Commerce, Texas – For the first time since 1992 two ranked teams will play on the turf in Memorial Stadium as the No. 18 ranked Lions play host to No. 10 ranked Delta State Saturday at 7 p.m.
1st and 10
- A&M-Commerce opened the 2015 season with a 48-17 rout of Adams State ... John Thomas rumbled in for a 20-yard touchdown catch with 9:13 left first half ... Thomas broke through three tackles three tackles for the score ... Prior to the 4-play 42-yard drive the Lions had accumulated only 148 yards of total offense ... The score sparked a 24-point second quarter that saw the Lions take a 27-6 lead into the locker rooms.
-Kristov Martinez' field goal to open the scoring is the first time since the 2013 season the Lions opened the season with a field goal.
- Thomas' finished with two catches for 34 yards ... His 34 total yards surpassed his 26 yards in all of 2014.
- Darby Smith's 86-yard touchdown reception from Harrison Stewart was the longest play from scrimmage since October 26, 2013 against Tarleton State when Vernon Johnson scored on an 88-yard TD pass from Stewart ... Stewart has five passes for over 50-yards.
- The victory marked the Lions' 200th all-time victory at Memorial Stadium.
- Kieston Carter's seven tackles set a new career-high for the linebacker who had only seen action in two games in 2014.
- Richard Cooper's 149 rushing yards set a new career-high for the junior tailback ... Theo Wofford set new personal best with his 18 attempts ... Theo Wofford was six yards shy of his best yardage total of 103 set in the 2014 opener against East Texas Baptist.
- The Lions are 7th in the NCAA on opponents 3rd down conversions after allowing Adams State a 1st down on two of their 14 3rd down attempts ... A&M-Commerce is also 7th in the NCAA in kickoff return yards at 36.25 yards per return.
- The Lions won the LSC Championship after going 6-1 in league play in 2014... It was 21st overall title -- second highest title total in the conference --- and first since 1990 ... It was also the 15th time the Lions won the title outright.
About the Series against the Statesmen
- The two teams have met five times prior to Saturday's contest with the Lions holding a 3-2 all-time series edge.
- The teams first met back in 1978 with the Lions taking the first game of the series 17-6 ... The following season the Statesmen evened the series with a 31-19 win.
- The series resumed in 1993 with the Lions claiming a 19-14 only to see Delta State pull even in 1994 with a 19-14 win.
- In the last meeting between the two schools, the Lions stunned then ranked No. 25 Delta State 45-37 in AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2013 ... Former Lion Tyrik Rollison threw for 320 yards and two TDs in the win ... WR Vernon Johnson played his first game in a Lion uniform and hauled in nine catches for 129 yards and a pair of TDs ... Five current Lions recorded stats in the 2013 game led by LB Cole Pitts and his five tackles.
About No. 10 Delta State
- The Statesmen are coming off of a 9-2 season in 2014 and opened the 2015 season with a 48-7 romp of Fort Valley State.
- Tyler Sullivan completed 16 of his 25 passes with 293 yards and three TDs in the win ... All told, DSU completed 19 of its 30 passes with one INT and four TDs in the win ... That puts the Statesmen ninth in passing offense at 374 yards and eighth in passing yards per completion at 19.68 in the NCAA after one game.
- On special teams, Cody Mills had three punts for 134 for an average of 44.7 yards with a long of 53 ... After one game, that ranks the Statesman fourth in the NCAA in net punting.
- The Statesmen are coached by Todd Cooley in his third season.
2015 Hall of Fame Information
Football's Wes Smith '86, Jerry Matthews '57, soccer's Toni Catchings '00, and men's golf's Jim Stalder '86 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bobby Fox recipients include Jeff Cleveland, Jeff Davidson, and Ross Hodge; and Charlie and Sharon Smith will be inducted as the second & third members of the school's athletic Hall of Honor on September 12 at the Hall of Fame luncheon at noon.
