COMMERCE – Despite being held scoreless in the second half of regulation, the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals scored a six-yard touchdown in overtime to sink the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team, 20-17, on Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium.
 
The Lions received the ball first in the overtime period and took their first lead of the game on a 27-yard field goal by Jake Viquez (Rockwall). The Cardinals answered with a touchdown run by Tommy Scott to drop A&M-Commerce to 3-3 on the season, while the Cardinals improve to 3-3 as well.
 
Viquez drilled a 31-yard kick as time expired in regulation to send it to overtime. Viquez went 3 for 3 in field goal attempts. His other successful field goal attempt came in the first half, which was good from 39 yards out.
 
The Cardinals' Colby Newman opened up the scoring with a one-yard touchdown in the first half. Saginaw Valley State added to its lead in the second quarter on a 74-yard interception returned for touchdown by Nick Whiteside.
 
Trailing 14-3 at halftime, Lions pulled to within three in the fourth quarter on a 29-yard touchdown catch by Chance Cooper (Leander – Rouse), thrown by Miklo Smalls (Plano East), who made his season debut and threw for 193 yards on 22 for 36 passing and two interceptions. Matt Childers (Henderson) caught a two-yard pass from Smalls to convert the two-point attempt.
 
First 10 of the 11 drives ended in either punts or turnovers for the Lion offense, while three of the last five ended with points being added to the scoreboard.
 
The Lions had two turnovers in opposition territory on Saturday night: a fumble at the two-yard line and an interception just outside the red zone.
 
Domininion Ezinwa (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) forced a fumble, which was recovered by Dominique Ramsey (Converse – Judson) for two yards. Ramsey led the team with nine tackles. He also had four punt returns for 54 yards. Mitchell McGarry (Tannum Sands, Queensland, Australia) kicked eight punts, averaging 35.8 yards per punt.
 
The Lions had four sacks in the game. Ezinwa, Elijah Earls (San Antonio – Stevens), Anthony Hayes (Panama City, Fla.) had one each while Daryion Taylor (Humble – Atascocita) and Jaylon Hodge (Houston – Fort Bend Travis) split a sack.
 
A&M-Commerce outgained Saginaw Valley State, 278-127. The defense allowed just 24 passing yards and 103 yards on the ground. A&M-Commerce had nine tackles for loss in the game.
 
E.J. Thompson (Cy Ranch) had 16 carries in the game, he rushed for 39 yards. Cooper and Matt Childers (Henderson) caught 10 passes each in the game. Coooper led all receivers with 68 receiving yards, 34 of them coming after the catch while Childers picked up 44 yards.


 
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce concludes its homestand against Western New Mexico as part of homecoming weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on next Saturday, October 16.