Tylan Hines needs four rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season. The Tarleton State running back could get there on his first carry Saturday when West Florida hosts the No. 1 Texans at PenAir Field. The challenge for the Argos is keeping a four-yard run from turning into a 40-yard gain.
Abilene Christian saw how quickly Tarleton State can strike. Hines went 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. On the first play of the Texans’ next possession, quarterback Kaden Anderson found Marquis Willis for another 75-yard touchdown. Those two plays show why West Florida needs to contain Hines with its front seven and keep its safeties in position to defend Willis downfield.
Hines finished the 40–27 win with 145 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 14 carries. Two of those scores came in the fourth quarter after Abilene Christian had pulled within eight. Hines leads the United Athletic Conference with 996 rushing yards, has seven touchdowns in eight games and ranks second in the FCS at 7.66 yards per carry.
West Florida has allowed 147.4 rushing yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry. Against Hines, the Argos need their defensive line to close interior lanes and their linebackers to stay in position for cutbacks. Finishing tackles on first down would give UWF a better shot at forcing Tarleton State into third-and-long.
The Argos (4–4, 1–4 UAC) host the Texans (10–0, 5–0 UAC) at 2 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 14, in Pensacola. Watch how often West Florida can keep Hines in check on first down without bringing a safety into the box. If the Argos can do that consistently, they’ll have a better chance to limit big plays on the ground and through the air.
