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TAMUC – Sports

Match postponed against St. Mary’s until Friday at 3:00 pm.

COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team has announced a scheduling change. Due to unplayable field conditions, the Lions’ match against St. Mary’s will now be played on Friday at 3:00 pm. 

The Lions will enter the match with a 7-6-1 record, including a 4-5-0 record in the Lone Star Conference. St. Mary’s has a record of 5-9-0 and 3-6-0 in LSC play. A&M-Commerce’s match against St. Edward’s will still be on Saturday at Noon. Both matches will be at the Lion Soccer Field. 

Tickets to all Lion home matches are available for purchase at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House during business hours, or by purchase at the gates of the Lion Soccer Field. 

Further schedule updates are on LionAthletics.com and the Lion Soccer Twitter page (@Lion_WSOC).

No. 24 Lions head to West Texas A&M for Division II Showcase showdown.

COMMERCE – The No. 24 Texas A&M University-Commerce football team heads to face Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M University for their second NCAA Division II National Football Showcase Game of the season. 

WHO: Texas A&M University-Commerce at West Texas A&M University

WHERE: Canyon | Buffalo Stadium

WHEN: 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 2

RECORDS: A&M-Commerce is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Lone Star Conference after defeating Western New Mexico, 62-21. West Texas A&M is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the LSC after winning the Wagon Wheel with a 35-14 win over Eastern New Mexico.

RANKINGS: A&M-Commerce is ranked No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll and the D2Football.com Media Poll. West Texas A&M is receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll.

LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network — KETR 88.9 FM, Commerce (http://www.ketr.org)

LIVE VIDEO: The game will be televised live on ESPN3 – http://lives.watch/TAMCWTAM

LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/275167

TICKETSClick here for tickets

ALL-TIME vs. THE BUFFS

• It is the 34th meeting between the Lions and the Buffs.

• A&M-Commerce holds a 19-14 lead in the all-time series.

• WT has a narrow 8-7 advantage in games played in Canyon.

• The series dates back to 1929, and the first meeting in Canyon on October 17, 1930, was the Lions’ first-ever night game.

• The Lions have won the last five meetings in a row, with two of those wins in Canyon.

• Before that, the Buffs had won six consecutive meetings.

• At least one team in this game has been ranked in the AFCA Top 25 in each of the last eight meetings, dating back to the 2012 season. 

SENIORS SUCCEED OVER CAREER SPAN

• The 2019 senior class claimed the school record for wins by a class with win No. 44 in-game No. 52.

• They are one game away from tying the school record for most games played by a senior class.

• This year’s senior class is also in second behind with the 1951-54 class for the highest winning percentage by a class.

Years Record Pct
2016-19 44-8 84.6
2015-18 43-10 81.1
2014-17 42-10 80.8
1951-54 36-5-2 86.0
2013-16 35-14 71.4
1957-60 34-7 82.9
1972-75 32-13-1 70.6
1936-39 31-8 79.5
1990-93 31-16-1 65.6

BAILIFF BEGINS ON RIGHT FOOT
• Lion Football head coach David Bailiff was hired in December 2018 as the 20th head football coach at A&M-Commerce.
• Since East Texas joined the Lone Star Conference as charter members in 1931, Bailiff is the 13th head coach of the Lions.
• He has won all six of his “firsts” games at A&M-Commerce

FIRSTS GAMES
First Game NUEVO LEON Sept. 7 W 83-0
First Road Game at Western Oregon Sept. 14 W 34-27
First LSC Game EASTERN N.M. Sept. 21 W 45-27
First LSC Road Game at Tex. A&M-Kingsville Oct. 5 W 33-6
First National TV Game MIDWESTERN ST. Oct. 12 W 54-28
First Regional TV Game WESTERN N.M. Oct. 26 W 62-21

WE’RE GOING STREAKING!
• By qualifying for their fourth straight NCAA Division II Playoff berth in 2018, the Lions have the third-longest active playoff streak in the nation.
• Only Northwest Missouri State (15 straight) and Ferris State (five straight) have longer active playoff streaks than A&M-Commerce.
• In Lone Star Conference history, only A&M-Kingsville (1992-98, 7 straight) has a streak of more than four appearances.
• The Lions have also advanced to the regional semifinal round for three consecutive seasons. National runner-up Ferris State has reached the regional semifinal four times in a row.

