We focus on the conference rivalry between the No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions and the Angelo State Rams this week. This will be the 48th time both teams meet on the field. The last six meetings between the schools have been exceptionally close, with none decided by more than five points.
Angelo State holds a 27-18-2 lead over the Lions in the series. The Lions have five wins in San Angelo; all-time record at ASU is 5-14-1. This weekend the Lions will look to win consecutive trips to ASU for the first time.
Texas A&M-Commerce Head Coach Colby Carthel played at Angelo State 1996-1999. He was a four-year letterman, all-conference linebacker, and a three-time Academic All-Conference winner. He graduated in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Biology.
Carthel’s ASU career stats
1996 – 4 total tackles, one fumble recovery
1997 – 11 total tackles, 0.5 sack
1998 – 30 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss
1999 – 59 tackles, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries
Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Angelo State Rivalry
(Carthel Era 2013-2015)
2013:
Trailing by two scores heading into the fourth quarter, the Lions 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 what was another 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. Johnson became the second Lion receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards that season and ranking second all-time in program history that game with 51 receptions for 1,022 yards.
2014:
Season:
Playing in Angelo State's first Homecoming in its new facility, facing a 13-point halftime deficit and struggling through a mountain of miscues in the first half, the Lions stepped up in the face of adversity and ran right through it pulling out a thrilling 41-40 win over the Rams.
The Lions, who entered the game ranked No. 17 in the Massey computer rankings but not ranked in the AFCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll, flexed its championship muscle behind the nation's leading tackle for loss defense and the performance of running back Richard Cooper.
Playoffs:
Despite a 20-point fourth quarter effort and a 315-yard four-touchdown performance from quarterback Tyrik Rollison, No. 24 and No. 1 seed Lions came up two points shy of No. 2 seed Angelo State in a 35-33 loss in the finale of the Lone Star Conference Playoff at Memorial Stadium.
The Lions, who dropped to 8-3 overall, had a lot to be proud of after claiming the school's first eight-win season since 2001 and the school's first LSC season championship since 1990 -- the program's 21st league title overall. In two seasons under head coach Colby Carthel and his staff, the Lions had tallied 15 wins after going 7-5 in 2013. The two-year total of 15 wins is the most since the Lions combined to win 16 games with two eight-win seasons in 1991 and 1992.
2015: (The Lions were picked second to finish behind Angelo State in preseason)
Season:
No. 15 A&M-Commerce outlasted No. 16 Angelo State 38-35 in a game that lived up to the expectations of being billed as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week after going down to the wire like repeating the same pattern as the previous four meetings between the two Lone Star Conference rivals.
Playoffs:
The Lions rallied from a 28-10 deficit early in the third quarter for an NCAA Championship Playoff clinching win, 36-35, over Angelo State after a game-winning 4th-and-1 stuff on a Ram quarterback sneak.