2021 Sul Ross Lobos football team

2021 Sul Ross Lobos football
2021 Sul Ross Lobos football
Conference	American Southwest Conference
Record	2–7 (2–7 ASC)
Head coach	John Pearce (8th season);
Offensive coordinator	Barry Derickson (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Eric Eisenberg (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Jackson Field
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Sul Ross Lobos football team represented Sul Ross State University during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the American Southwest Conference (ASC). The Lobos were led by eighth-year^[1] head coach John Pearce and played their home hames at Jackson Field in Alpine, Texas. The team finished with a record of 2–7 to finish ninth in the ASC. The Lobos struggled on both sides of the ball throughout the season, with the offense getting shutout twice and the defense allowing 70+ points in two different games.

2021 American Southwest Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 1 Mary Hardin–Baylor $^	9	–	0	15	–	0
No. 10 Hardin–Simmons	8	–	1	9	–	1
Belhaven	6	–	3	7	–	3
Howard Payne	6	–	3	7	–	3
East Texas Baptist	4	–	5	5	–	5
Southwestern (TX)	4	–	5	4	–	6
Texas Lutheran	3	–	6	3	–	7
McMurry	2	–	7	2	–	7
Sul Ross	2	–	7	2	–	7
Austin	1	–	8	1	–	8

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

On November 30, just two weeks after the Lobos' season finale, Pearce announced that he would be resigning as the program's head coach.^[2] That same day it was announced that offensive coordinator Barry Derickson had been promoted to interim head coach.^[3]

Offseason

Coaching changes

On July 24, 2021, the university announced that offensive coordinator Kevin Canty passed away at the age of 37 due to complications from COVID-19.^[4] Valparaiso tight ends coach Barry Derickson was named the Lobos' new offensive coordinator.

Due to Canty's death and several positive COVID cases within the program, Sul Ross State announced that the football program would be suspending summer practices.^[5]

Preseason

ASC media poll

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
ASC media poll
1	Mary Hardin–Baylor	196 (17)
2	Hardin–Simmons	179 (2)
3	East Texas Baptist	153 (1)
4	Texas Lutheran	140
5	Belhaven	115
6	Howard Payne	95
7	McMurry	69
8	Austin	62
9	Southwestern	54
10	Sul Ross	41

^[6]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 11	4:00 p.m.	No. 7 Hardin–Simmons	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 0–27	0
September 18	1:00 p.m.	at Austin	Apple Stadium Sherman, TX	L 7–16	898
September 25	4:00 p.m.	Texas Lutheran	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	W 12–10	590
October 2	1:30 p.m.	at Howard Payne	Gordon Wood Stadium Brownwood, TX	L 30–73	2,250
October 16	12:00 p.m.	at Belhaven	Belhaven Bowl Jackson, MS	L 0–44	300
October 23	12:00 p.m.	No. 2 Mary Hardin–Baylor	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 14–72	0
October 30	1:00 p.m.	at McMurry	Wilfred Moore Stadium Abilene, TX (Battle of I-20)	W 24–11	1,123
November 6	12:00 p.m.	East Texas Baptist	Jackson Field Alpine, TX	L 28–31	0
November 13	1:00 p.m.	at Southwestern (TX)	Bernard Birkelbach Field Georgetown, TX	L 15–49	1,500
Rankings from D3Football.com Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[7]

On October 9, the Lobos hosted an exhibition game against the North American Stallions for Homecoming. The Lobos lost 37–44, though the game did not count in official standings.

Game summaries

No. 7 Hardin–Simmons

No. 7 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys at Sul Ross Lobos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Cowboys	7	3	10	7	27
Lobos	0	0	0	0	0

at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas

Date: September 11
Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
Game attendance: 0
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

HSU – Jonathan Castaneda 6-yard run (Jamie Pogue kick), 8:26. Cowboys 7–0. Drive: 13 plays, 92 yards, 4:46.

Second quarter

HSU – Jamie Pogue 34-yard field goal, 5:32. Cowboys 10–0. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:06.

Third quarter

HSU – Jamie Pogue 20-yard field goal, 6:28. Cowboys 13–0. Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 5:31.
HSU – Jayden Coleman 8-yard pass from Kyle Jones (Jamie Pogue kick), 0:00. Cowboys 20–0. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:22.