LIONS CONTINUE RANKINGS RUN
• The Lions held their grip in the top 25 at No. 24 nationally in the 2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll released Monday.
• A&M-Commerce has been ranked in 61 consecutive AFCA polls, dating back to the 2015 preseason poll.
• This is A&M-Commerce’s 67th all-time appearance in the AFCA poll since its inception in 2000.
• In the polls recognized by Division II as the top rating system, the Lions have been recognized as a nationally ranked team 116 times since joining Division II in 1981.

NO SMALLS FEAT
• Quarterback Miklo Smalls has established himself as one of the most accurate efficient passers in the LSC and Division II.
• Smalls has won the LSC Offensive Player of the Week award twice.
• At Tarleton, he had season highs with 29 completions, 39 attempts, and 288 yards.
• Against Midwestern State, Smalls completed 70.3 percent of his passes in the game with five touchdown passes and 186 yards through the air. He also had 24 rushing yards.
• He completed passes to nine different receivers, and all five touchdowns were caught by different receivers.
• He also won Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for his game against Eastern New Mexico, completing 13-of-15 passes for 243 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
• His passing efficiency rating of 297.413 in that game is the second-best single-game performance by a quarterback in Division II this season.
•His 86.7 completion percentage in the game is seventh-best in the nation this year of passers with 15 or more attempts in a game.
•His 71.6 percent (141-of-197) completion percentage for the season ranks fifth in Division II.
• Smalls ranks ninth in the nation in passing efficiency at 169.0 when rounded.
• He also ranks in the top 25 nationally in completions per game, passing touchdowns, passing yards per game, and yards per pass attempt.

RAMSEY IS ELECTRIC
• Junior defensive back and return specialist Dominique Ramsey has been one of the most electric players in all of Division II whenever he touches the ball.
• He is a double major student-athlete in mathematics and electrical engineering.
• He won his second LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for the Western New Mexico game, thanks to a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
• He now leads the nation in kickoff return average at 37.5 yards per return.
• He also ranks second in the LSC and fifth in the nation in punt return average at 15.7 yards per return.
• In the Midwestern State game, he recorded 150 all-purpose yards, including a highlight-reel 65-yard kickoff return to open the game and set the Lions’ first score up on a short field. He also dazzled on two scintillating punt returns. The Lions scored within five plays after each of his kick and punt returns.
• All told, Ramsey had 65 kick return yards, 48 punt return yards, 14 interception yards, 15 rushing yards, and 8 receiving yards.
• He had two interceptions in the game, including a key snag in the end zone near the end of the first half to snuff out an MSU scoring threat which would have narrowed the deficit in a key spot. He also had an interception to help seal the game in the fourth quarter. He also made five key tackles in open space on the perimeter to limit MSU yards after the line of scrimmage.
• At Tarleton, he had a 55-yard kickoff return on the way to 112 return yards with 95 kickoff return yards and 17 punt return yards. He also had eight tackles.
• Earlier this season, his 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the ENMU game earned him Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• He now has six career returns for touchdowns:

Date Type Opponent Yards
10/26/19 KO WESTERN N.M. 91
9/21/19 Punt EASTERN N.M. 55
11/17/18 Punt at Minnesota Duluth 79
11/10/18 INT ANGELO ST. 99
10/27/18 INT WEST TEXAS A&M 84
9/22/18 Punt COLORADO ST.-PUEBLO 72

REBOUNDING FROM A SETBACK
• The Lions have been exceptional in responding to the rare loss in the last few seasons.
• The last time A&M-Commerce lost consecutive games was 2016, with a loss in the LSC playoff championship game followed by a loss at Ferris State in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.
• The last time A&M-Commerce lost consecutive regular-season games was in 2013, with losses to No. 4 West Texas A&M and No. 23 Midwestern State in weeks 3 and 4.
• In the last eight games after a loss, the Lions have picked up a win, dating back to the 2016 season opener after ending the 2015 season at Ferris State.

NEEMA LEADS THE WAY
• Senior linebacker Neema Behbahani has been one of the most consistent players on defense in his four years with the Lions, and he is the team’s leader in total tackles over the course of his career.
• The Plano Senior high product is the team’s career leader in total tackles, solo tackles, assisted tackles, and tackles for loss.

