A&M-Kingsville 39, A&M-Commerce 21
Location: Javelina Stadium * Kingsville, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (0-4, 0-2 LSC); A&M-Kingsville (3-2, 1-2 LSC)
Up Next: vs. Incarnate Word * Saturday, October 8 * Memorial Stadium * 6 p.m.
KINGSVILLE, Texas – A&M-Commerce got off to a positive start in its matchup with Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday evening, but the Javelinas were able to wear down the Lions to take a 39-21 victory at Javelina Stadium. The Lions fall to 0-4 on the year and 0-2 in Lone Star Conference play, dropping their fourth-straight game to A&M-Kingsville.
The Lions' offense struggled to find its groove all night, racking up just 229 yards of total offense compared to 515 for the Javelinas. Quaterback Yogi Gallegos completed 14-of-30 passes for 104 yards, but was injured on the final play of the opening half and did not return. True freshman Ryan Lusby saw his first collegiate action, completing four of his eight passes with one touchdown and an interception.
Once again, Taylor Fore led the Lion receiving corps, hauling in five catches for 39 yards on the night. Adam Jones caught three balls for 19 yards with a touchdown while Marcus Graham had three receptions out of the backfield for 18 yards.
The Lion rushing attack was better than it had been in previous games, totaling 104 yards on the ground. Graham led the way with 53 yards on 10 carries. Darryll Crummie posted five carries for 27 yards while Travis Zacharie had 10 carries for 20 yards on the night.
The 2011 Chennault Cup game saw both the Lions and Javelinas seeking their first Lone Star Conference victories on the season, and it was A&M-Kingsville that struck first as on its second play from scrimmage, Nate Poppell connected with Sherman Batiste for an 80-yard touchdown, putting the Javelinas up 6-0 early after the blocked extra point.
The Javelinas were driving again late in the opening quarter and facing a third and goal from the seven, Poppell's pass was intercepted by senior Cory Whitfield, who proceeded to return the pick 100 yards to the endzone, giving A&M-Commerce the 7-6 lead. The 100-yard interception return by Whitfield was the second of his career and the longest interception return for a touchdown in Lion football history, surpassing the previous record of 98 yards set by Anthony Freeman in 1978 – ironically, also against A&M-Kingsville.
Early in the second quarter, A&M-Kingsville again found itself deep in Lion territory and was lining up for a 37-yard field goal attempt to try and reclaim the lead. The snap was bobbled, but Joseph Vela was able to scoop up the loose ball and scamper 20-yards to the endzone, giving the Javelinas a touchdown instead of a field goal. That play seemed to take a majority of the wind out of the Lions' sails. The Javelinas would add a field goal late in the half, giving them a 16-7 lead with under a minute to go. Gallegos was trying to make something happen late before he suffered the injury on the last play of the half.
A&M-Kingsville got the ball first in the second half and made it count, stringing together a nine-play, 70-yard drive ending with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Ramirez to Vela, giving the Javelinas the comfortable 22-7 lead early in the third. A&M-Kingsville would extend that lead to 25-7 before the Lion defense made its mark. Tevin Moore sacked Ramirez deep in Javelina territory, forcing a fumble which was recovered in the endzone by Lawson Schwertner, trimming the deficit to 25-14 at the end of the third.
A&M-Commerce got the ball back early in the fourth, but Lusby's first career interception proved to be a devastating one as Rockeem Collins returned it 34 yards to give the Javelinas a 32-14 lead. Lusby would redeem himself on the next drive, helping lead the Lions down the field before connecting with Adam Jones from four yards out for his first career touchdown pass for the first and only points generated by the Lion offense.
But A&M-Commerce was unable to mount another fourth quarter comeback as the Javelina put the finishing touches on the victory with a 42-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute to go, sealing the 39-21 victory.
In addition to the interception return, Whitfield was the Lions' leading defensive player, recording nine tackles, including one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. Dre Dunbar and Matt Claggett each added seven tackles for A&M-Commerce with Stephen Ford and Marlin Terrell finishing with six. The Lions were able to produce a pair of sacks on the evening, coming from Moore and Corvellas Cage.
For the Javelinas, Poppell led the way completing 16-of-29 passes for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns with Ramirez adding 133 yards on 9-of-11 passing. Robert Armstrong was the A&M-Kingsville quarterbacking duo's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions remain in search of that elusive first win of the season and will return home to face Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 8 at Memorial Stadium. The game marks the Cardinals' first trip to Commerce, with tickets available by contacting the A&M-Commerce Athletic Department at (903) 886-5558.
