Texas A&M-Commerce scored 28 of its 38 points in the second half to rally for a 38-37 win over Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Texas A&M University-Commerce (3-3, 1-1 LSC North) quarterback Terry Mayo ran the ball six times but it was his final two carries that were the difference in the outcome. Trailing 37-31, the senior from Greensboro, North Carolina engineered an eight play, 77-yard drive when he ran the ball 28 yards to the NSU 1 and on the next play, he scored from one-yard out for the game-tying touchdown and a Juan Velasco extra point put the Lions ahead for the first time of the day.
A&M-Commerce running back Nabil El-Amin ran the ball a season-high 26 times for 105 yards and a touchdown in the win. Mayo completed 15 of 34 passes for a touchdown and 204 yards. His favorite target of the afternoon was Willie Thornton, who caught six passes for 128 yards. The Lions defense held NSU ball carriers to 26 yards and 194 yards on the ground. Senior Alex Contreras had a team-high seven tackles and fellow senior safety Courtney Edmond forced two fumbles, recovered another and picked off a pass in the win.
Northeastern State (0-6, 0-2 LSC North) special teams was a big part of the effort on the afternoon. Senior wide receiver Jarrett Byers returned kickoffs of 91 and 79 yards for touchdowns and he also caught six passes for 84 yards and an additional touchdown. Kicker Jared Homer made three of five field goal attempts, both of his misses came from 52 yards out, including an attempt with 41 seconds left in the contest.
Special teams also had a role in the Lions win as redshirt freshman Taylor Fore blocked a pair of kicks and sophomore Arsenial Richardson picked up one of the blocked kicks and ran 24 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
Next, the Lions will take to the road for its third-consecutive game when they travel to Texas A&M-Kingville, Oct. 11 at 6:00 p.m.