Upper Iowa 15, A&M-Commerce 14
Location: Eb Eischeid Stadium * Fayette, Iowa
Records: A&M-Commerce (0-1); Upper Iowa (1-0)
Up Next: vs. Midwestern State * Saturday, Sept. 17 * Arlington, Texas (Cowboys Stadium) * Noon
FAYETTE, Iowa –- A slow start and costly miscues proved to be too much for A&M-Commerce as the Lions fell to Upper Iowa 15-14 in the 2011 season opener at Eb Eischeid Stadium.
"We just didn't play well today," said head coach Guy Morriss. "We made a lot of first game mistakes and there are lots of things we need to correct. Hopefully with two weeks to do so, we can make those corrections."
Quarterback Yogi Gallegos was solid in his A&M-Commerce debut, completing 22 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His favorite target proved to be Kenzee Jackson, who hauled in seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, with Adorian Arthur finishing with five catches for 50 yards and a score.
But the Lions running game struggled all afternoon, racking up just 19 total yards on the rainy turf. Marcus Graham finished with 37 yards on 11 carries for A&M-Commerce with Jamar Mosley gaining four yards on a pair of carries.
Defensively, Cory Whitfield made his return to the field after missing the 2010 season with an injury by making eight tackles, six of which were unassisted. J.T. Bates and Marcus Fore each added five stops for the Lions.
The contest got off to an ominous start for A&M-Commerce as after going three-and-out on its first possession, the ensuing punt attempt was botched, forcing Cameron Frosch to throw the ball out of the endzone, putting Upper Iowa up 2-0 just 1:05 into the contest. The Peacocks then added a field goal, extending its lead to 5-0 at the end of the first quarter.
A&M-Commerce looked as if it was gaining the momentum it needed early in the second as Gallegos connected with Arthur for a 14-yard touchdown reception, giving the Lions a 6-5 lead with 14:40 remaining in the half following a missed extra point. Upper Iowa would then put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a three-yard touchdown run to put the Peacocks up 12-6 at the half.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Lions had momentum on its side and were driving midway through the fourth quarter when a Gallegos pass was intercepted and returned to the Upper Iowa five-yard line. The Peacocks would punch in a chip-shot 19-yard field goal, giving them a two-score advantage at 15-6 with 5:08 to play.
The Lions staged one last rally, going 89 yards on nine plays before Gallegos connected with Jackson from eight yards out with 20 seconds to play. Taylor Fore then hauled in the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to one at 15-14. But Upper Iowa would recover the ensuing onside kick, sealing the victory for the Peacocks.
A&M-Commerce did hold statistical advantages in total yards (239 to 219), first downs (16 to 11) and third-down conversions, but didn't have the ball often enough to get in a rhythym. The Peacocks dominated in time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes opposed to 23 minutes for the Lions.
One milestone was reached on the afternoon as senior Taylor Fore hauled in three catches for 27 yards, putting him over 1,000 receiving yards for his A&M-Commerce career.
A&M-Commerce now has two weeks to correct its opening game mistakes before taking the field at the world's preeminent sporting venue. The 2011 Harvey Martin Classic will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Lions will face Midwestern State in the opening game of the Lone Star Football Festival, with the opening kick set for noon.