JAKE IS THIS YEAR’S MR. AUTOMATIC
• Junior kicker Jake Viquez extended his career-long in field goals with a 44-yarder at CSU-Pueblo.
• For the season, he is 7-of-9 on field-goal attempts and 33-of-34 on PAT attempts.
• His 7.7 kicking points per game ranks second the LSC.
• He has also been fantastic on kickoffs, as the Lions rank in the top 10 in the nation in kickoff return defense.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
• The Lions’ record streak of made PATs ended in the first quarter vs. Western New Mexico, when an attempt hit the right upright.
• Quarterback Preston Wheeler was the holder for all of the PATs in the streak.
• Including the career of Lion Legend Kristov Martinez, the Lions made an NCAA Division II-record 129 consecutive PATs, dating back to the Eastern New Mexico game in 2017.
• This record only counts kicked PATs with successful snaps and holds. No two-point attempts – including failed snaps – are counted in this record.
• The previous record lasted 36 years, when Liberty made 123 PATs from 1976 through September 1983.

THE “T” IN T.C. STANDS FOR TACKLES
• Senior linebacker Terrell Collins leads the Lions with 44 total tackles this year.
• His 6.3 tackles per game have moved him into the ranking of top tacklers in the Lone Star Conference.
• He ranks 16th in the LSC in tackles per game.

IF YOU HAVE TO PUNT, MAKE IT AWESOME
• Junior punter Andrew Gomez ranks second in the LSC and 25th in the nation in punt average at 41.3 yards per boot.
• The Lion coverage has been excellent as well, as TAMUC leads the LSC and ranks 22nd in the nation in net punting at 37.27 yards per punt.
• The Lions also lead the league in punt return defense at 6.57 yards per return.

RUN ANTONIO RUN!
• Redshirt junior running back Antonio Leali’ie’e has made the most of his opportunity to contribute after rising through the lineup due to injuries to other backs.
• He ranks fifth in the LSC in rushing at 77.7 yards per game, and he ranks third in the league in yards per carrying at 7.1 yards per tote.
• He has gone over 100 yards rushing in three of the last four games.
• Against Western New Mexico, he had two rushing touchdowns on 17 carries for 133 yards.
• Lealiiee has scored at least one touchdown in each of the last five games.
• Running backs coach Jack Welch was Leali’ie’e’s high school coach at Copperas Cove.

GROUND GAME GETS ROLLING
• The Lion rushing attack got rolling again after a sub-par performance at Tarleton, as A&M-Commerce had five rushing touchdowns vs. Western New Mexico.
• TAMUC had not had five or more rushing touchdowns in a single game since the 2014 season. That year, the Lions scored seven rushing touchdowns against East Texas Baptist and McMurry, and five rushing touchdowns against A&M-Kingsville.

ANOTHER HOMECOMING
• Two Lions on today’s roster are returning to their hometown for the game.
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Gunnar Palacios and junior linebacker Dayne Douglass both played their high school football at Canyon High School for the Eagles.
• Palacios was all-state and was named as “one of the best, and best-named signal-callers around” by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football entering the duo’s senior year.
• The duo helped lead the Eagles to the regional semifinals in 2015.

TO BE THE BEST, BEAT THE BEST
• According to NCAA calculations of strength of schedule, the Lions are facing the sixth-strongest schedule in Division II this season.
• The Lions’ cumulative opposition’s record is 44-29 for a percentage of .603.
• The next-closest cumulative strength of schedule in the LSC and Super Region Four is Eastern New Mexico’s .570.

ON THIS DAY IN LION FOOTBALL (5-4)
• 1957 – East Texas rolls past Texas A&I in Commerce, 42-12.
• 1963 – The Lions head to the Big Bend and eke out a 7-0 win over Sul Ross State.
• 1968 – ETSU takes a 24-14 home victory over Howard Payne’s Yellowjackets.
• 1974 – The Lions are edged at home by Southwest Texas State, 20-14.
• 1985 – ETSU is narrowly defeated at home by Texas A&I, 22-19.
• 1991 – The Lions roll to a 37-3 home win over Abilene Christian.
• 1996 – A&M-Commerce shuts out Abilene Christian on the road, 17-0.
• 2002 – The Lions suffered a 47-6 loss at Abilene Christian.
• 2013 – Trailing by two scores heading into the fourth quarter, A&M-Commerce rallied to take the lead with just over seven minutes remaining, but a late Angelo State touchdown spoiled Homecoming as the Lions fell to the Rams 25-20 at Memorial Stadium. The loss overshadowed a stellar performance by junior wide receiver Vernon Johnson, who reeled in eight catches for 165 yards and three touchdown passes, including scoring strikes of 54 and 65 yards on the afternoon to surpass 1,000 yards receiving on the year

Miklo Smalls named Under Armour Student-Athlete of the Week.

