June 25, 2012

The 2011-12 A&M-Commerce athletic season was filled with a number of impressive performance and memorable highlights achieved by the Lion student-athletes. To close out the athletic season, LionAthletics.com is looking back at the top-15 moments of the year, voted on by athletic administrators, media members and Lion fans. The moments will be revealed on Mondays and Thursdays, leading into the start of the 2012-13 A&M-Commerce athletic season.

A&M-Commerce vs. Midwestern State Recap
Lone Star Football Festival Photo Gallery

COMMERCE, Texas -- We continue the A&M-Commerce Top-15 Moments Countdown with a trip to Arlington as the Lions played a part of history in our #12 moment of the 2011-12 season. A&M-Commerce squared off against Midwestern State in the opening game of the 2011 Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, September 17.

The game was the first Division II game to play at the world's preeminent sporting venue and was the opening act of the Lone Star Football Festival, which drew over 24,000 fans for the triple header event. While the outcome wasn't what A&M-Commerce was hoping for, there were still a few high points.

A&M-Commerce drew first blood in the contest as after holding Midwestern State to a three-and-out on its opening drive, the Lions showed their aggressiveness early as on the opening play from scrimmage, quarterback Yogi Gallegos threw a screen pass to receiver Adam Jones, who then launched a 38-yard pass to receiver Tyler Rawlings to get the Lions into Mustang territory. Gallegos then completed a 20-yard pass to running back Marcus Graham to get inside the redzone, where eight plays later Gallegos connected with Adorian Arthur in the corner of the endzone to give the Lions the early 7-0 lead and giving A&M-Commerce the first touchdown in Lone Star Football Festival history.

The Lions would reclaim the lead at 10-7 off a Jacob O'Neil 19-yard field goal with 12:46 remaining in the first half, but that would be as close as A&M-Commerce would come to the upset as Midwestern State reeled off the next 42 points en route to the 63-17 victory.

The game also marked the fourth-annual Harvey Martin Classic for A&M-Commerce, named after former Lions All-American and Super Bowl MVP Harvey Martin who helped lead East Texas State to the 1972 NAIA national championship.

In addition, the Lions had a pair of memorable recognitions during the course of the game as former A&M-Commerce President Dr. Keith McFarland received a recognition from the Lone Star Conference as did alumni Trenton Doyle Hancock, who is one of just 19 world renowned artists to have artwork hanging in Cowboys Stadium.

A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State are scheduled to meet again on the turf at Cowboys Stadium in 2012 in what will once again be the opening act of the Lone Star Football Festival, which has expanded to a three-day, six-game event. The Lions and Mustangs will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 13, as the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network as the Division II Game of the Week.

A&M-Commerce Top-15 Moments Countdown Schedule

Moment #1 - Thursday, August 2
Moment #2 - Monday, July 30
Moment #3 - Thursday, July 26
Moment #4 - Monday, July 23
Moment #5 - Thursday, July 19
Moment #6 - Monday, July 16
Moment #7 - Thursday, July 12
Moment #8 - Monday, July 9
Moment #9 - Thursday, July 5
Moment #10 - Monday, July 2
Moment #11 - Thursday, June 28
Moment #12 - Football Takes to the Turf at Cowboys Stadium
Moment #13 - Pair of Men's Golfers Capture Individual Tournament Titles
Moment #14 - Women's Track and Field Sets Three School Records
Moment #15 - Women's Basketball Upsets Angelo State 64-61 in Season Finale