The luncheon is open to the public with a cost of attendance of $25 per person or $40 for two people. Following the luncheon there will be a tailgate held for the inductees prior to the 7 p.m. A&M-Commerce football game against Delta State. The group will also be recognized on the field at half time of the contest.
To be eligible for the Lion Athletic Hall of Fame a player must have completed at least two seasons, must be removed from exhausting eligibility for 10 years and individuals should have athletic awards that display a high level of athletic ability and contribution to the team.
Wes Smith '86 – Football
Smith is a 1986 graduate of then East Texas State and a four-year member of the Lions football team, where he was a starting receiver. He was selected as the 1985 captain of the squad, and a Lone Star Conference First Team Selection following his junior and senior seasons. Smith led the Lions in receiving yards in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Wes broke receiving records at East Texas State University for receiving career touchdowns, career receiving yards, most career receptions and most single season and career yards Receiving. Wes also broke Lone Star Conference records for most career touchdowns and most career yards receiving. Wes is still third in all-time receiving yardage with 2,652 yards, and is third all-time in receptions with 158. Wes was one of only two Lions selected to the Lone Star Conference All-Decade Team of the 1980's. Wes was drafted into the National Football League by the St. Louis Cardinals and also played with the Green Bay PackersSmith was also a remarkable athlete on the track, qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 100-meter dash and the 4X100 relay, earning All-American awards for both. He was a member of the 1985 LSC Championship team, and finished second at the Nationals that same year.
Jerry Matthews '57 – Football/Basketball
Matthews is a 1957 graduate of then East Texas State College and a three-year member of the Lions football team, where he was a three-year starting running back and quarterback. He amassed over 600 yards and more than 50 points in his football career. Matthews was also an impressive basketball player, and became a starting member of the 1955 Men's Basketball team after Coach Bob Rogers observed Matthews playing a pick-up game and asked him to play on the team. In his basketball career he scored 117 points and secured 35 rebounds. But Matthews is perhaps best remembered for his second stint as a Lion, when he coached the A&M-Commerce Men's Basketball team from 1983-1990. Matthews won two LSC Championships during his tenure, and won 99 games in his eight seasons.
Jim Stalder '86 - Golf
Stalder is a 1986 graduate of then East Texas State University and a four-year letter winner of the Lions Men's Golf team, where he was a three-time All-LSC Selection and won the 1984 Sam Houston State Spring Invitational. Stalder went on to a 23-year career in the Professional Golfers Association of America, where he qualified for the Byron Nelso Golf Classic twice, won the 1995 & 2008 NTPGA Chapter Championship, and won the NTPGA Pro Championship. He is also a lifetime member of the "T" Association, and a member of the A&M-Commerce Alumni Association.
Toni Catchings '00
Catchings is a 2000 graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce and a two-year member of the Lions soccer team, where she was an NSCAA First Team All-Region selection in 1999, an NCSCAA Second Team All-Region selection in 2000, and twice earned All-LSC honors. Catchings was an integral member of the 1999 A&M-Commerce soccer team that finished 16-4-1, won the LSC regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Catchings was the LSC Tournament MVP. She was also impressive in the classroom, being named to the 2000 LSC All-Academic team.
Charlie and Sharon Smith – Hall of Honors
The Smiths are local residents of Commerce and have shown meritorious service to Lion Athletics. They can be seen at every game.
The Bobby Fox Award
Established in 1994, the Outstanding Alumni Coach Award, given each year to deserving Lion alumni, is made possible by an endowment established by Peggy Bankhead Fox in memory of her late husband, former player and coach of Lion football and track & field.
Jeff Cleveland (football coach, Commerce High School) and Jeff Davidson (softball coach, Commerce High School) are the 2015 Bobby Fox Award recipients.
This will be the 36th Lion Athletic Hall of Fame class since the association's inception in 1978. Currently there are 155 former student-athletes, coaches and administrators and 12 teams that have been inducted.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