COMMERCE– Texas A&M University-Commerce quarterback Miklo Smalls has been named the Under Armour Student-Athlete of the Week by Lion Athletics. 

Smalls– a redshirt sophomore from Plano (East Senior)– captained the Lion offense to a 62-21 win over Western New Mexico last week, posting 282 passing yards and three touchdowns. Fourteen of his 18 completions were longer than 10 yards, including all three of his touchdown-passes going for at least 20 yards. Smalls has thrown for 18 touchdowns on the season, and his 71.4 percent completion percentage ranks fifth in all of Division II. He also ranks ninth in the country in passing efficiency. 

The Under Armour Student-Athlete of the Week will be awarded by Lion Athletics each week during the academic year.

2019-20 UNDER ARMOUR STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Sept. 10 – Timon Kemboi, Men’s Cross Country

Sept. 17 – E.J. Thompson, Football

Sept. 24 – Cora Welch, Soccer

Oct. 1 – Sydney Andersen, Volleyball

Oct. 8 – Brandi Stalder, Women’s Cross Country

Oct. 15 – Dominique Ramsey, Football

Oct. 22 – Shelley Chapron, Volleyball

Oct. 29 – Miklo Smalls, Football

Lions predicted to finish third in LSC Preseason poll.

RICHARDSON– The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team has been predicted to finish in third place in the annual Lone Star Conference preseason poll, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. 

The Lions are coming off of their third consecutive trip to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, finishing the season with a 24-9 record. Last season, the Lions finished in second place in the LSC standings with a 13-5 record in conference games. The Lions advanced to the LSC Tournament Championship game, falling by two points. The Lions would go on to defeat DBU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The Lions return nine players from last year’s team and have also added nine new student-athletes. 

West Texas A&M is predicted to finish first, receiving 27 first-place votes and 826 total points. St. Edward’s received 14 first-place votes, predicted to finish in second place. The Lions received one first-place vote, while Tarleton, Angelo State, DBU, and UAFS also won first-place votes. The preseason poll included votes from the conference head coaches and sports information directors, as well as a member of the media from each school. 

The LSC is utilizing a divisional scheduling model, in which each team will play one game home and away against each of the other teams within their six-team division, and a single match versus each of the 12 remaining LSC schools. Divisional champions will be determined by regular-season games within the division, while the postseason tournament winner will be designated the LSC Tournament Champion and earn the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Lions’ divisional opponents are UT Tyler, Cameron, Midwestern State, UAFS, and Oklahoma Christian. 

The Lions begin the 2019-20 campaign by traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, for their opening tournament, facing Dixie State and host Westminster College. The Lions will then return to Commerce for their home opening game against Central Baptist on Nov. 15 at 7:00 pm. 

A&M-Commerce will host 15 games in the Field House this season, including 11 Lone Star Conference games. The Lions finished 11-2 at home during the 2018-19 season. 

Season tickets for Lion Basketball home matches are at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office inside the Field House during business hours.

Jen Peters named LSC Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time.

RICHARDSON– Texas A&M University-Commerce goalkeeper Jen Peters was named the Lone Star Conference women’s soccer Goalkeeper of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. It is the third time this season Peters has won the award. 

Peters– a freshman from Allen–earned her sixth shutout of the season against Angelo State, saving all seven of ASU’s shots on goal. She then had six more saves in the Lions’ 1-0 loss to St. Edward’s. Peters ranks second in save percentage, third in total saves and leads the LSC with six shutouts on the year. 

Peters and the Lions return to action on Thursday as they host St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. A&M-Commerce will then host Texas A&M International on Saturday at Noon as part of Senior Day.

Tickets to both matches are at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House during business hours, or at the gates of the Lion Soccer Field.

