Follow the Wildcats regular season and home opener with any of the links below.

Live video provided by Jeff Young and the LC Convergence Media department.  HERE

Rich Dupree and Al Quartemont live on 104.3 The Bridge or online via the TuneIn App or website, HERE

Live stats of the game can be accessed, HERE

Gameday Quick Facts

Media Game Notes

Howard Payne Yellow Jackets vs Louisiana College Wildcats
Wildcat Field (Pineville, LA)
Start Time: 1 p.m. CST
HPU Record: 0-3
LC Record: 2-1


The Louisiana College Wildcats will return to action this Saturday and open their 2016 American Southwest Conference schedule at home against the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets. With the week off last Saturday the Wildcats took advantage of the time off to scout their toughest opponent, themselves. Coordinators Ben McLaughlin and Justin Charles took the week with no game to dissect each other's side of the ball and identify any patterns or tendencies that other teams might be able to exploit.

Offensive coordinator Benjamin McLaughlin said, "Having a fresh set of eyes look at what we are doing really helps us out. Sometimes you don't realize the tendencies that you may have developed in certain situations so that is what we really focused on was breaking those tendencies that we did have. We weren't necessarily working gameplay for this week but working those plays and formations that we don't normally do."

For defensive coordinator Justin Charles it was a matter of continuing the work ethic that was established over the last off-season by his unit.

Charles said, "The guys come out at practice and accomplish the task at hand.  Every day we have a certain word whether it's focusing on pursuit, or communication, or takeaways, we focus on those little things day by day and come out with a blue collar mentality and attitude, what we call a functional intelligence.  They're able to move and pursue the goals that we're going after. The takeaways that we are getting, isn't luck to us, we come out and work those things week to week and day to day. It's having that mindset of wanting to win and wanting to get the ball back for our offense."

The Wildcats, coming off a 58-28 win over Texas Lutheran two weeks ago begin their difficult ASC schedule with two consecutive home games, Howard Payne this week and then #12 ranked Hardin-Simmons next. Even with the big matchup with the Cowboys looming LC is not looking past even an 0-3 Howard Payne team.  The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a 40-37 overtime loss two weeks ago where quarterback Caisson Montieth accounted for 425 of the offense's 474 total yards and rushing for 208 on the ground, the most by a quarterback in school history.

Charles said of the HPU signal caller, "He's a great competitor, great with his feet; moves well inside the pocket and outside as well, so he can definitely be a game changer if we aren't able to keep him contained. One thing they like to do though, and something we haven't seen much of so far this year, is get into a heavier set with two backs and tight end and try and 'big boy' you up front.  Hopefully our guys will be up to the challenge and not let that happen; I think that they'll 'Man Up' as they say."

Just as the LC defense may encounter a new formation and style with Yellow Jackets heavy set, the Wildcat offense will be facing a team that will offer multiple formations for the first time this season.

McLaughlin said, "They're a talented defense that will really be the first team to show us multiple looks, so it will be important for our quarterback and our tackles to recognize where they're lining up.  They have a couple of guys they like to blitz off the edge that we have to pick up. They also like to play over the top and try not to give up the big play and force the offense to work their way down the field.  We'll be successful if we're able to recognize the defense that they're in a adapt to it quickly."

Easton Melancon and the Wildcats offense have certainly come out of the gate fast this year.  Combined with the defensive scores on interception returns for touchdowns the last two games, LC is averaging 52.0 points per game, that ranks them 3rd in the conference behind UMHB and ETBU and 6th in the NCAA.

Players to Watch
#9 Lawrence Williams: Look for Lawrence to have a big game against the Yellow Jackets. He is flying a little under the radar with the production of Shed Davis but Williams has caught four touchdowns this year, same as Davis, and thrives in the 10 to 20 yard, mid-range routes.  Three of his four touchdown catches this year have come from inside the 20-yard line.

#25 Aurren Cooksey: Cooksey needs just 10 carries to move into third place in school history for rushing attempts.  He already sits in 3rd in rushing yards, passing Leon Maxie last game for a total of 1,827 yards. He has only rushed for 100 yards in back to back games once in his career, he will try and match that this week.

#32 Ryan DeMattie: DeMattie is emerging as a force on the Wildcat defense at linebacker. He is 2nd on the team in total tackles with 21, which includes 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.  He will play an important role in this game with the absence of Orel Ledet, Jr.

Kickoff for the ASC opener is set for 1pm at Wildcat Field on the Louisiana College campus.  During halftime of the game Louisiana College will recognize the 1987 District 30 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference LC Baseball team. The team, coached by Hall of Famer Billy Allgood and the late Ken Johnson, won the first championship in school baseball history by taking the GCAC title.  Tickets are available prior to the game for $10 or reserved seating for $25 and the gates open two hours before kickoff.