Fourth quarter

HSU – Kai Brinkerhoff 30-yard pass from Kyle Jones (Jamie Pogue kick), 5:10. Cowboys 27–0. Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 1:55.

Statistics	HSU	SRS
First downs	29	9
Total yards	483	164
Rushing yards	187	46
Passing yards	296	118
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	31:44	28:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Hardin–Simmons	Passing	Kyle Jones	30/44, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Colton Marshall	13 rushes, 106 yards
	Receiving	Cale Nanny	5 receptions, 67 yards
Sul Ross	Passing	T. J. Deshields	17/25, 106 yards
	Rushing	Matthew DeLeon	10 rushes, 34 yards
	Receiving	Vicente Luevano	6 receptions, 50 yards

At Austin

Sul Ross Lobos at Austin Kangaroos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	0	7	0	0	7
Kangaroos	10	0	3	3	16

at Apple Stadium, Sherman, Texas

Date: September 18
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 898
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

AC – John Aldridge 31-yard field goal, 10:17. Kangaroos 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:15.
AC – Aaron Rideaux 26-yard pass from Tyler James (John Aldridge kick), 4:19. Kangaroos 10–0. Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 3:06.

Second quarter

SRS – Matthew DeLeon 3-yard run (Jaden Brown kick), 1:34. Kangaroos 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:58.

Third quarter

AC – John Aldridge 19-yard field goal, 1:22. Kangaroos 13–7. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:58.

Fourth quarter

AC – John Aldridge 22-yard field goal, 7:49. Kangaroos 16–7. Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 4:51.

Statistics	SRS	AC
First downs	12	23
Total yards	157	341
Rushing yards	83	167
Passing yards	74	174
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	25:00	35:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sul Ross	Passing	T. J. Deshields	7/14, 58 yards
	Rushing	Matthew DeLeon	16 rushes, 71 yards, TD
	Receiving	Dre'Chan Moody	2 receptions, 43 yards
Austin	Passing	Tyler James	16/30, 174 yards, TD
	Rushing	Makkedah Brown	13 rushes, 54 yards
	Receiving	Xavier Maxwell	5 receptions, 72 yards

Texas Lutheran

Texas Lutheran Bulldogs at Sul Ross Lobos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	10	10
Lobos	0	3	0	9	12

at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas

Date: September 25
Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
Game attendance: 590
Referee: Esrael Silva
Box score, Recap

Statistics	TLU	SRS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Lutheran	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sul Ross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Howard Payne

Sul Ross Lobos at Howard Payne Yellow Jackets – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	3	7	7	13	30
Yellow Jackets	17	28	14	14	73

at Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood, Texas

Date: October 2
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
Game attendance: 2,250
Referee: Kenny Kelarek
Box score, Recap

Statistics	SRS	HPU
First downs	20	29
Total yards	326	559
Rushing yards	86	164
Passing yards	240	395
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	31:25	28:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sul Ross	Passing	T. J. Deshields	26/38, 213 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Kendrick Jefferson	13 rushes, 58 yards
	Receiving	Vicente Luevano	13 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Howard Payne	Passing	Landon McKinney	17/30, 335 yards, 6 TD, INT
	Rushing	Tauren Bradley	12 rushes, 61 yards
	Receiving	Otis Lanier	3 receptions, 98 yards, TD

At Belhaven

Sul Ross Lobos at Belhaven Blazers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	0	0	0	0	0
Blazers	10	21	13	0	44

at Belhaven Bowl, Jackson, Mississippi

Date: October 16
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
Game attendance: 300
Referee: Arthur Black
Box score, Recap

Statistics	SRS	BEL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sul Ross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Belhaven	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 2 Mary Hardin–Baylor

No. 2 Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders at Sul Ross Lobos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Crusaders	7	31	14	20	72
Lobos	0	7	7	0	14

at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas

Date: October 23
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
Game attendance: 0
Referee: Jeff Bell
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

MHB – Kyle King 2-yard run (Anthony Avila kick), 5:32. Crusaders 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 2:01.

