Running back Nabil El-Amin ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns in Texas A&M University-Commerce’s 27-15 win over East Central in the first Harvey Martin Classic played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. In a back and forth contest, the Lions were able to eventually come out on top and bring their season record to an even 4-4.
Terry Mayo performed well as quarterback, throwing for 116 yards. Mayo combined with Willie Thornton on a 30-yard pass to put the first points on the scoreboard. Thornton’s speed was just too much for the ECU defense, as he raced past their secondary for the touchdown.
After that, it was ECU, led by quarterback and all-time East Central leader in career passing yards Marcus Johnson, who got their offense going. Johnson aired out a 30-yard pass to junior Quade Soffel, but the point after attempt was blocked, making the score 7-6, A&M-Commerce in the lead. The rest of the first half was a defensive battle, and the teams went into halftime with no further scores.
ECU kept up the pressure in the third quarter, however, and took a 9-7 lead when Corey Dozier kicked a 41-yard field goal with just over 10 minutes left. Johnson threw for 311 yards during the game, but also gave up four interceptions, two of those made by Lions deep back Kurt Rossum, which proved costly.
A few quick touchdowns in the final minutes of the third quarter gave the lead back to the Lions. After a long drive down the field, Mayo ran the ball across himself to put his team up by four. Later, El-Amin made a 33-yard touchdown run which made the score 20-9 at the end of the third quarter. That stanza proved to be the most productive for A&M-Commerce, as they outscored ECU 13-3.
El-Amin, who averaged 8.1 yards per carry, got his second touchdown late in the game with a 10-yard run. East Central then scored a consolation touchdown as the clock expired. Justin Heimer caught a 9-yard pass from Johnson, but it was not enough as the Lions came out on top. This made head coach Scotty Conley a happy man in his team’s first Harvey Martin Classic at the historic Cotton Bowl.
“I thought our players played to a level the Cotton Bowl deserves,” Conley said. “This facility has a long history of people, players, and teams that play with great emotion and great intensity. I thought we represented the Cotton Bowl well with the way our players played.”
Playing in a stadium with as much history and significance as the Cotton Bowl can affect a team in many ways. Conley said he wanted his players to realize what it meant to play on a stage like that.
“I tried to paint a picture, before we got here, about what this would be about,” Conley said. “It took several days of talking to them and visiting with them, but I think they understand now what it’s like to come through the state fair, with the motorcycle escort, to play in this place where great teams and great players in the past have played.”
The Lions now get a weekend off before diving into their last two games of the season. They have the homecoming game against Southeastern Oklahoma on Nov. 1, then their final game at home to Southwestern Oklahoma the following weekend.