Football Preview: Lions mentality key to big stage win

The Harvey Martin Classic, played in Cowboys Stadium for the first time, will put the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions against the Midwestern State University Wildcats.

Last year the Wildcats had a record of 8-4 overall and 3-3 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. The Lions had a less productive year in 2010 with an overall record of 3-8 and a division record of 2-4. This year, the Wildcats have started with much more of a bang than the Lions by shutting out their first opponent Missouri S&T 41-0 while the Lions lost a close game to Upper Iowa in week one 15-14.

Small mistakes and adverse weather plagued the Lions in Iowa and eventually cost them the game. If they want to win this Saturday, they will have to get used to new quarterback Yogi Gallegos quickly and not fold under the pressure this particular venue holds. The team seems confident that they have prepared well enough and are ready to bring a victory back to Commerce.

"Being the Harvey Martin Classic, out of every other game, this is the game we look forward too, strive for and this week in practice it's been great," senior running back Marcus Graham said. "We have prepared very hard for this game, I expect nothing less than the best from this game and from our fans, to our effort as a team and our coaching. I think everything is going to work out perfectly."

The Lions' kick off at noon at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, but the venue will be hosting three more games as a part of the LSC Football Festival. North Alabama plays Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. and West Texas A&M plays A&M-Kingsville at 8 p.m.