A&M-Commerce Lions vs. Harding Bison
2013 Live United Texarkana Bowl
Saturday, December 7 • 12 p.m.
Razorback Stadium • Texarkana, Ark.
Records: A&M-Commerce (7-4); Harding (8-2)

Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (listen online at KETR.org)
Live Video: GACSports.org
Live Stats: GACSports.org
Twitter Updates: @Lions_FB
A&M-Commerce Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Kick
A&M-Commerce gets set to cap its memorable 2013 season with the program's first postseason appearance in almost 20 years. The Lions will do battle with Great American Conference foe Harding in the inaugural Live United Texarkana Bowl, taking place at Razorback Stadium in Texarkana, Ark., Friday, December 13th, kicking off at 6 p.m.

Lions on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Texarkana for the 2013 Live United Texarkana Bowl Saturday can still keep up to date with every A&M-Commerce snap. KETR 88.9 FM will have the game live with Charlie Chitwood and Brock Callaway on the call as the game is also available online at KETR.org. Live video and live stats of the game will be provided through the Great American Conference website (GACSports.org) with links to both available at LionAthletics.com. In-game Twitter updates will also be available by following @Lions_FB.

Scouting the Bisons
2013: 8-2 overall, 8-2 Great American Conference (2nd). Receiving votes in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
Last Three Games: W at Arkansas Tech (28-17); W vs. East Central (52-30); W at Southeastern Oklahoma (42-10)
Head Coach: Ronnie Huckeba (Harding, 1978). Seventh season at Harding (39-33, .542)
Key Offensive Players:
• #10 Keenan Kellett (Jr., QB): 39-of-81 passing (48.1 pct.) for 795 yards (99.4 ypg), 5 TDs, 6 INTs; 87 rushes for 319 yards (3.7 avg.), 12 TDs
• #8 Romo Westbrook (Jr., RB): 152 rushes for 1,025 yards (6.7 avg.), 10 TDs
• #4 Ahmad Scott (Jr., RB): 44 rushes for 408 yards (9.3 avg.), 5 TDs
• #34 D'Nico Jackson-Best (Sr., RB): 77 rushes for 374 yards (4.9 avg.), 4 TDs,
• #6 Donatella Luckett (Jr., WR): 23 catches for 421 yards (18.3 avg.), 2 TDs; 17 kickoffs for 437 yards (25.7 avg.)
Key Defensive Players:
• #44 Daylan Skidmore (R-Fr., LB): 70 tackles (39 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1 PBU
• #2 Dennis Buckner (Jr., DB): 53 tackles (27 solo), 6.0 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 FF
• #21 Ashtun Williams (Sr., DB): 49 tackles (27 solo), 3.5 TFL, 2 INT,5 PBU, 7 PD, 1 FF
• #45 Jordan Cantrell (So., LB): 46 tackles (26 solo), 4.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF
• #5 Daniel Riley (Sr., DL): 34 tackles (22 solo), 12.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 PD, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Synopsis: Harding enters Saturday's game with an 8-2 mark, finishing second in the Great American Conference as its only two losses came to Southwestern Oklahoma (27-23) and fifth-ranked Henderson State (45-30). The Bisons emerged as one of the top rushing teams in the country, ranking third nationally by averaging 366.0 yards per game while sitting sixth in scoring average, recording 43.4 points per game. Harding has also been one of the nation's top teams against the rush, ranking third as well while allowing just 71.5 yards per game, while allowing 268.1 passing yards per game.

Series Information
A&M-Commerce and Harding meet for the fourth time Saturday as the Lions hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. A&M-Commerce and Harding split a home-and-home series with the Bisons earning a 40-0 in Searcy in 1995 before the Lions recorded a 43-28 win in Commerce in 1996. The last meeting between the two came in 2001 as A&M-Commerce earned a 14-11 win over Harding at Memorial Stadium.

