Pirate Galaxy » home Saturday night, then landed in Miami

LUBBOCK, Texas -- There is an undefeated record at stake when Texas Tech hosts Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night.The Lumberjacks havent beaten a Big 12 opponent in nine tries and they will be facing one of the conferences most potent offenses, led by junior Patrick Mahomes.I think the offense is at a high level right now, Mahomes said. Im excited to see us get on the field, under the lights and see how everybody reacts and show who is really ready for the season to go.Mahomes, who played baseball for Texas Tech his first two seasons, decided late last year to focus on football. He has put on weight and worked to get stronger. Hes coming off a season in which he led the Big 12 in five categories, including passing touchdowns (35) and total yards (5,109).The Lumberjacks are hoping to make Mahomes uneasy in the pocket.There will be immense pressure on our secondary, but it all starts up front, SFA coach Clint Conque said. If we can get the young man uncomfortable, off his spot and to a second read, those are the type of things you want as a coach.The Red Raiders are 2-0 against the Lumberjacks. Here are some of keys to consider as Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech, on opposite sides of the state, open the season:DEFENSIVE REVIVAL?Texas Tech finished last season next to last in total defense, giving up 547.7 yards a game and the most rushing touchdowns in the nation (49). This season is the first in almost a decade that the Red Raiders have the same defensive coordinator for a second straight year. Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said he believes David Gibbs defense knows its schemes better this season.I think well be more physical up front due to some of the size that weve picked up, he said. Well find out what weve got Saturday. But I do think we all feel like it will be an improved group.`JACKS BACKSSophomore Loren Easly, SFAs leading rusher last season with four TDs and 759 yards, isnt traveling with the team this weekend after spending time away from practices in August to seek care for an undisclosed reason. Senior Joshawa West, who averaged 7.6 yards per carry last season, and junior Kijana Amous will step in.QB MATCHUPBoth Mahomes and SFAs Zach Conque, the coachs son, are dual threats. Conques rush numbers from last season are higher (11 TDs and 554 yards) than Mahomes (10 TDs and 456 yards). And with a Red Raiders defense that was poor against the rush last season (280 yards per game), and with Conques size (6-6 and 240 pounds) and speed, it could be difficult to bring him down.Theyll have some great things schematically that we havent seen, Im sure, after having all summer to be prepared for it, Kingsbury said.AERIAL ASSAULTTexas Tech has long been known for its pass-heavy offense, and this year will be no different. Last season, the Red Raiders averaged about 48 passes a game, completing 29. Mahomes says he wants to be more careful with the ball after having 15 interceptions last year.For me, its just stopping the bad plays, he said of what he wants to improve. Really, just moving the chains, being more efficient. Cutting interceptions down.RECEIVER CHEMISTRYTexas Tech receiver Dylan Cantrell and Mahomes have known each other since they were kids in East Texas. Cantrell redshirted last season with a back injury but is now back in the mix.Having that chemistry on the field, its hard to really replicate that with a lot of the receivers. It just takes repetition, Mahomes said.---Follow Betsy Blaney on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betsyblaney---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org D.J. Augustin Magic Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Evan Fournier Magic Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. http://www.magicauthentic.com/ . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Aaron Gordon Magic Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. MIAMI -- Kawhi Leonard was getting a cut under his right eye fussed with, and out of his left one he could see the Miami Heat take their first lead since the opening minutes.He wasnt worried.When Leonard returned, order was restored for San Antonio. Bandaged up but otherwise unbothered, Leonard scored 14 of his 27 points in the final 6:04 -- including the last 12 for the Spurs, who beat Miami 106-99 on Sunday night to remain unbeaten at 4-0.It wasnt anything with my eye or retina or anything, said Leonard, who didnt need stitches. Just under my eye, I got a little cut.Pau Gasol had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who wasted a 16-point first-half lead and trailed by one when Leonard returned with 6:48 remaining after the Spurs needed only a couple minutes to patch him up. Patty Mills added 18 for San Antonio, who won at Miami for the fifth consecutive time.I thought we hung in there tough on the road, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. That was the best part of the game. We didnt give in.Hassan Whiteside made his final seven shots and tied a career high with 27 points for Miami, also grabbing 15 rebounds. Goran Dragic scored 25 points and Justise Winslow added 18 for the Heat. Miami took the lead on a layup by Dragic right before Leonard returned, yet only held that lead for 18 seconds.Leonard found Mills for a 3-pointer on his first possession back, then drove down a wide-open lane for a dunk on the next San Antonio trip. The Spurs didnt trail again.They made some tough shots, Dragic said. But I feel like we defended well.When the Spurs last visited on Feb. 9, both teams used 11 players. Of those 22, only seven played Sunday -- four for the Spurs, three for the Heat.That game was the last Chris Bosh played for Miami. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in Tooronto two nights later, pulled out of All-Star weekend and hasnt been cleared to play since.ddddddddddddSo the Heat remain in transition. But even with changes themselves, the Spurs remain the Spurs.You absolutely respect and enjoy how San Antonio just finds a way to stay ahead of the curve, continue to reinvent and be incredibly efficient, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.TIP-INSSpurs: Leonard made his first five free throws, then missed to end a season-opening streak of 33 makes. ... LaMarcus Aldridge (rest) got the night off. ... Danny Green (left quad strain) was on the trip, though isnt expected to play for a couple more weeks.Heat: Whiteside wore a sleeve to protect his stitched-up left elbow, cut in Fridays loss to Charlotte. ... Winslow missed his first five shots, airballing the last. He made his next seven. ... Spoelstra said Josh Richardson (knee) is doing more rehab, but hasnt fully practiced yet.SHORT NIGHT, LONG WEEKThe Spurs played at home Saturday night, then landed in Miami at 2:30 a.m. -- and faced the Heat at 6 p.m.Good news for the Spurs: This trip is one of only two instances this season when theyll deal with such a long flight on a back-to-back.Bad news for the Spurs: The other is later this week. San Antonio plays Friday in Utah, then flies 1,100 miles to host the Clippers on Saturday.BENCH FACTORSan Antonios reserves outscored Miamis bench 43-14. So far this season, the Spurs have a 174-81 edge in bench scoring.UP NEXTSpurs: San Antonio hosts Utah on Tuesday. The Spurs have won their last 10 at home against the Jazz.Heat: Miami hosts Sacramento on Tuesday. The Heat have won their last 14 at home against the Kings. ' ' '