COMMERCE – The first matchup at Ernest Hawkins Field between the East Texas A&M University football team and Stephen F. Austin since 1983 came down to the final minute and the Lions picked up a 19-14 win over the Lumberjacks on Saturday evening for their first win at home in 2024.  
 
The Lions are now 44-14-1 all-time against SFA and 26-2 in Commerce, scoring 16 points in a row to win on Saturday. The win is the second of the season for East Texas A&M, who is now 2-8, while SFA falls to 6-4.
 
Though both teams are now a member of the Southland Conference, Saturday's game was a non-conference game for both teams.
 
Saturday was the annual Hall of Fame game for the Lions, who also won their first home game of the season in the Hall of Fame game a year ago.
 
Luke Jackson (Bensalem, Pa.) put the Lions ahead first with a 21-yard field goal at the 1:52 mark of the first quarter. SFA took its first lead of the game at the 10:50 mark of the second quarter on a 10-yard run by Qualan Jones and Jerrell Wimbley added to it just over a minute later as the Lions fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Wimbley ran in a one-yard touchdown.
 
Tyson Schilling (St. Paul, Minn.) caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ron Peace (Malakoff) to bring the Lions within four at the half.
 
In the second half, Jackson kicked in a 32-yard field goal with 7:18 left in the third quarter to make it a one-point game. Dayan Bilbo (Vancleave, Miss.) puts the Lions back in front with a five-yard touchdown pass from Peace. The two-point try was no good for the Lions.
 
SFA drove down to the Lion one-yard line with just over a minute left in the game and had momentarily taken the lead with a touchdown, but the score was wiped off due to a penalty and the Lion defense kept the Lumberjacks out of the end zone the next two plays and forced a turnover on downs.
 
The Lions outgained the Lumberjacks 399-31 in the game. SFA was 6 of 19 on third downs and went for it on fourth down six times, getting the first down just one. East Texas A&M went 8 of 19 on third down and 1 of 1 on fourth down.
 
Peace went 22 for 45 with 312 yards and two touchdowns and was the team's leading rusher with 31 rush yards. Jaden Proctor (Mexia) caught just four passes, but totaled 102 yards on them, including a long of 36 yards.
 
Brandon Tucker (DeSoto) led the Lions with 19 tackles in the game, which are tied for second most in a single game in program history. Leon Young (Cedar Hill) had nine tackles, including two for a loss.

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UP NEXT
The Lions continue the homestand next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Houston Christian. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.