots to pull the Lobos within 12-2 with 15:38 left before the half.

An Art Gonzalez lay up and a mid range jumper by freshman Ricky Aguilar set the score at a 30-6 UTEP lead after a 12-4 run by the Miners. Aaron Mitchell's shot inside the arc and Abraham Ely's 3-pointer rounded out scoring for the Lobos as they went to the break trailing the Miners 58-11.

Sul Ross collected 27 points in the second half including a pair of 3's by Torres as the Miners coasted to the 101-38 run away.

Sul Ross will face NCAA Division II UT-Permian Basin on November 17 in Odessa before opening home play on November 24 against NAIA Lubbock Christian University. The Lobos will face Howard Payne in the conference opener on November 26 in Brownwood.