Second quarter

MHB – K. J. Miller 88-yard punt return (Anthony Avila kick), 12:58. Crusaders 14–0.
MHB – Anthony Avila 35-yard field goal, 11:28. Crusaders 17–0. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:12.
SRS – Vicente Luevano 52-yard pass from T. J. Deshields (Jaden Brown kick), 7:24. Crusaders 17–7. Drive: 1 play, 52 yards, 0:08.
MHB – Aphonso Thomas 1-yard run (Anthony Avila kick), 3:59. Crusaders 24–7. Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:19.
MHB – K. J. Miller 14-yard pass from Kyle King (Anthony Avila kick), 1:15. Crusaders 31–7. Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:14.
MHB – Brandon Jordan 40-yard pass from Kyle King (Anthony Avila kick), 0:41. Crusaders 38–7. Drive: 1 play, 40 yards, 0:07.

Third quarter

SRS – Ozias Wright 80-yard pass from T. J. Deshields (Jaden Brown kick), 12:51. Crusaders 38–14. Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:13.
MHB – Brenton Martin 30-yard pass from Kyle King (Anthony Avila kick), 10:10. Crusaders 45–14. Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 2:41.
MHB – Connor Mullins 12-yard pass from Ryan Redding (Anthony Avila kick), 5:27. Crusaders 52–14. Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:33.

Fourth quarter

MHB – Ryan Redding 14-yard run (Anthony Avila kick), 14:44. Crusaders 59–14. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:27.
MHB – Brenton Martin 55-yard pass from Ryan Redding (kick failed), 11:45. Crusaders 65–14. Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:15.
MHB – Aaron Sims 68-yard pass from Ryan Redding (Anthony Avila kick), 6:12. Crusaders 72–14. Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 2:02.

Statistics	MHB	SRS
First downs	26	7
Total yards	573	219
Rushing yards	208	42
Passing yards	365	177
Turnovers	2	2
Time of possession	20:58	39:02

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mary Hardin–Baylor	Passing	Ryan Redding	10/13, 201 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Aphonso Thomas	14 rushes, 86 yards, TD
	Receiving	Benton Martin	5 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
Sul Ross	Passing	T. J. Deshields	5/16, 173 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ozias Wright	12 rushes, 20 yards
	Receiving	Vicente Luevano	2 receptions, 85 yards, TD

At McMurry

Sul Ross Lobos at McMurry War Hawks – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	7	0	7	10	24
War Hawks	8	3	0	0	11

at Wilfred Moore Stadium, Abilene, Texas

Date: October 30
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
Game attendance: 1,123
Referee: Jason Hickey
Box score, Recap

Statistics	SRS	MCM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sul Ross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
McMurry	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

East Texas Baptist

East Texas Baptist Tigers at Sul Ross Lobos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	14	7	7	3	31
Lobos	7	0	14	7	28

at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas

Date: November 6
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 0
Box score, Recap

Statistics	ETB	SRS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Texas Baptist	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sul Ross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Southwestern (TX)

Sul Ross Lobos at Southwestern Pirates – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lobos	0	0	0	0	0
Pirates	0	0	0	0	0

at Bernard Birkelbach Field, Georgetown, Texas

Date: November 13
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny, 64 °F (18 °C)
Game attendance: 1,500
Referee: Robert Newton
Box score, Recap

Statistics	SRS	SW
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sul Ross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Sul Ross head football coach resigns after eight seasons". KOSA-TV. November 30, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ Barnett, Zach (November 30, 2021). "John Pearce resigns at Sul Ross State". Football Scoop. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ "John Pearce announces resignation; Barry Derickson named interim head football coach". Sul Ross State University Athletics. November 30, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ Jeyarajah, Shehan (July 24, 2021). "Sul Ross assistant coach Kevin Canty dies at 37". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ Santa Cruz, Justice (July 27, 2021). "Sul Ross Suspends Football Due To COVID-19". The Skyline. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ "American Southwest Conference releases preseason football poll". August 26, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ "2021 Football Schedule". Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[1] "Sul Ross head football coach resigns after eight seasons". KOSA-TV. November 30, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[2] Barnett, Zach (November 30, 2021). "John Pearce resigns at Sul Ross State". Football Scoop. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[3] "John Pearce announces resignation; Barry Derickson named interim head football coach". Sul Ross State University Athletics. November 30, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[4] Jeyarajah, Shehan (July 24, 2021). "Sul Ross assistant coach Kevin Canty dies at 37". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[5] Santa Cruz, Justice (July 27, 2021). "Sul Ross Suspends Football Due To COVID-19". The Skyline. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[6] "American Southwest Conference releases preseason football poll". August 26, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[7] "2021 Football Schedule". Retrieved September 6, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]