Two late fourth quarter
touchdowns by No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville spoiled the upset
chances for host Texas A&M University-Commerce in a 35-34 win
on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
(7-0) rallied from a 34-21 deficit when they forced two fumbles
late in the fourth quarter. Finding themselves behind 13, the
Javelinas' Dondl Cooks caused the first one as DeIra Glover
came up with it. Following back-to-back rushes by Fred Winborn,
including a nine-yard rush to cut the Lions' lead to 34-28
with 7:45 to go.
On the ensuing drive, the
Javelinas came up with the second turnover on another Lions'
fumble. Again, TAMUK answered as quarterback Billy Garza marched
the Javelina down the field that included a 26-yard touchdown
completion to Damian Couthren for the go-ahead and game-winning
touchdown.
Looking to answer with
2:38 left in the contest, the comeback efforts were ended when Eric
John intercepted an Adam Farkes pass with 24 seconds to go.
Texas A&M-Commerce
(2-5) quarterback Adam Farkes completed 16 of 33 passes for 247
yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball five times for 28
yards and a touchdown in the loss.
The Lions jumped out to a
10-0 advantage in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown pass
from Farkes to Maurice DuPont. A&M-Commerce added a field goal
after holding the Javelinas on fourth down and moving down the
field with 11 plays with Ahmed Abo-Mahmood making a field goal from
38 yards out.
On the ensuing possession,
the Javelinas answered with a 10 play, 73-yard drive to cut the
deficit to three, 10-7, on a one-yard touchdown run by Connell
Davis. The Lions looked to answer with a 36-yard field goal by
Abo-Mahmood that he missed wide right.
Garza led the Javelinas
down the field to set up a 35-yard field goal by Christian Blom
that was blocked by the Lions' Anthony DeGrate and for the
second time on the season, Shea Rodriguez picked up the blocked
kick and raced 82 yards for the A&M-Commerce touchdown.
Finding themselves behind
17-7, the Javelinas and Garza marched down the field on five pass
plays including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Winborn to trim the
Lions' lead to 17-14.
A 64-yard kickoff return
by Mikell Mair for the Lions' gave A&M-Commerce the ball
at the 16-yard line. The Lions had to settle for a 26-yard field
goal by Abo-Mahmood to extend the margin to 20-14.
On the Lions' first
possession of the second half, Farkes found an open Blake Patton
for a 69-yard touchdown completion that extended the margin to
27-14.
The two teams exchanged
touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to give Texas
A&M-Commerce, a 34-21 advantage with 11:17 left in the contest
to set the stage for the Javelinas comeback.
The Lions will return to
its quest for the Lone Star Conference North Division title with
the first of three-straight road games on Saturday at 2 pm as they
take on East Central in Ada, Oklahoma.