A sack by William Green and Ramon
Jackson on 4th and goal with 3:39 left in regulation
preserved a 13-10 win by Texas A&M-Commerce over Angelo State
in a Lone Star Conference matchup on Saturday night at Memorial
Stadium.
The Lions (1-1) defense came up
with its seventh sack after Angelo State head coach Dale Carr made
the decision to go for it on fourth down at the A&M-Commerce 3
with nearly four minutes left in the game.
The Rams (0-2) looked to capitalize
on a blocked punt and a personal foul by A&M-Commerce that set
up first and goal. After getting to the two-yard line on a rush by
Daniel Thomas, the Rams called on the senior running back for the
third-straight play before being met by A&M-Commerce linebacker
Andrew Gamboa, who tackled him for a one-yard loss
to set the stage for the fourth down call.
A field goal would have tied the
game for the Rams and after forcing the Lions to punt the ball,
A&M-Commerce head coach Scotty Conley went to Juan Velasco for
the kicking duties in replace of Daniel Swaim. The
junior from Santa Maria, California delivered a 46-yard kick and an
interception by Alonzo Meinfield preserved the
Lions win.
On the Lions' fourth drive of the
contest, the Lions went 10 plays and 47 yards for an early 3-0 lead
on a 36-yard field goal. During the drive, freshman Matt McLaren
put A&M-Commerce in field goal position with a 28-yard
reception.
After forcing the Rams to punt on
their next possession, Swaim got off a 71-yard punt to pin ASU
inside the 20. The Lions defense gave the ball back to the offense,
forcing a three and out. A&M-Commerce extended its lead to 6-0
when Velasco connected on a 27-yard field goal to culminate a 9
play, 59-yard drive. During the drive, the Lions converted on a
third down when Mayo found Nabil El-Amin for a
36-yard reception.
Angelo State took a 7-6 lead when
safety Michael McLeod forced Lions' wide receiver Ernest
Quander to fumble on a wide receiver screen. The safety
picked up the loose ball and raced 18 yards for the Rams'
touchdown.
The A&M-Commerce offense came
right back and regained the lead when junior running back
James Jamison cut between the tackles on a
3rd and two play, breaking loose for a 31-yard touchdown
run to put the Lions in front 13-7. Earlier in the drive, McLaren
and Mayo connected on a 25-yard reception.
The Rams managed to cut the Lions
lead to three, 13-10, when Ryan Smith made a 32-yard field goal to
conclude a 13 play, 47-yard drive. During the drive, Angelo State
converted on a pair of crucial third down plays to sustain the
drive. The Rams were forced to kick the field goal after on third
down reserve quarterback Michael Cochran was sacked for an
eight-yard loss by A&M-Commerce senior Andree'
Smith.
The win snaps a six-game losing
streak in home openers for the Lions, who last posted a win on
opening day in 2001. Also, in the win, it is the third in a row for
A&M-Commerce over Angelo State for the first time since a
string of three in a row from 1972-1974.
Gamboa led the Lions defense with
17 tackles including two for minus three yards and the
A&M-Commerce offense outgained the Rams, 261 to 219.
Next up for A&M-Commerce is a
matchup against No. 6 Abilene Christian, who was picked to win the
LSC North, Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Abilene.
