Lions Come Up Short in Upset Bid Against Texas A&M-Kingsville

Two late fourth quarter touchdowns by No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville spoiled the upset chances for host Texas A&M University-Commerce in a 35-34 win on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.

Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-0) rallied from a 34-21 deficit when they forced two fumbles late in the fourth quarter. Finding themselves behind 13, the Javelinas’ Dondl Cooks caused the first one as DeIra Glover came up with it. Following back-to-back rushes by Fred Winborn, including a nine-yard rush to cut the Lions’ lead to 34-28 with 7:45 to go.

On the ensuing drive, the Javelinas came up with the second turnover on another Lions’ fumble. Again, TAMUK answered as quarterback Billy Garza marched the Javelina down the field that included a 26-yard touchdown completion to Damian Couthren for the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown.

Looking to answer with 2:38 left in the contest, the comeback efforts were ended when Eric John intercepted an Adam Farkes pass with 24 seconds to go.

Texas A&M-Commerce (2-5) quarterback Adam Farkes completed 16 of 33 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball five times for 28 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Lions jumped out to a 10-0 advantage in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown pass from Farkes to Maurice DuPont. A&M-Commerce added a field goal after holding the Javelinas on fourth down and moving down the field with 11 plays with Ahmed Abo-Mahmood making a field goal from 38 yards out.

On the ensuing possession, the Javelinas answered with a 10 play, 73-yard drive to cut the deficit to three, 10-7, on a one-yard touchdown run by Connell Davis. The Lions looked to answer with a 36-yard field goal by Abo-Mahmood that he missed wide right.

Garza led the Javelinas down the field to set up a 35-yard field goal by Christian Blom that was blocked by the Lions’ Anthony DeGrate and for the second time on the season, Shea Rodriguez picked up the blocked kick and raced 82 yards for the A&M-Commerce touchdown.

Finding themselves behind 17-7, the Javelinas and Garza marched down the field on five pass plays including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Winborn to trim the Lions’ lead to 17-14.

A 64-yard kickoff return by Mikell Mair for the Lions’ gave A&M-Commerce the ball at the 16-yard line. The Lions had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Abo-Mahmood to extend the margin to 20-14.

On the Lions’ first possession of the second half, Farkes found an open Blake Patton for a 69-yard touchdown completion that extended the margin to 27-14. 

The two teams exchanged touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to give Texas A&M-Commerce, a 34-21 advantage with 11:17 left in the contest to set the stage for the Javelinas comeback.

The Lions will return to its quest for the Lone Star Conference North Division title with the first of three-straight road games on Saturday at 2 pm as they take on East Central in Ada, Oklahoma.