Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) spoiled Texas A&M University-Commerce home opener on Saturday night as Zach Wright booted a 38-yard field goal as time expired to give the Tigers a 29-27 victory.
“It was a very disappointing loss,” said Lions head coach Scotty Conley. “We played sporadically, but not consistently.”
The Lions (0-2) got their first lead of the ball game at the 2:28 mark of the fourth quarter when sophomore backup quarterback Trent Miller hit wide receiver David Wofford on a diving 26-yard touchdown reception to give the Lions the 27-26 advantage.
“We have been really pleased with Trent (Miller) during training camp and knew he could play,” said Conley “He’s certainly going to be an asset to us and he was tonight and he gave us a chance.”
Miller replaced starter Terry Mayo, who left the game early in the fourth with an injury.
After the touchdown, the Lions attempted a two-point conversion to extend the lead to three, but failed when Tiger defensive back Blake Burkett broke up the pass.
Ouachita Baptist (1-0) had 2:28 left on the clock to make the eventual game-winning 8-play, 45-yard drive.
The Tigers capitalized on a 10-play, 77-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lance Parker to wide receiver Tony Taylor to take the early 7-0 lead. The Tigers extended their lead to 9-0 late in the first quarter when the Lions attempted a punt and Tigers defensive back Daniel Odu blocked it through the back of the end zone for a safety.
Parker notched his second touchdown of the game for the Tigers when he hit wide receiver Julius Pruitt on a 16-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
With the touchdown, Ouachita Baptist had their biggest lead of the game at 16-0.
On the ensuing kickoff return for A&M-Commerce, A.J. Scott started a drive with a 35-yard return. Three plays later, Mayo recorded his longest rush of the year on an option keeper for a 55-yard touchdown along the right side of the field to get the Lions on the board at 16-7.
Ouachita Baptist extended their lead back to 16 when Parker launched his third touchdown of the game with a 27-yard pass to Pruitt to put the score at 23-7.
Parker ended the game on 26-of-40 passing for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Pruitt led all wide receivers with eight receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
The Lions were able to get back on the board before the half when defensive back Elliot Jones forced a Tiger fumble on a punt return, picked up the fumble and scampered 25 yards to the end zone to pull the Lions to 23-14 at the half.
The third quarter saw no scoring before the action-filled fourth.
A&M-Commerce combined for a total of 310 yards of total offense. Mayo led the Lions through the air on 11-of-26 passing for 122 yards and a touchdown. He added 23 yards on the ground with one touchdown.
Defensively the Lions had trouble with the Tiger passing game. Ouachita Baptist went for 376 yards of total offense.
Three Lions tallied double digit tackles as defensive lineman A.J. Johnson totaled 14, three for a loss, safety Alex Contreras recorded 12 and defensive back Courtney Edmond added 10.
The Lions home stand continues next Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.