The No. 7 Texas A&M University–Commerce started off Lone Star Conference play in dominant fashion with a convincing 49-10 victory on the road at Eastern New Mexico.
A&M-Commerce (3-0, 1-0 LSC) got off to a fast start by scoring in the game’s first 90 seconds when Lions quarterback Luis Perez threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Darby Smith. After that, the A&M-Commerce defense took control of the game. The Lions held Eastern New Mexico (1-2, 1-1 LSC) to 287 total yards, of which only 60 came through the air. A&M-Commerce didn’t allow the Greyhounds any points until the 2:39 mark in the third quarter. By then the Lions were comfortably in the lead at 42-3.
A&M-Commerce’s defense had six tackles for loss in the game, led by Brucks Saathoff who had two. The defense also caused three Greyhounds turnovers, all of them interceptions, with Anthony Smith, Chris Smith, and Brent Walker taking advantage of the ill-advised passes. Eastern also struggled on third downs, converting only 3 of 14.
Perez led the Lions offense while completing 24 of 31 passes for 342 yards, and five touchdowns. Perez’s favorite connections in the game were Lance Evans, who caught seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, as well as D’Arthur Cowan, who hauled in six catches for 82 yards and a score. All totaled, 10 Lion receivers caught passes in the game. On the ground, the Lions were led by Richard Cooper, who had 11 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown.
The Greyhounds were led on offense by their rushing attack, which totaled 227 yards in the game, well short of their average of 455. Kamal Cass had 21 carries for 62 yards and Paul Terry had two carries for 28 yards and the only touchdown in the game for Eastern.
Next week, the Lions return to Memorial Stadium in Commerce to battle for the Chennault Cup with the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas (2-0). The game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff. You can hear every Lions football game on KETR at 88.9 FM and right here online at ketr.org.