2019 LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
S-10       Valerie Solis, Angelo State
S-17       Desiree Morgas, Eastern New Mexico
S-24       Celia Duarte, Lubbock Christian
O-1        Haley Knesek, Lubbock Christian
O-8        Hannah Kelley-Lusk, West Texas A&M
O-15      Avery McNeme, Angelo State
O-22      Eli Chavez, St. Edward’s
O-29      Delaney Schmidt, DBU

Defensive
S-10      Marissa Berry, Angelo State
S-17      Hayden Zuniga, Eastern New Mexico
S-24      Hailey Phipps, Lubbock Christian
O-1        Chidera Aririguzo, St. Edward’s
O-8        Maliyah Mendoza, West Texas A&M
O-15      Maggie Scales, DBU
O-22      Gabby Gomez, Lubbock Christian
O-29      Maggie Scales, DBU (2)

Goalkeeper
S-10       Jen Peters, A&M-Commerce
S-17       Whitney Dockweiler, Eastern New Mexico
S-24       Jen Peters, A&M-Commerce (2)
O-1        Daniela Marin, Texas Woman’s
O-8        Kira Miller, Angelo State
O-15      Hope Koym, DBU
O-22      Hope Koym, DBU (2)
O-29      Jen Peters, A&M-Commerce (3)

Lion Football is No. 6 in the initial Super Region Four Rankings.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team is the sixth-ranked team in this year’s first iteration of the NCAA Division II Super Region Four rankings, as announced Monday. 

The Lions are 6-2 overall with a 5-2 record in-region. Super Region Four consists of the Lone Star, Rocky Mountain Athletic, Great Northwest Athletic, and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conferences. The top seven teams in the region of the regular season will advance to the NCAA Division II Football Championship. 

Three undefeated teams are remaining in the region. Ranked first is Tarleton, Minnesota State is second, and the Colorado School of Mines is third. 

Colorado State-Pueblo in fourth and Angelo State in fifth are the region’s one-loss teams. Behind the Lions are four two-loss teams with Augustana in seventh, Sioux Falls in eighth, Winona State in ninth, and West Texas A&M in 10th.

The No. 24 Lions hit the road this week for a critical regional and Lone Star Conference game with West Texas A&M. Kickoff on Saturday in Canyon is 4:00 pm, with the game televised on ESPN3 as part of the Division II Football Showcase.

NCAA Division II Super Region Four Rankings – October 28, 2019

Rk School In-Reg D-II
1 Tarleton 6-0 6-0
2 Minnesota State 8-0 8-0
3 Colorado School of Mines 8-0 8-0
4 Colorado State-Pueblo 7-1 7-1
5 Angelo State 7-1 7-1
6 A&M-COMMERCE 5-2 5-2
7 Augustana (S.D.) 6-2 6-2
8 Sioux Falls 6-2 6-2
9 Winona State 6-2 6-2
10 West Texas A&M 5-2 6-2

Games in the Regional Rankings This Week (CDT)
Midwestern State at No. 1 Tarleton – 2:00 pm.
Wayne State (Neb.) at No. 2 Minnesota State – Noon
No. 3 Colorado School of Mines at South Dakota School of Mines – 2:00 pm.
No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo at Fort Lewis – 1:00 pm.
No. 5 Angelo State at Adams State – 2:00 pm.
No. 6 A&M-Commerce at No. 10 West Texas A&M – 4:00 pm.
Concordia-St. Paul at No. 7 Augustana – 1:00 pm.
No. 8 Sioux Falls at Upper Iowa – Noon
No. 9 Winona State at Southwest Minnesota State – 1:00 pm.

 

Lions hold at No. 23 in AVCA poll headed into divisional homestand.

.

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team is the No. 23 team in the nation in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association coaches’ poll, as announced Monday. The Lions held their position from last week, and the AVCA nationally ranked the Lions in 20 of the previous 21 Polls. 

The Lions are coming off of an undefeated week, winning a non-conference home match and two road matches against LSC opponents. The Lions earned a home sweep against Southeastern Oklahoma State and also swept DBU on the road. They also defeated Tarleton in four sets, bringing their win streak to nine matches in a row. As a unit, the Lions hit .265 over their three wins, averaging more than 15 kills per set. The team also averaged 2.2 aces per set and 2.1 blocks per set. The Lions are now 19-4 on the year, 11-1 in LSC play and 6-0 in their division. 

Six of the Lions’ 2019 opponents are either nationally ranked or receiving votes in this week’s poll. Central Missouri ranks ninth, Regis ranks 10th, and Angelo State ranks 18th. Tampa, Tarleton, and Arkansas-Fort Smith are also receiving votes. 

The Lions host two divisional matches as they enter the final month of the regular season. They host Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday at 6 p.m. and Cameron on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both matches will be at the Field House.

