The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team found out on Sunday afternoon that it is officially going back to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Javelinas (9-2) will play host to Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.

Tickets went on sale to the public Tuesday.

Reserved seating in sections C, D and box seats may only be purchased by contacting Rosie Moreno by phone (593-40300, email (karhm00@tamuk. edu or at the ticket office in McCulley. Ticket prices are as follows:

General admission - $6; Student General Admission - $3 with student I.D. card; Sections A&F - $10; Sections B&E - $12; Sections C&D - $15; Box - $18

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the ticket office will open at 9:30 a.m. at the main gate entrance.

Javelina Stadium will open to the public at 11:30 a.m., tailgate activities will shut down at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

The Javelinas finished the regular season in a three-way tie for the LSC title with Tarleton State and Midwestern State. The Hoggies earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region II. Central Washington is the No. 1 seed and is followed by Northwest Missouri State, Midwestern State, the Javelinas, TSU and Abilene Christian.

The Javelinas entered the final week of the season in the eighth spot in the region, but a 35-32 win over Angelo State and losses by the No. 3-No. 6 teams in the region opened the door for the team to move up in the rankings.

Four Lone Star Conference teams advanced to the playoffs tying the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for most teams in the playoffs this year.

The Javelinas defeated Tarleton State earlier in the year by a score of 34-20 on October 3 at Javelina Stadium. The Midwestern State-Abilene Christian game is also a rematch. MSU defeated Abilene Christian, 15-13, in the final game of the regular season at home.

The last time the Javelinas made the playoffs they defeated Southeastern Oklahoma, 40-30 in Javelina Stadium in the first round and then lost to Northwest Missouri State, 34-14 on the road in the second round.

This is the 15th time the Javelinas have advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

The Javelinas and Texans (9-2) have met once before in the playoffs. The Hoggies won a 34-10 game at Javelina Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003.

The final national rankings prior to the playoffs have been released and the Hogs moved up a few spots in both polls. The Javelinas are now ranked No. 13 in the American Football Coaches Association and No. 17 in D2Football.com.

The Javelinas have a balanced offensive attack that averages over 425 yards per game. They have had four games in which they rushed and passed for over 200 yards each. The offense is directed by Harlon Hill candidate Billy Garza (Brownsville/Porter HS) who is averaging 231.5 yards passing per game while completing 60.5 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns. He has seven receivers with at least 15 receptions and over 150 yards on the year.

When not passing, Garza hands the ball to two exceptional running backs in Fred “Hollywood” Winborn (N. Hollywood, CA/Grant HS) and Connell Davis (Portland/Gregorybecame Portland HS). Winborn leads the Lone Star Conference with

yards on the ground while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Davis is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and has gained 494

on the ground. The two have combined for 25 touchdowns

this year. Javelina defense has battled injuries the last few weeks, but will be called upon to stop the Texans for the second time this year. In the first meeting, the Hoggies forced six turnovers, including three in the final five minutes to clinch the 34-20 win.

The winner of the game will play at No. 1 Central Washington on Nov. 21 in Ellensburg, WA.