September 10, 2012

A&M-Commerce Lions vs. No. 16 Midwestern State Mustangs
2012 Harvey Martin Classic · Lone Star Football Festival
Date: Thursday, September 13 • 7 p.m.
Location: Cowboys Stadium · Arlington, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (0-2, 0-0 LSC); Midwestern State (0-1, 0-1 LSC)

TV: CBS Sports Network · Channel Locator
Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (listen online at KETR.org)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
Twitter Updates: @Lion_Athletics
A&M-Commerce Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Kick
A&M-Commerce returns to the world's preeminent sporting venue, taking to the turf at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington as the opening game of the 2012 Lone Star Football Festival. The game marks the Lions' 2012 Lone Star Conference opener as A&M-Commerce will battle 16th-ranked Midwestern State at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 13.

Lions and Mustangs Take Center Stage With National TV Audience
When A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State hit the field Thursday evening at Cowboys Stadium, Lion fans across the country will have the opportunity to see their Lions in action live on national television. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the game live as the showdown with the Mustangs has been selected as the Division II National Game of the Week. Brad Johansen and Doug Chapman will broadcast the action with Lisa Byington serving as the sideline reporter. To find CBS Sports Network in your area, check out the channel locator.

Lions on the Web
In addition to being a nationally televised game, fans will have other options to keep up on every A&M-Commerce snap Thursday evening. KETR 88.9 FM will carry the game live with Charlie Chitwood and Brock Callaway on the call, as it will also be streamed live online at KETR.org. Live stats will be available at LionAthletics.com while Twitter followers can receive in-game updates by following @Lion_Athletics.

Fifth Annual Harvey Martin Classic Returns to Cowboys Stadium
In addition to being the kickoff to the 2012 Lone Star Football Festival and the Division II National Game of the Week, Thursday's game takes on yet an even greater significance for A&M-Commerce as it marks the fifth annual Harvey Martin Classic. The game is named after former Lion All-American and national champion Harvey Martin, who went on to a stellar career with the Dallas Cowboys, earning Super Bowl co-MVP honors in Super Bowl XII and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Martin was also named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1970's. The Lions began honoring Martin in 2008, playing the first three games at the Cotton Bowl before moving to Cowboys Stadium in 2011.

Scouting the Mustangs
2012: 0-1 overall, 0-1 Lone Star Conference. Ranked 16th in this week's AFCA Coaches Poll
2011: 10-1 overall, 8-0 Lone Star Conference
Last Game: L at Tarleton State (20-17)
Head Coach: Bill Maskill (Western Kentucky, 1971). 11 th season at Midwestern State (79-33, .705); 13 th season overall (92-41, .692)
Key Offensive Players:
· Brandon Kelsey (Sr., QB): 16-of-32 for 173 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT; 13 rushes for 71 yards (5.5 avg.), 1 TD
· Jimmy Pipkin (So., RB): 8 rushes for 40 yards (5.0 avg.), 0 TD, long of 10
· Keidrick Jackson (Jr., RB): 13 rushes for 37 yards (2.5 avg.), 1 TD, long of 9
· Jared Freeman (Sr., WR): 4 catches for 83 yards (20.8 avg.), 0 TD, long of 45
· Kendall Wrenn (Jr., WR): 4 catches for 53 yards (13.2 avg.), 0 TD, long of 20
Key Defensive Players:
· Gadrian Muse (Jr, LB.): 12 tackles (6 solo)
· Antoine Morris (So., DB): 9 tackles (4 solo)
· Dayvyon Henry (Jr., DB): 8 tackles (4 solo)
· Matt Ellerbrock (Sr., LB): 7 tackles (5 solo)
· Donald Napoleon (So., DB): 5 tackles (3 solo), 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack
Key Special Teams Players:
· Greg Saladino (Jr., K): 1-1 FG (long of 37), 2-2 PAT, 1 punt for 51 yards
· Garrett Rhodes (Sr., P): 1 punt for 36 yards (long of 36)
· Kendall Wrenn (Jr., WR): 2 punt returns for 13 yards (6.5 avg.), long of 16
· Keivin Swanson (Sr., WR): 2 kick returns for 43 yards (21.5 avg.), long of 24
Synopsis: Midwestern State is the reigning Lone Star Conference championships after posting a perfect 10-0 overall record and an 8-0 conference mark in 2011. The Mustangs opened up the year ranked fourth in the nation but stumbled out of the gates in the 2012 season opener, falling 20-17 to LSC rival Tarleton State Saturday night.

Series Information
Thursday marks the 17 th meeting between A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State with the Lions leading the all-time series 11-5. A&M-Commerce dominated the early part of the rivalry, winning the first 10 meetings between 1947 and 2000. The Mustangs have won five of the last six, including last year's 63-17 thrashing at Cowboys Stadium, the first meeting between the two since 2005.

Lions Hold Their Own in 27-16 Loss at UT-San Antonio
A&M-Commerce posted a strong showing in its first-ever game against a Division I FBS opponent, rallying in the second half before falling to UT-San Antonio 27-16 in front of over 30,000 fans at the Alamodome. After allowing an early field goal and touchdown to the Roadrunners, A&M-Commerce cut the deficit to 10-3 off a Jacob O'Neil early in the second quarter. UT-San Antonio would add two late touchdowns, extending their lead to 24-3 at halftime. But after allowing a Roadrunner field goal early in the third quarter to fall behind at 27-3, the Lions started to find their rhythm and outscored UT-San Antonio 13-0 over the game's final 25 minutes. Deric Davis connected with Garrett Smith for a 61-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter, the Lions' longest play from scrimmage in 2012. Davis then hit Tevin Godfrey with a five yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the gap to 27-16. But turnovers and miscues prevented A&M-Commerce from trimming the gap any closer. The Lions held a 193 to 159 advantage in passing yards over the Roadrunners, but A&M-Commerce was able to generate just 16 rushing yards on the day, compared to 172 for UT-San Antonio. Defensively, Joel Wren led the way with 12 tackles while Danny Mason added nine for the Lions.

Arlington Homecoming
When the Lions take the field at Cowboys Stadium this Thursday evening, it will be a homecoming of sorts for three players. Quarterback Deric Davis and defensive back Aaron Wingfield both hail from Arlington, with Davis earning 5A Offensive Player of the Year honors at Arlington Bowie High School and Wingfield earning All-State honors at Kennedale High School. In addition, freshman offensive lineman Jaylyn McDuffie is from Grand Prairie but attended Arlington Bowie High School. In all, nearly three dozen players on the Lion roster played high school ball within 30 minutes of Cowboys Stadium.

Looking Ahead
Following Thursday's showdown with Midwestern State at Cowboys Stadium, A&M-Commerce will get an extended break as the Lions' next game won't be for 16 days. The Lions will enjoy a bye week and will have plenty of time to prepare for 14th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, September 29, in the 2012 battle for the Chenault Cup. Kickoff against the Javelinas is set for 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above