Strength vs. Strength
It will be a tale of two teams when A&M-Commerce and Harding take to the field Saturday afternoon in Texarkana, Ark. The Bisons have established themselves as one of the top rushing teams in the country with their vaunted triple option offense, ranking third nationally by averaging 366.0 yards per game while sitting sixth in the nation in scoring offense (43.4 ppg). A&M-Commerce brings a potent passing attack, sitting 10th nationally by averaging 325.4 yards per game as the Lions are also among the national leaders in points per game, sitting 27th with a 37.9 average. Defensively, the Bisons are tough to run against, allowing just 71.5 yards per game (third nationally) but give up 268.1 yards per game through the air. A&M-Commerce is among the national leader in tackles for loss per game (10.7) and second in sacks (4.3) and are second in the Lone Star Conference in rushing defense, allowing 139.8 yards per game.

Live United Texarkana Bowl Fan Information
There will be plenty to keep A&M-Commerce fans occupied during the Lions' trip to Texarkana for the Live United Bowl. Lion fans are encouraged to come send off the team Thursday evening at a pep rally in downtown Commerce at 6 p.m. as A&M-Commerce departs for Texarkana. Friday evening there will be a pep rally for both schools being held in the plaza outside both of the team hotels, located in front of the Arkansas Convention Center. Saturday morning, tailgating will begin at 9 a.m. at Razorback Stadium, leading up to the noon kickoff. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for both students and youth and can be purchased either through the A&M-Commerce Athletic Department or at the gate the day of the game. Fans can also get on the Lion Fan Bus for $40, which includes a round trip bus passage to the game Saturday, a ticket to the game and a meal.

Lions Postseason History
Saturday's game against Harding marks the Lions' 10th trip to the postseason in the program's history but the first under the banner of A&M-Commerce. The program's last postseason appearance came in 1995 when then-East Texas State fell to Portland State in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. A&M-Commerce has compiled an 8-4-1 record in postseason games, including a 3-0-1 mark in bowl games as the Lions will appear in their first bowl game since a 26-7 victory over Missouri Valley in the 1958 Tangerine Bowl.
      
Shattering Records
2013 proved to be an historic season for A&M-Commerce as the Lions will be taking a large eraser to the record books once the season wraps up. 20 team and individual records were either tied or broken during the 2013 campaign as the Lion offensive attack set new school records in points scored (417), points per game (36.3), passing yards in a season (3,581) and passing average (325.5 ypg) - a far cry from the 12.6 points per game averaged by the Lions in 2012. Defensively, A&M-Commerce made its mark on the record books as well, setting new program-bests for tackles for loss in a season (120) and sacks in a season (49), ranking first nationally in tackles for loss per game (10.7) and blocked punts (seven) while sitting second in all of Division II in sacks per game (4.3).

Tuaau Rakes In LSC Honors
Junior nose tackle Charles Tuaau has made quite an impact for A&M-Commerce in his first season in Commerce  and his presence hasn't gone unnoticed. Tuaau was named both the Lone Star Conference's J.V. Sikes Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year after tallying 51 total tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2013. Tuaau led the Lone Star Conference in both tackles for loss and sacks, ranking sixth nationally in both categories, and is a nominee for the 2013 Cliff Harris Award, honoring the top defensive player in the nation representing NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools, after setting the program records for tackles for loss in a game (5.0), tackles for loss in a season (22.0) and sacks in a season (12.5)

Johnson Rewrites Record Book
Junior wide receiver Vernon Johnson was another breakout star for A&M-Commerce as the Fort Worth native was named the Lone Star Conference's Receiver of the Year after rewriting the Lion record book. Johnson set the program single-season record for catches (69), receiving yards (1,345), receiving yards per game (134.5) and receiving touchdowns (13), leading the LSC in each category. Johnson eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in eight of the 10 games he played in with four touchdown strikes of 65-yards or greater. He also proved to be a dual threat for A&M-Commerce as he returned 14 kickoffs for 493 yards (35.2 avg.), leading the Lone Star Conference in all-purpose yards per game with 183.3 en route to earning a pair of All-LSC honors.

