Lions look to secure North Division title

The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team (3-5) only has two regular season games left, both against North Division opponents. This weekend’s match-up against Southeastern Oklahoma State University (6-3), however, is by far the most important. Southeastern Oklahoma is currently tied with the Lions in the Lone Star Conference North Division, with both teams sporting a 3-0 record in division play. A win would give the Lions at least a share in the North Division title. “We don’t overlook Southwestern Oklahoma, but if we can get this one we have a chance of being the outright division champions,” head coach Guy Morriss said. In order to win, Morriss said he knows the Lions have to play efficiently and effectively. “You could make the argument that they’re the toughest North Division opponent we’ve faced,” he said. “We have to shut down [wide receiver] Daniel Nichols and [running back] Baylen Laury, because those are the two guys that make them go.” The Lions expect a heavy ground attack from Southeastern Oklahoma. “I think they’re going to try and beat us with the run,” Morriss said. “We have to shut down the running game if we hope to win.” On the other side of the ball, A&M-Commerce has to establish their running game, which has been a problem for them all season. “We need to run the ball better- we’ve said it every week,” Morriss said. “That will help us more than anything. I think they’re going to stick eight in the box, make us throw and then blitz to see if we can protect. We need to establish the run and push them back.” The Lions have been hindered by turnovers all season, a fact exhibited in their Homecoming loss to Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “We have to take care of the football and eliminate turnovers,” Morriss said. “That’s been our Achilles’ heel all season. If we do that, we have a good chance of winning.” The game starts this Saturday at Southeastern Oklahoma at 2 p.m.