Texan football mid-season check in

BY JAXON HANSARD / Sports Editor

Seven victories and one loss is what Tarleton State University Texan Football has captured at the over halfway point of the 2024 season. After their second consecutive 42-0 homecoming shutout of the now 0-8 Utah Tech trailblazers the Texans earned themselves a little break with their second bye-week of the season. 

All victories have come with the Texans scoring at least 20+ points with half coming within 3 points of the opposing team. 

While there are some differences on the roster sheet between last year’s team but the play has been very familiar from Victor Gabalis sitting in the pocket to throw impossible catches that Darius Cooper keeps somehow catching and converting yards or points. Cooper has snagged 5 receiving touchdowns this season on his 546 yards which 141 came at homecoming along with one of his touchdowns. 

Kayvon Britten has gained yards on the football field like Monopoly as he sits with 1160 yards on 158 attempts, all adding up to his 13 rushing touchdowns. Through the seven games played in 24 seasons, he has already surpassed his yards total from last season. The yards are nice but Britten just wants the wins. 

“I say just keep executing, if we keep everything it’ll be taken care of itself,” Britton said. 

After all the running, scoring, touchdowns and celebrations it’s good for the purple and white to take it easy for a week but not too easy as the final 5 games have a postseason outlook about them. 2023 UAC Coach of the Year Todd Whitten wanted to ease the team into this by-week.

“Anytime you have an open week, get a little rest and try to be healthy,” Whitten said. 

A similarity of last season and this year’s team is finishing the game. Half the victories have been close or Tarleton had a lead that they almost lost. 

“There have been times when we don’t  finish quite as well as a team, a lot of that you have to credit to the opponent but that is the thing we have talked about most,” Whitten said. 

Over the break, Tarleton continued to gain as they rose to 8th in the FCS top 25 poll. This ranking and start to the first postseason-eligible season for the D1 school has been a great thing to track as the Texans keep winning. 

After their week to rest and another to prepare, the Texans increase their winning streak of 6 along with their record to 7-1. More and more D1 records being set by the 2024 Texan Football team. Austin Peay was the reigning UAC champs that have been on a bit of a downfall this season and while the iron is hot the Texans took away a happy homecoming from the Clarksville fans with a final score of 27-17.