FLORENCE, Ala. – On the strength of an outstanding defensive performance, fifth-ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce held on for an 8-7 win over sixth-ranked and defending national runner-up North Alabama at Braly Stadium on Friday night.
 
A&M-Commerce moves to 1-0 on the young season and returns home on Saturday, September 9, hosting William Jewell for a 6 p.m. CommUniverCity Day kickoff.
 
Tickets are available by visiting WeAreLionsTix.com or calling (903) 468-8756.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kicker Kristov Martinez connected on a pair of 30-yard field goal attempts, the second coming with 1:12 remaining in the game to give A&M-Commerce the final lead.
- Safety Chris Smith made a tackle in the end zone for a safety with 4:18 remaining in the game. UNA had been pinned at their own 2-yardline by a 55-yard Jake Viquez punt.
- A&M-Commerce was limited to 272 yards of offense, but also held North Alabama to 300 yards of offense.
- The hosts missed four field goals, including a blocked 55-yard attempt in the final stages of the fourth quarter.
- Linebacker Brucks Saathoff led A&M-Commerce with 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks for losses of 15 yards and two total tackles for loss.
- The A&M-Commerce defense sacked UNA quarterback Blake Hawkins five times and broke up seven passes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
North Alabama sustained an early drive in the first quarter, moving 54 yards downfield before missing a 46-yard field goal attempt. With 3:45 left in the first quarter, Hawkins found Dre Hall for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it a 7-0 UNA lead.
 
A&M-Commerce struggled on offense in the first half, gaining no more than 20 yards on a drive, with all seven drives ending in punts.
 
However, the A&M-Commerce defense was up to the task, forcing four UNA punts and two unsuccessful long field goal attempts in the first 30 minutes of action.
 
The A&M-Commerce offense came out of the locker room at halftime with more efficiency, while the defense was even stronger than before. A&M-Commerce allowed UNA only 116 yards in the second half.
 
A&M-Commerce scored its first points of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter, driving 75 yards in 13 plays, with Martinez' first 30-yard field goal cutting the UNA lead to 7-3.
 
The guests moved the ball downfield well in the half, but the next three A&M-Commerce drives ended in interceptions thrown by Luis Perez, with one in the end zone and A&M-Commerce threatening to score. Perez completed 23-of-37 passes for 179 yards on the night to go over 3,500 yards passing in his career.
 
With 4:24 on the fourth quarter clock, A&M-Commerce was forced to punt for the first time in the second half from its own 43-yardline. Viquez' punt rolled dead at the 2-yardline. UNA elected to snap from a shotgun formation, and Chris Smith bolted into the backfield, sacking Hawkins in the endzone for a safety, cutting the UNA advantage to 7-5.
 
Shawn Hooks returned the ensuing free kick to the North Alabama 36-yardline, setting up the dramatic finish for A&M-Commerce.
 
Richard Whitaker's 8-yard carry on third-and-10 got the ball down to the UNA 13-yardline on the left hashmark. Martinez drilled the 30-yard field goal and put A&M-Commerce on top for the first time in the game at the 1:12 mark, 8-7.
 
UNA's last gasp efforts to have the ball downfield were aided by a pair of interference penalties and a 20-yard completion until the final three plays. Alex Shillow broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage, followed by a Peyton Searcy sack.
 
UNA had third-and-14 in field goal range, but Trevon Blanchard rushed into the backfield and forced Hawkins to fumble. The ball bounded backwards 18 yards before UNA recovered it, forcing the 55-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked at the line of scrimmage.
 
NOTES
- This was the lowest score by a Lions' winning team since a 6-3 victory by East Texas State over Henderson State in 1995.
- Martinez now ranks third in school history with 32 career field goals made, passing Saul Martinez (31 from 2013-14).