COMMERCE – After falling behind early on Saturday night, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team scored 41 unanswered points to roll past McNeese, 41-10, at Ernest Hawkins Field for the first win in 2023.
 
Saturday night also marked the first career win as a college coach for Clint Dolezel. The Lions snapped an eight-game losing streak, dating back to last season and have now started 1-0 in Southland Conference play in both their seasons in NCAA Division I FCS.
 
McNeese falls to 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in SLC action. The Lions have outscored the Cowboys, 81-25, over the last two seasons and are now 3-1 in the all-time series.
 
Playing at home for the first time since the first week of the season, the Lions fell behind 3-0 after a 28-yard field goal from the Cowboys' Garrison Smith, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.
 
Ra'veion Hargrove (Trotwood, Ohio) rushed in a seven-yard touchdown at the 9:46 mark of the second quarter to put the Lions up 7-3. After a punt from the Cowboys, Hargrove scored his second touchdown, this time a 49-yard run to put the Lions up by 11, which was the largest Lion lead of the season to that point.
 
The Lions got the ball to start the second half and they added three more points with a 51-yard field goal by Emmanuel Adagbon (Mesquite Horn). On the next drive, Darryle Ware (Charleston, S.C.) forced a fumble, which was recovered by Jordan Polk (Arlington – Lamar) at the McNeese 46-yard line.
 
It only took six plays for the Lions to find the end zone again as Shamenski Rucker (Lawrenceville, Ga.) rushed in a one-yard touchdown. The Lion defense forced another turnover on the ensuing drive with Levi Drake Rodriguez (Georgetown – East View) recovering his own forced fumble.
 
Josh Magana (Dinuba, Calif.) connected with Jerome Buckner (Columbus, Ohio) for a 30-yard touchdown. Adagbon added a 40-yard field goal and Magana hit Jabari Khepera (Glenn Heights – Bishop Dunne) for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Lions up 41-3 after three quarters.
 
On its last drive of the game, McNeese received the ball at its own 16-yard line and marched down the field to score its first touchdown of the game. Joshon Barbie ran in a three-yard touchdown.
 
The Lions had 470-280 edge in total offense, averaging nearly eight yards per play. Magana went 12 for 21 with 266 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception.
 
Hargrove netted 96 yards on 13 carries, scoring the first two touchdowns of the game. Defensively, Ware totaled six tackles and forced a fumble, while Max Epps (Spring – Dekaney) had five tackles.
 
On the first drive of the game, Christian Shaw (Mansfield – Lake Ridge) recorded an interception.
 
Mitchell McGarry (Gregory-Portland) had five punts for 186 yards, pinning the Cowboys inside the 20-yard line three times. Adagbon was a perfect 2 for 2 in his field goal attempts.

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UP NEXT
The Lions head back on the road to play nationally ranked UIW next Saturday at 4 p.m.