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Javs third in
D2Football.com poll, fourth in AFCA rankings
Special to the N.E.T. Sports Gazette
Kingsville--The American Football Coaches Association
Division II and D2Football.com polls came out after
opening weekend and listed Texas A&M-Kingsville in
the top five for each poll, the highest rankings in the
Lone Star Conference.
The Javs held last week's fourth place ranking in the
AFCA poll again this week, just below Grand Valley State
(Mich.), North Dakota and Valdosta. Other schools to rank
in the top 10 this week include Carson-Newman (Tenn.),
Pittsburg State (Kan.), North Alabama, Tarleton, Central
Missouri and Central Oklahoma. For a complete list of the
top 25 poll, visit www.afca.com.
The D2Football.com Top 25 National Rankings put the Javs
at number three. TAMUK was beat out again by Grand Valley
State and North Dakota, who have maintained their
positions at the one and two spot. Last week the Javs
ranked fourth and this week rose to number three. Rouding
out the top 10 in order is Carson-Newman, Valdosta, North
Alabama, Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, Catawba and
Central Oklahoma. LSC opponent Tarleton ranked 14. The
complete poll list can be found at www.d2football.com.
The Javelinas open the season this weekend when they
travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to face Northeastern State.
Kick-off is slate for 7 p.m.
Taylor to lead the
offense this season
Special to the N.E.T.
Sports Gazette
Kingsville, Texas - The Texas A&M
University-Kingsville football team will again rely on
the arm and eye of senior Daniel Taylor to lead the
offense this season. Assistant coach Neil LaHue knows
Taylor has got the goods that can take the Javs deep into
the post season.
“I don’t have to say a whole lot about
Daniel,” said LaHue. “Everybody knows him. He
played last year and was the pre-season Player of the
Year (prior to this season). He is very competitive, a
good leader and a hard worker. Daniel understands the
game. He’s not 6 foot 4, but he is tangible.”
Last season the All-American and Harlon Hill candidate
passed for 2,492 yards and 23 touchdowns with only nine
interceptions. Taylor topped the 300-yard mark three
times en route to helping the Javs to the NCAA Division
II semifinals.
“He made great decisions last year, I think
he’ll make even better decisions this year,”
said LaHue. “We’re working on the option a
little bit better, which is probably the thing he has had
to work on the most. He’s done a good job of
concentrating and trying to get better in that
area.”
Taylor’s hot hand makes LaHue confident that the
Javs’ offense will be fired up and ready to dominate
their opponents under the lights.
“I think everybody expects great things from Daniel,
but I just expect him to run our offense,” said
LaHue. “He’s tough and is a very accurate
quarterback.”
The starting position is solidified by Taylor, but four
new players are battling it out for the number two
position.
“Joey Pena, a walk-on from the (Rio Grande) Valley,
is probably going to be the guy we go to for
backup,” said LaHue. “LaFrank Allen, who is a
true freshman, is a guy that we think has probably got a
ways as far as learning curve because he is a freshman
and has only been here for two and a half weeks. We like
his arm and he is a pretty good option operator as well.
Gary Jones and Rowdy Yates are all right there with him.
The four guys behind Daniel are all very close, but still
very young guys.”
The Javs open season on September 4 when they face off
Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.
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Thursday
Sept. 2, 2004
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