COMMERCE – Being held scoreless in three of the four quarters, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team fell 41-14 at the hands of Southland Conference leading Northwestern State Demons inside Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lions drop to 5-4 on the season with two games left in the season and fall to 3-2 in SLC play, which puts them in fourth place. With the loss on Saturday, the Lions are mathematically eliminated from winning the SLC title. Northwestern State improves to 4-0 in conference play and 4-5 overall, it needs one more win out of its last two games to clinch a share of the conference title.
 
Kenneith Lacy got the Demons' scoring started in the first quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run, followed by a 33-yard touchdown catch from Javon Antonio in the first quarter as well.
 
The Lions scored their two touchdowns in a span of just 47 seconds in the first minute of the second quarter. Andrew Armstrong (Dallas – Bishop Dunne) caught a 32-yard touchdown pass on a trick-play from Cameron Nellor (Mt. Vernon) and BJ Busbee (Long Beach, Calif.) racked in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis). The Lions received short field thanks to an interception from Bryson Stewart (Missouri City – Ridge Point).
 
Armstrong's touchdown catch increases his season total to 13, which is one shy of tying the program record.  
 
Northwestern State answered with a six-yard touchdown catch from Jaheim Walters in the second quarter to lead 21-14 at halftime. The Demons tacked on seven more points on a 22-yard touchdown catch by Zach Patterson. On the next drive, PJ Herrington intercepted a pass and returned it back from a 38-yard touchdown.
 
Lacy started the scoring for the Demons in the first quarter and ended it in the fourth quarter with a 24-yard touchdown catch. Zachary Clement 25 for 43 passing for four touchdowns and 223 yards but did throw two interceptions. D'Ante Smith (Richardson – Berkner) had the other interception for the Lions.
 
For the Lions, Rodriguez had 72 passing yards in 18 attempts with one touchdown and an interception. Jaiave Magalei (Tacoma, Wash.) made his season debut in the second half, throwing for 43 yards on 8 for 16 passing. Armstrong had 83 yards on four catches.
 
Defensively, Daryion Taylor (Humble – Atascocita) had nine tackles as well as a forced fumble, while Michael Noble (Orange, Calif.) also had nine tackles and a half tackle for loss as well as a blocked extra point attempt.
 
The Lions committed 13 penalties, which resulted in 140 yards for the Demons, who outgained the Lions, 376-243.


PRESS CONFERENCE
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head on the road for the final time this season to Nicholls next Saturday at 3 p.m., before closing out the season at home against Tennessee State on November 19.