Moore Caps Memorable Senior Season
Perhaps no player benefitted more from a change in coaching staff than senior defensive end Tevin Moore. The Dallas native had his most productive season in a Lion uniform, leading A&M-Commerce in tackles (70) and solo tackles (39) while tying for the team-high in sacks (12.5) and ranking second in tackles for loss (21.0). Moore ranked among both the Lone Star Conference and national leaders in both sacks and tackles for loss as he was named a first team All-Lone Star Conference selection, building on his honorable mention selection as a freshman in 2010. He set the program record for sacks in a game with 3.0, accomplishing the feat twice, while tying his partner in crime Tuaau for the program record in sacks in a season with 12.5.

Frosch Becomes the 10,000-Yard Man
Senior punter Cameron Frosch reached a pair of impressive career milestones during his final season as a Lion. The Rowlett native became the program's all-time leading punter earlier this season, surpassing Dan Roberson's mark of 9,332, then eclipsed the 10,000-yard punting mark for his career as the senior currently sits at 10,398 punting yards. To put that in perspective, he has racked up enough yards during his career to clear Mount Everest's 29,029 foot summit (9,676 yards), punting the football just shy of six miles, as Frosch was named a second team All-LSC selection.

Martinez Joins Record Breaking Party
Junior kicker Saul Martinez proved to be a constant for A&M-Commerce on the season, providing some much-needed stability in the kicking game. Martinez was an All-LSC honorable mention selection after hitting 11 of his 15 field goal attempts on the year and going a perfect 52-of-52 on extra point attempts on the season. He also etched his name into the A&M-Commerce record books with a pair of marks, setting the single-game record for points by a kicker with his 17-point performance against McMurry (3 FG, 8 PATs) and now holds the single-season points mark for a kicker with 85.

15 Lions Earn All-Lone Star Conference Honors
A&M-Commerce's dramatic improvement in 2013 didn't go unnoticed by the Lone Star Conference head coaches as 15 Lions picked up All-LSC honors, the most for the program since 2007. Three Lions were named first team All-LSC selections as Charles Tuaau was named the J.V. Sikes Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year, Vernon Johnson was tabbed the LSC's Receiver of the Year and defensive end Tevin Moore picked up a first team honor to go along with his honorable mention selection in 2012. Seven Lions were named second team honorees, consisting of TE Jordon Jenkins, WR Seth Smith, LB Cole Pitts, CB Ronald Fields and S Marcus Fore with Johnson earning second team honors as a kick returner. The six honorable mention selections for A&M- Commerce were OL Trevor Goodale and Andrew Weidel, RB Ki-Janaven Garrett, LB Stephen Ford and Cameron Rogers and K Saul Martinez.

Stewart Settling In
Junior quarterback Harrison Stewart has started to settle in at the helm of the Lion offensive attack, becoming A&M-Commerce's starter for the final five games of the 2013 season. Stewart has thrown for 1,794 yards on the year and needs just 148 yards to crack the A&M-Commerce top-10 list for passing yards in a season. The Yucaupa, Calif., native has had three 300-yard passing games since becoming the starter and is just 206 yards shy of becoming just the sixth 2,000-yard passer in program history, surpassing the likes of Lion Hall of Famers Wade Wilson, Kyle Mackey and Terry Skinner on the all-time single-season list.

Carthel Remains Second in Coach of the Year Voting
Head coach Colby Carthel remains second in the Division II standings of the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award voting as the Lions have emerged as one of the top turnaround teams in all of college football. After back-to-back 1-9 seasons, Carthel and the Lions have surged to a 7-4 record, including a pair of wins against ranked opponents as well as a victory over a Division I opponent, and have secured the program's first winning season since 2001. Fan voting continues as Carthel remains in second place in the Division II voting behind Garin Justice of Concord. Fans can cast their vote daily by "liking" Liberty Mutual's Coach of the Year on Facebook, then casting their ballot for coach Carthel. The top-15 vote getters will move on to the finals where a committee will determine the 2013 Coach of the Year, with the winning coach's institutuion receiving $50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice as well as $20,000 for the alumni development center.

• Vote For Colby For Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year!

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