A&M-Commerce Lions at #4 West Texas A&M Buffs
Saturday, September 21 • 6 p.m.
Kimbrough Memorial Stadium • Canyon, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (2-0); West Texas A&M (2-0)

Live Video: GoBuffsGo.com
Audio: KETR 88.9 FM (listen online at KETR.org)
Live Statistics: LionAthletics.com
Twitter Updates: @Lion_Athletics
A&M-Commerce Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Kick
A&M-Commerce opens up its 2013 Lone Star Conference schedule this Saturday in one of the season's most anticipated matchups. The Lions head to Canyon for a showdown with fourth-ranked West Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 21st, as head coach Colby Carthel makes his first trip back to Kimbrough Memorial Stadium since being named the head coach of A&M-Commerce.

Lions on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Canyon for Saturday's Lone Star Conference showdown with the fourth-ranked Buffs can still keep up to date with every Lion play. KETR 88.9 FM will carry the game live with Charlie Chitwood and Brock Callaway on the call as the live stream will also be available online at KETR.org. Live video and live stats will be available through the Lion Game Day page at LionAthletics.com with Twitter followers receiving updates @Lion_Athletics.

Scouting the Buffs
Roster • Statistics
2013: 2-0 overall, 0-0 Lone Conference. Ranked fourth in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
Last Week: Defeated #18 Chadron State, 34-31
Interim Head Coach: Mike Nesbitt (New Mexico, '96). First season at West Texas A&M (2-0, 1.000)
Key Offensive Players:
• #10 Dustin Vaughan (Sr., QB): 66-of-98 passing (67.3%) for 823 yds., 7 TDs, 0 INTs
• #5 Aaron Harris (Sr., RB): 24 rushes for 147 yds. (6.1 avg.), 2 TDs, long of 17
• #11 Torrence Allen (Sr., WR): 20 receptions for 330 yds. (16.5 avg.), 2 TDs, long of 45
• #1 Anthony Johnson (Jr., WR): 7 receptions for 107 yds. (15.3 avg.), 2 TDs, long of 24
Key Defensive Players:
• #32 Taylor McCuller (Sr., LB): 23 tackles (12 solo), 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR
• #22 Curtis Slater (Sr., DB): 13 tackles (7 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU
• #18 Bryan Johnson (Sr., LB): 10 tackles (3 solo), 2.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks
• #52 Patric Youngman (R-Fr., LB): 9 tackles (5 solo), 2.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 PBU
Synopsis: West Texas A&M is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind 34-31 victory over 18th-ranked Chadron State Thursday at AT&T Stadium. The Buffs trailed 24-3 in the first half before rallying back to notch the victory, one week after defeating Western State 48-21 in the season opener. The reigning co-Lone Star Conference champions, West Texas A&M returns the bulk of their starters from the NCAA semifinal team in 2012, including quarterback Dustin Vaughan, linebacker Taylor McCuller and defensive end Ethan Westbrooks, the national Defensive Player of the Year last season. Interim head coach Mike Nesbitt is 2-0 since taking over control of West Texas A&M just prior to the start of the 2013 season.

Series Information
Saturday marks the 28th all-time meeting between A&M-Commerce and West Texas A&M as the Lions hold a slim 14-13 edge (.519) in the all-time series. The Buffs have had the upper hand in recent years, however, notching five-straight victories over the Lions and are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between the two. West Texas A&M is 7-5 all-time against A&M-Commerce at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, coming out on top in each of the last two games in Canyon since the Lions' 38-28 victory in 2004, its last in both the series and at Kimbrough.

Lions Topple 25th-Ranked Delta State at AT&T Stadium
A&M-Commerce notched one of the biggest victories of the weekend at the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, knocking off 25th-ranked Delta State 45-37 Friday night. The Lions raced out to a 21-10 lead in the first half, before stalling out in the third quarter and watching the Statesmen take a 30-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter. But A&M-Commerce showed its resilience, reeling off 17 unanswered points to reclaim the lead at 45-30, then holding off a late Delta State charge to seal the victory. The Lions are now 1-2 all-time at the Festival, beginning the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2001 season.

Lions Take Down First Ranked Opponent Since 2001
A&M-Commerce's victory over 25th-ranked Delta State on Friday snapped a lengthy streak the Lions are happy to get rid of. The win over the Statesmen was the first over a ranked team for A&M-Commerce since a 30-24 win at 16th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville on October 6, 2001, a span of nearly 12 seasons. The second-to-last win over a ranked team provided a little bit of irony for the Lions as well as it came in a 14-10 victory at 12th-ranked Angelo State on November 6, 1999. The starting middle linebacker on that day for the Rams was none other than senior Colby Carthel.

A&M-Commerce Leads Nation in Pair of Categories
The 2013 season is still very young, but A&M-Commerce has already started to make a name for itself among the national leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Through the first two games of the 2013 season, A&M-Commerce has recorded 19 sacks and 38 tackles for loss, ranking first in the country in both sacks per game (9.5) and tackles for loss per game (19.0) while sitting second nationally in rushing defense (39.5 ypg). The Lions' 19 sacks through the first two games already exceeds the total of 16 they generated in 2012. A&M-Commerce also ranks among the top-10 nationally in a few other categories, sitting eighth in punt return average (22.0 ypr) and 10th in both passing offense (373.5 ypg) and scoring offense (48.0 ppg).

