Tackling Texas A&M University-Commerce junior running back Nabil El-Amin was a difficult chore for the East Central defense on Saturday afternoon as the Lions ran past the Tigers, 43-21.
The Lions (5-5, 4-1 LSC North) extend their winning streak to four games. The last time that A&M-Commerce won four straight games was when they won five straight in 1995.
In the loss, East Central falls to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the LSC North.
El-Amin totaled 138 yards on 24 carries with four total touchdowns. Three of the touchdowns came on the ground, and he also ran back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. It is the fourth-straight 100-plus-yard game by El-Amin.
His efforts earned him Lone Star Conference North Division Offensive Player of the Week honors. It is the second LSC weekly award El-Amin has claimed this season, as he notched an LSC Special Teams Player of the Week award earlier in the season.
To open the game, East Central scored on its first two possessions, but A&M-Commerce came back with 22 unanswered points to end the first half on the strength of El-Amin and the stifling defense that allowed only 53 yards.
Trailing 6-0 on the Lions first possession of the game, El-Amin ran 40 yards for a touchdown and a Chris Quiroga extra point put A&M-Commerce in front 7-6.
The Tigers traveled right back down the field to take a 13-7 lead.
After A&M-Commerce was forced to punt on its next possession, junior punter Daniel Swaim nailed a punt that was downed at the Tigers’ 1-yard line.
Two plays later, the Tigers’ Larry Carter caught a pass; however, A&M-Commerce sophomore defensive back Mark Fisher greeted the receiver in the end zone for the safety to trim the ECU lead to 13-9.
After Mayo was intercepted, the Lions forced their first of three turnovers when A&M-Commerce safety Derek McKenzie hit the ECU ball carrier to force a fumble and Chad Washington recovered.
The Lions continued to call El-Amin’s number in the ground and Mayo completed a third and 16 pass play to Meldrick Grice for a first down.
Three plays later, El-Amin scored his second touchdown of the contest to give the Lions a 15-13 advantage.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers fumbled the Quiroga kickoff and junior Alex Contreras collapsed on the ball.
Three plays later, Mayo scored on a seven-yard touchdown scamper to take a 22-13 lead.
After the kickoff, the Lions forced another ECU turnover when Andree Smith sacked Tigers’ quarterback and Carl Crawford recovered the fumble.
Again, A&M-Commerce capitalized on the turnover when El-Amin scored his third touchdown of the half from 4 yards out to put the Lions in front 29-13.
El-Amin started the second half where he ended the first half – in the end zone. He raced 90 yards to return the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to extend the margin to 36-13.
After fumbling on a reception early in the half, senior wide receiver JaMichael Palmer got redemption on a 33-yard touchdown reception from Mayo.
The Tigers got back on the board on a 1-yard touchdown run to culminate a 11 play, 64-yard drive for the final margin.
Swaim joined El-Amin in claiming a weekly LSC award. Besides having the punt downed at the opponents’ 1-yard line, he had another stopped at the three. He earned LSC North Division Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season.
For the season, 15 of his 48 punts have been downed inside the 20.
Defensively, Alonzo Meinfield led the team in tackles with 10. Linebacker Garnet Smith followed with nine and defensive back Alex Contreras recorded eight tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Defensive lineman Andree Smith added three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Lions will have next weekend off before wrapping up the season with a 2 p.m. contest against Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford on Nov. 10.