KINGSVILLE -- No one could have predicted how well Texas A&M-Kingsville has been able to rush the ball this season. No one could have projected how slowly -- or how quickly -- the offense would take to round into shape.

Suffice to say, the last two weeks of ballgames have resulted in a nice complement of offense via the ground and the air.

"Projecting's kind of difficult because I think your running game and your passing game kind of go hand in hand. We spread it out to run," said Javelinas coach Bo Atterberry, whose ballclub takes a 5-2 record into Saturday night's Lone Star Conference South Division contest with 4-2 Midwestern State. "If defenses are going to try and defend the run when we're spread out, then we're going to throw it out there. So we've done well with throwing and catching and opening up the run game and vice versa."

It is a concept that it easier said than accomplished sometimes, especially as the Javelinas wean themselves into the plans of Atterberry and offensive coordinator Clay Patterson. The offense remains a work in progress, but at least the players understand the method behind the madness.

"Run, run, run. Run and set up the pass," said wide receiver Jareko Taylor, who caught a touchdown pass in last week's 35-0 shutout of Texas A&M-Commerce.

At the forefront of the running game the past two weeks has been senior Billy Martin. Against Tarleton State and A&M-Commerce, Martin has rushed for 369 yards and three TDs. The rushing total is 143 more yards than he gained in five total games last season.

During that two-game span, Martin also has caught two TD passes, an 18-yarder at TSU and a 16-yarder from Billy Garza last weekend. That gives Martin three TD receptions, third on the team behind Taylor's six and Damian Couthren's four.

"I told Shane (Meling, sports information director) out there, man he found another gear somewhere. It's another one of those things where he's been having some success and he's continued to work hard and he continues to have good things happen to him," Atterberry said of Martin, fourth in the LSC averaging 79.1 yards rushing per game. "He's got to be grateful for the offensive line blocking well and he's catching the ball well out of the backfield.

"That's something coming into the season we weren't really counting on him to be a guy catching the ball out of the backfield. But he's concentrated on that. He knew that was something he needed to work on and he's done it."

A&M-Kingsville gained 384 yards last weekend, 200 on the ground. Throw out the four sacks of Garza totaling 28 yards and a disastrous 15-yard loss by Taylor on a foiled reverse and the Javs might have threatened the single-game best rushing total of 253 yards against East Central (Okla.) in the second ballgame.

JAVS Moving up in polls

Last week's shutout win over Texas A&M-Commerce was enough to move the Javs from eighth to seventh in the NCAA Division II Region 4 Poll. They are one of four teams with two losses. West Texas A&M, Abilene Christian, Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg (Kan.) State retained the top four spos, with Central Washington advancing two slots to fifth. Central Missouri dipped a spot to sixth ahead of the Javs. Tarleton State advanced a spot to eighth, Washburn (Kan.) retained No. 9 and Nebraska-Omaha moved into the 10-spot. Midwestern State fell out of the rankings after losing to Tarleton.

JAVS MAKE IT TOUGH AT NET

A&M-Kingsville took a three-match winning streak into Thursday night's LSC contest at Midwestern State, and the Javelinas have done so in thrilling fashion with successive five-set matches. Last Saturday, the Javs roared out in the final set, with freshman Amanda Waclawczyk scoring the final two points. She finished with a season-best 11 kills and four blocks. Senior Shaday Smith had 16 kills, a .300 attack percentage and four blocks. It was her fourth consecutive match with at least 10 kills. Sophomore Sha Tramble contributed 15 kills, 19 digs and a team-best four aces.

Last Thursday, A&M-Kingsville lost three big leads in the third set, but rallied to take the final two sets 25-20 and 15-12. Tramble had 14 kills to go with 19 digs and three aces. Smith had a season-best 17 kills, a .378 attack percentage and four blocks. Junior Kristin Chancellor had 13 kills and four blocks and junior setter Kirby Krueger had 28 assists and 16 digs.

Entering Thursday's play, A&M-Kingsville is 3-4 in the LSC and 7-12 overall and still has a shot at the postseason tournament.

HOF LUNCHEON SELLS OUT

Saturday's 11:30 a.m. Javelina Hall of Fame enshrinement luncheon in the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Institute is sold out. The 2008 honorees are football players Kevin Dogins and John Randle, trainer Willie Gipson and track and field athlete Edye Lea. Prior to the induction ceremony, there will be a Gil Steinke Plaque dedication in the Steinke Physical Education Center at 10:15 a.m.

-Corpus Christi Caller Times-