After an opening loss to Northwestern State last week, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions hoped some home cooking would change the team’s luck as they faced the Angelo State Rams. The Lions got exactly what they wanted: a win. They defeated the Rams Saturday 13-10, ending a streak of six straight home opening losses dating back to 2001.
The defense carried the Lions to victory, as they didn’t allow the Rams to score an offensive touchdown. Even though the Rams held the ball for over 35 minutes, the Lions held them to 219 yards of total offense and recorded seven sacks.
Junior Andrew Gamboa led the Lions’ defense with 17 tackles while redshirt junior Andree Smith added two sacks. The offense started slow for the Lions, but picked it up in the second half.
Nabil El-Amin, James Jamison and quarterback Terry Mayo combined for 136 rushing yards. with Jamison getting the lone offensive touchdown of the game.
In the first quarter, the Lions’ defense looked to be in trouble as Angelo State drove down the field on the game’s first possession. The Rams’ quarterback Will Mezger threw a 34-yard pass to Sam Tindol to get the Rams offense going.
The drive stalled and they were forced to attempt a 32-yard field goal. The Lions’ special teams made the first big play of the game by blocking the field goal to keep the game scoreless early.
The Lions offense did nothing with the football in the quarter as they had three three and outs. Neither team could get the scoring started as both teams went without a score in the first quarter.
The Lions stared the second quarter with the ball and wasted little time getting the offense going. Terry Mayo looked more like Vince Young when he completed a 28-yard pass to Wide Receiver Matt McLaren to the ASU 26-yard-line. The Lions got another first down to the 19-yard line after being pushed back due to a 15-yard penalty.
They couldn’t push the ball towards the end zone as Mayo threw three straight incomplete passes. They settled for a field goal to get the first points of the game. The Lions’ defense continued to play like potential NFL players as they shutout the Rams in the first half. The offense added another field goal with an impressive two minute drill like drive to make the score 6-0 at halftime.
As the third quarter started, both teams offset each other by punting on their first possessions. On the Lions next drive, they allowed the Rams to get right back into the game.
Wide receiver Ernest Quander fumbled on a screen pass and the Rams’ safety Micheal McLeod picked up the ball and took it 18 yards to the house to give the rams a 7-6 lead with 9:13 left in the third.
The Lions wouldn’t let the visiting team keep the momentum for long. They marched down the field in just four plays, with Jamison slashing his way through the Rams’ defense for a 31-yard touchdown run. The Rams tried to duplicate what the Lions did and take the lead back.
The Lions defense held the Rams to a field goal to make the score 13-10. The Rams blocked a punt late in the fourth quarter to give them a chance. The Lions’ defense once again showed their dominance by holding the Rams to a fourth and goal.
Most expected a field goal kick for the tie, but the Rams wanted the win. They went for the touchdown only to be stopped. Juniors William Green and Ramon Jackson got the sack for the Lions to save the game. Senior linebacker Alonzo Menifield finished the game with an interception to give the Lions their first win of the season.
With the win, the A&M Commerce Lions even their record to 1-1. Next week, they go on the road to face Abilene Christian. The Lions hope to advance their record to 2-1.