Tevin Moore Is Nation's Leader in Sacks, Tackles For Loss
One of the strong points of the A&M-Commerce defensive line in 2013 is senior defensive end Tevin Moore, who is making quite a statement in his senior season. Through the first two games of 2013, the senior captain is the national leader in both sacks per game (2.5) and tackles for loss per game (4.0), having posted five sacks and eight tackles for loss through the first two games. A 2010 All-LSC honorable mention selection, Moore ranks second on the team with 13 tackles and a forced fumble, which directly led to Kristoddie Woods' fumble recovery for a touchdown against Delta State after Moore picked up his second of three sacks on the afternoon.

Fields Named Lone Star Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
One of the key players in A&M-Commerce's 45-37 victory over Delta State Friday afternoon was junior defensive back Ronald Fields, who was named the Lone Star Conference's Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. With the Lions leading 14-10 in the second quarter, Fields fielded a Statesmen punt at his own 17-yard line, then broke free from a handful of Delta State defenders to scamper 83 yards for a touchdown, putting the Lions on top 21-10. Then midway through the fourth quarter, with A&M-Commerce holding on to a 35-30 lead, Fields intercepted a Statesmen pass at the 41-yard line, returning it 34 yards to the seven before teammate Leo Migo went the remaining seven yards to give the Lions the 42-30 edge with just over six minutes remaining. Fields was a force all over the field for the A&M-Commerce defense, tallying nine tackles with four pass breakups.

Lion Sack Party
One of the key components to the A&M-Commerce success so far in 2013 has been the play of the Lions' defense, which has compiled 19 sacks and 38 tackles for loss lead the nation in both categories. The 19 sacks for A&M-Commerce already exceeds its 2012 total of 16, while the 38 tackles for loss is already more than halfway towards their 2012 season total of 63. 11 different Lions have had a hand in at least one sack this season, led by five from Tevin Moore, three from Charles Tuau and a pair from Stephen Ford. Additionally, 21 different Lions have notched at least a half tackle for loss, with Moore once again leading the way with eight, followed by four from Tuau, 3.5 from Jeremy Dotson and 2.5 from Frazer Taua.

Johnson Breaks Out in Lion Debut
Junior wide receiver Vernon Johnson certainly made his mark in his A&M-Commerce debut, hauling in a game-high nine passes for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Johnson and quarterback Tyrik Rollison connected on back-to-back drives in the first quarter, the first strike coming from four yards out to tie the game at 7-7. On the ensuing possession, Rollison hit a streaking Johnson along the near sideline, catching the receiver in stride from 41 yards out as the Lions took the lead at 14-7. The junior from Fort Worth also had some clutch receptions on third down, helping to extend A&M-Commerce possessions against the Statesmen.

Rollison With Another Solid Performance
Junior quarterback Tyrik Rollison had another solid performance in the upset win over Delta State, completing 28-of-42 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Rollison continues to rank second in the Lone Star Conference in passing yards per game (333.0) while sitting tied for 14th nationally. For the season, Rollison has completed 53 of his 80 passing attempts (66.2 percent) for 666 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception through the first two games.

More Lions Notch Career-Firsts
A handful of Lions recorded career-firsts in the 45-37 victory over Delta State Friday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. Wide receiver Vernon Johnson notched his first career touchdown in a Lion uniform, finishing with a pair on the day, while defensive back Ronald Fields notched a touchdown on an 83-yard punt return while setting up another with his fourth quarter interception. That series was capped by linebacker Leo Migo's first career touchdown as well, picking up a loose ball and going the remaining seven yards for a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Kristoddie Woods also notched his first career touchdown, picking up a fumble caused by Tevin Moore sack early in the second half and returning it eight yards for the score. Additionally on defense, freshman defensive back Cameron Napoleon recorded his first collegiate interception against the Statesmen.

Lions Among Lone Star Conference Leaders
Through the first two weeks of the 2013 season, a number of Lions have made their mark on the Lone Star Conference leaders. As a team, A&M-Commerce ranks first in the LSC in scoring offense (48.0 ppg), rushing defense (39.5 ypg), punt return offense (22.0 ypr), interceptions (3) and sacks (19) while ranking second in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), total defense (278.5 ypg), passing offense (373.5 ypg) and opponent third down percentage (24.4%). Individually, 17 different Lions sit among the individual leaders in 13 statistical categories, led by Tevin Moore leading the Lone Star Conference in both sacks (2.50) and tackles for loss (4.00) per game. Ronald Fields is the LSC leader in passes defended per game (2.50) while Charles Tuau sits tied for second in sacks per game (1.50) and third in tackles for loss per game (2.00).

Same Stadium, Different Sideline
The trip to Canyon this weekend will mark a homecoming of sorts for a large number of Lion coaches, the most notable is head coach Colby Carthel returning to Kimbrough Memorial Stadium for the first time after spending the last seven seasons as the Buffs' defensive coordinator. Additionally, offensive coordinator Matt Storm, defensive coordinator Justin Deason, co-offensive coordinator Jared May, defensive line coach Jack Taylor, linebackers coach Wendel Davis and defensive backs coach Charles Burks all spent time as either a player or coach for the Buffs, but have traded in the maroon and white for the blue and gold.

Looking Ahead
Following A&M-Commerce's game at West Texas A&M this Saturday, the Lions return home to host possibly their third ranked opponent in as many weeks when they welcome 25th-ranked Midwestern State to Commerce for the first time since 2005. The game against Midwestern State will also mark the 2013 Harvey Martin Classic for A&M-Commerce as for the first time, the game bearing the former Lion All-American's name will be played at the same stadium where he earned his reputation as one of the most feared defensive players of the 1970's. Tickets for the game are available online at WeAreLionsTix.com or by contacting the A&M-Commerce Athletic Department at (903) 886-5558.

For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above