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A&M-Commerce still searching for first road win of season(Greenville Herald-Banner (Greenville, Texas) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 4--It's not often that a football team favored to win a division becomes someone's homecoming opponent. But that's the case today for the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions, who'll face Northeastern Oklahoma today on the RiverHawks' homecoming in Tahlequah, Okla. A&M-Commerce, which is 2-0 at Memorial Stadium, is still searching for its first road win this season. The Lions have lost 30-14 at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., 45-14 at No. 4 nationally-ranked (NCAA Division II) Abilene Christian and 21-13 last week at Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Northeastern State is 0-5 after losing a 55-49 overtime heartbreaker last week to East Central (Okla.). Charlie Burks of East Central blocked a 37-yard Northeastern field goal attempt. East Central's Dionte Dean picked up the ball and ran 21 yards before pitching the ball to teammate Ryan Madison, who ran the remaining 52 yards for the touchdown. The loss spoiled a big game by Northeastern quarterback Kaelin Woods, who was 22-of-37 passing for 425 yards and five touchdowns. RiverHawk running back Prince McKinney also ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on bursts of 70 and 20 yards as Northwestern finished with 537 yards. The RiverHawks rank 10th in the conference in both total offense (260.0 yards per game) and total defense (411.2 ypg), while the Lions are seventh in total offense (302.0 ypg) and fifth in total defense (302. ypg). The Lions played last week without starting quarterback Terry Mayo, who reportedly was battling an illness. Trent Miller took over for Mayo and went 19-of-41 passing for 108 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. A&M-Commerce linebacker Andrew Gamboa remains second in the conference in tackles with 60 stops for an average of 12.0 tackles per game. Northeastern safety Broderick Mondy, named the LSC North preseason defensive player of the year, ranks fourth in the LSC in tackles with 44 stops for an average of 8.8 per game. A&M-Commerce wide receiver Willie Thornton ranks third in the league in receiving yards with 22 catches for 509 yards and eight touchdowns. A&M-Commerce needs a victory to keep pace with Central Oklahoma and East Central in the LSC North Division standings. Last year the Lions had to share the crown with four other teams. To see more of Greenville Herald-Banner, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.heraldbanner.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |