COMMERCE – Despite four turnovers forced on Saturday night, the East Texas A&M University football team fell 31-21 to the No. 24/24 ranked Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks on Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium in the Homecoming game presented by Brookshire's.
 
The start of Saturday's game was delayed by about 45 minutes due to inclement weather in Northeast Texas. The Lions fall to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in Southland Conference play, having lost three Homecoming games in a row.
 
SFA came into the week being ranked No. 24 in both the AFCA poll and the Stats Perform FCS poll. The Lumberjacks scored 10 unanswered points to close out the game and 24 of the final 31 points of the game to improve to 4-0 in Southland play and 6-2 overall. It is SFA's first win in Commerce since 1965.
 
On the first drive of the game, SFA found the end zone as Kylon Harris caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Sam Vidlak.
 
The Lions tied the game in the first quarter with 3:28 left as Ron Peace (Malakoff) found Devin Matthews (Seguin) for a 21-yard touchdown reception. With just 15 seconds left in the first quarter, Peace rushed in a six-yard touchdown to give the Lions a 14-7 lead after the first 15 minutes.
 
SFA tied the game with less than two minutes left in the first half on a one-yard touchdown run by Gavin Rutherford. In the third quarter with 2:10 to play, Harris caught another touchdown pass from Vidlak, this one being from 38 yards out.
 
Following an interception, the Lions capitalized with a one-yard touchdown run by KJ Shankle (Fort Bend Travis) to tie the game at 21 with 13:13 left in the game.
 
The Lumberjacks regained the lead in the eighth minute as Rutherford scored his second one-yard touchdown rush of the game. With under two minutes in the game, Carlos Alvarado kicked in a 40-yard field goal to help SFA jump ahead by 10.
 
For the Lions, Javon Gillespie (Camden, N.J.) had two interceptions, combining for total return yardage of 49 yards, while Lavon Williams (San Antonio – Roosevelt) had one interception, and Orion Kupu (Gilbert, Ariz.) forced a fumble, which he recovered.
 
SFA outgained East Texas A&M, 452-260, as the Lions were held to just 10 rushing yards in the game. Peace went 18 for 37 with a touchdown and an interception for 250 yards behind center.
 
Matthews had 84 receiving yards on four catches, while Harris totaled 183 yards and two touchdowns on 16 receptions for the Lumberjacks. The Lions missed a field goal attempt and had a kick blocked as well.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
 The Lions play their penultimate road game of the season next Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Hammond, Louisiana, at Southeastern, who is also undefeated in conference play.