Tickets to Lion Volleyball home matches can be purchased by visiting WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office inside the Field House during business hours.

Dominique Ramsey earns second LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

RICHARDSON– Texas A&M University-Commerce defensive back and return specialist Dominique Ramsey has been named the Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday. It is his second Player of the Week award this season and the third of his career. 

Ramsey– a redshirt junior from Converse (Judson)– had an electrifying kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter Saturday, which gave the Lions the lead for good in a 62-21 rout of Western New Mexico. He broke multiple tackles on the way to a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was his first career kickoff return for a score, second return for a score this season, and sixth career return touchdown. He now leads the nation in kickoff return average (37.5 yards) and is in the top five in the nation in punt return average.

Ramsey and the No. 24 Lions will next face West Texas A&M as they head out on the road. The game will be played at 4:00 pm on Saturday at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon and will be televised nationally on ESPN3 as part of the NCAA Division II Football Showcase series.

Lion Football ranked No. 24 in latest AFCA Poll

WACO– The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team is ranked No. 24 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the AFCA on Monday. 

The Lions defeated Western New Mexico 62-21 at home on Saturday in A&M-Commerce’s annual Homecoming game. The win brought the Lions to 6-2 on the year and 4-1 in the LSC standings. Antonio Lealiiee had 133 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns, while wide receiver Ryan Stokes also had a couple of touchdown grabs, totaling 110 receiving yards. Quarterback Miklo Smalls threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Lion defense recorded seven sacks in the game and nine additional quarterback pressures. On special teams, Dominique Ramsey continued his impressive play, returning a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, earning LSC Special Teams Player of the Week. 

Four A&M-Commerce opponents in 2019 are ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. Tarleton held at No. 4 in the nation while CSU-Pueblo held at No. 13. Angelo State improved to No. 21, and West Texas A&M is receiving votes in the poll. 

A&M-Commerce has been ranked in 61 consecutive AFCA polls, dating back to the 2015 preseason poll. It is A&M-Commerce’s 67th all-time appearance in the AFCA poll since its inception in 2000. In the polls recognized by Division II as the top rating system, the Lions have been known as a nationally ranked team 116 times since joining Division II in 1981. 

The No. 24 Lions will next face West Texas A&M as they head out on the road. The game will be played at 4:00 pm on Saturday at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon and will be televised nationally on ESPN3 as part of the NCAA Division II Football Showcase series.

2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll (Oct. 28, 2019)

Rk.   School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev.
1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (29) 8-0 772 1
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (1) 8-0 737 2
3. Minnesota St. 8-0 706 3
4. Tarleton St. (Texas) (1) 8-0 689 4
5. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 8-0 648 5
6. Notre Dame (Ohio) 8-0 605 6
7. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-0 572 7
8. Indianapolis (Ind.) 7-0 552 8
9. Colorado School of Mines 8-0 528 9t
10. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 8-0 509 9t
11. Central Missouri 8-0 459 11
12. Wingate (N.C.) 8-0 429 12
13. Colorado St.-Pueblo 7-1 386 13
14. Northwest Missouri St. 7-1 356 14
15. Bowie St. (Md.) 8-0 336 15
16. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 7-1 312 16
17. Kutztown (Pa.) 8-0 299 17
18. Harding (Ark.) 7-1 267 18
19. Indiana (Pa.) 7-1 217 19
20. West Florida 6-1 190 20
21. Angelo St. (Texas) 7-1 140 22
22. West Chester (Pa.) 7-1 136 21
23 Henderson St. (Ark.) 7-1 89 23t
24 A&M-COMMERCE 6-2 57 23t
25. Truman St. (Mo.) 7-1 16 NR

Dropped Out: Virginia Union (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Tiffin (Ohio), 12; Frostburg St. (Md.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 9; West Texas A&M, 9; Virginia Union, 7; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Missouri Western St., 6; Southern Arkansas, 4; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 3; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 3.

 

 

Josh Manck

Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce

Committed to a “Best in Class” student-athlete experience

Office: 903.886.5131 Mobile: 817.487.5136

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3011 | Commerce, TX 75429

Physical Address: 2600 Neal Street, Commerce, TX 75429

Connect with us on our Lions’ Den Social Stream.

 

Marcus Jensen

Director of Athletic Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce

Office: 903.468.3027 | Mobile: 801.624.8529

Follow us: @Lion_Athletics | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | LionAthletics.com

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