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Padron, TLU trying to turn things around
Published July 30, 2010
SEGUIN — As the old saying goes, the Texas Lutheran football team has nowhere to go but up in 2010.
After suffering through a winless 2009 that saw the Bulldogs lose in almost every way imaginable, former coach Dennis Parker stepped down and the university tabbed San Antonio O’Connor’s Danny Padron to take the reins and hopefully guide TLU back into contention in the American Southwest Conference.
Of course, that will mean drawing closer to the likes of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Mississippi College — the two schools that split the ASC crown in 2009 and each advanced into the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
At least for now, Padron and the Bulldogs might have to settle for taking small steps in the right direction, beginning with setting their collective sights on wins over some of the conference’s less renowned programs.
TLU will kick off the 2010 season on the road in Sherman, taking on the Austin College Kangaroos in an early afternoon contest on Sept. 11. Austin College went 4-6 overall a year ago while competing as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). The SCAC also features the Trinity Tigers — the second of the Bulldogs’ non-conference opponents this year.
The Bulldogs begin ASC play by hosting East Texas Baptist the following Saturday at Matador Stadium, looking to avenge one their most painful losses of 2009.
TLU gave away a 21-0 lead last year in Marshall, with the Tigers storming back to claim a 32-21 victory before finishing the season with an overall mark of 3-7.
A trip to Brownwood awaits the Bulldogs on Sept. 25, with TLU taking on a Howard Payne squad that went 4-6 in 2009, handing TLU a 45-23 defeat.
Texas Lutheran will then come home for two straight games, hosting Sul Ross State and Trinity in consecutive weeks.
The contest against the Lobos will be the Bulldogs’ Homecoming game, with Sul Ross having dominated TLU 35-7 in the previous meeting. The Lobos struggled to put together the same kind of performance in its other games, though, going 2-8 overall in 2009.
Texas Lutheran will then welcome in Trinity for the second consecutive season, although the Bulldogs hope that this year’s outcome will turn out a little differently.
The Tigers used a last-second field goal to upend TLU 22-21 in the 2009 season opener, going on to post a 7-3 record overall.
Following its final non-conference game, Padron’s team will hit the home stretch of its ASC schedule, facing games against McMurry, Hardin-Simmons, Louisiana College, Mississippi College and UMHB to close the regular season.
After taking last year’s matchup 36-23, McMurry (4-6 a year ago) will welcome the Bulldogs to Abilene on Oct. 16, with TLU then hosting the Cowboys on the following Saturday. Hardin-Simmons defeated TLU 38-22 in 2009, going 6-4 on the year.
The Bulldogs’ final three games of the season may feel a bit like running a gauntlet, as Louisiana College (7-3), Mississippi College (9-3) and UMHB (10-2) beat TLU by a combined score of 139-34 in last season’s meetings.
Texas Lutheran will hit the road to battle Wildcats on the eve of Halloween before hosting the Choctaws on Nov. 6, closing the year by welcoming in the Cru on Nov. 13.
Louisiana College popped the Bulldogs 42-3 last year, while Mississippi College and Mary Hardin-Baylor recorded 38-24 and 59-7 victories, respectively.
Saturday, Sept. 11 @ Austin College 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 18 vs. East Texas Baptist 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 @ Howard Payne 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 2 vs. Sul Ross State (Homecoming) 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9 vs. Trinity 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 16 @ McMurry 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23 vs. Hardin-Simmons 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 30 @ Louisiana College 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6 vs. Mississippi College 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13 @ Mary Hardin-Baylor 1 p.m.
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